Book Review: The Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

The Wishtree 

Author: Katherine Applegate

Pages: 224

ISBN: 1250043220

Recommended for ages: 8-14

After reading The One and Only Ivan, I was so excited for the release of Katherine Applegate's new book The Wishtree. I was once again swept up in the simple but powerful writing of Katherine Applegate.

Applegate gives a voice to a neighborhood Red Oak, aptly named Red, and Red is a Wishtree. Red reminds me of Ivan. An outsider observing the confusing nature of humans. Red has lived a long life in the neighborhood and has seen many families come and go. Watching humans for so many years has left Red with a love and compassion for humans. Every year on the first of May people from the neighborhood adorn Red with scraps of paper, cloth and even old socks. These represent their hopes and dreams, giving Red the name the Wishtree.

After a Muslim family moves in across the street, Red becomes the center of intolerance and hate when someone carves the word LEAVE into Red's trunk. The young Muslim girl, Samara, used her wish on the first of May to wish for a friend. Red uses the animals that live in the tree to help Samara find a friend in the boy who lives next door to her.

While Red is helping Samara, the homeowner where Red lives, is considering cutting Red down. The owner is tried of people always leaving "stuff" in the tree for her to clean up and now the "graffiti" someone left on Red is the last straw. The only thing that could possibly save Red, is a story from her/his past about another immigrant girl who was also looking for a place to belong.