Wishtree by Katherine Applegate is Magical Realism at one of its best – this book will resonate with all ages. It’s about a talking tree with lots of critters which kids will love. It has an underlying message about community and acceptance that adults will appreciate. It is also a very real book – it’s a not a fairy tale with a happily ever after. Short and sweet with illustrations to get lost in, this is a book you will cherish. Take a look at the book blurb first and then I will share my thoughts.
Trees can’t tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories. . . .
Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood “wishtree”—people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red’s branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red’s hollows, this “wishtree” watches over the neighborhood.
You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red’s experiences as a wishtree are more important than ever.
Content Notes: Portrayal of hate towards minorities
Themes for Thought
Wishtree is a quick read reaches the heart. We meet Red, a red oak tree, who is over two centuries old. Red has seen the world change around him. He wasn’t always a wishing tree but the custom of people tying wishes to his branches started when a kind Irish lady moved in the house on whose property he was.
Like with all other things in nature, Red is not allowed to speak to humans. He can only communicate with his animal and plant friends. But when he notices the sadness in the new little girl who just moved in the same house, he wants to fulfill her wish of having a friend.
On Making a Difference
Why do rules exist? Why do people feel a certain way about people who look different from them? Red has lived all his life following the rules. He (or she, since Red is bi) provides home to little critters. He produces oxygen for the humans and provides shade when it is hot. Red is a optimist, a silent observer of all that goes on around him.
When Samar and her family move in the house, someone carves LEAVE on Red’s trunk to send a message. As a reader, I instantly knew of its meaning and the hate that that one word engraved on the tree was projecting. Though Wishtree does not go into the nuances of that word, it does an amazing job of showing the repercussions of that act. The lady who now owns the land, rather than help grow the community, decides to give rid of the canvas used by the vandalize and cause pain. It was disheartening to hear that people would rather get rid of the tree that has only supported the community over the years.
I wondered, too, if I’d done enough for the world that I loved.
Red in Wishtree
The incident though acted as a catalyst for Red to rethink the rules he has been following all his life and whether he has made a difference to this world at all. As the day approached for Red to be cut down, he makes his first and, possibly last attempt, at granting a wish tied to him. The wish of having a friend.
On Friendship
Red does not know what friendship is or how it happens. So he asks his crow friend, Bongo, to help him understand it. How does one ignite the spark of friendship? What brings two beings together and connects them with this special bond? I liked these simple conversations and attempts ate helping Samar have a friend. The things that Red and Bongo did with the help of Red’s residents was sweet.
Wishtree is a story about hurt and healing. It is about finding the right moment to speak up and taking others’ help. Trees have deep roots in the ground and Wishtree gives us insight into the roots of a community and what we can do to be there for each other. I loved reading about the animals and the fun ways in which they were named. I also loved the messages that the book portrays with such elegance and subtlety. This isn’t a story that I can forget anytime soon, and one that I will come back to.
** Wishtree is now out in stores so get a copy and let me know what you think! **
Amazon Print
Amazon Kindle
Katherine Applegate a number of other books, including the famous (and , my suspicions are, out of print) Everworld series. If you are interested in other Middle Grade books, do check out The Ship of Shadows and The Eye of Ra.
Banner Image: Photo by Cody Board on Unsplash
All photos in the mood board are on Unsplash.
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