Loved this book! ( )

Everything about this book was beautiful- the size, the formatting, the font, the illustrations and most of all the story. A gift from my friend Bonnie, I raced through this and thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely read more by Katherine Applegate. ( )

Red, the oak tree has been standing in the yard for 216 rings and has been receiving wishes from hundreds of people. The tradition started with an immigrant who had a wish, and she put that wish on a scrap of fabric and tied it to Red, and through the years Red saw the wish come true. Now there is a Muslim girl who wishes for a friend and Red decides to make sure her wish will come true. ( )

So let me say right now that I adore Katherine Applegate. No longer is she the Animorphs author. Indeed she left that status long ago with "The One and Only Ivan." "Wishtree" feels like another sure-fire winner to me. However, due to its message of love, anti-bullying, and diversity among peoples....it is a polarizing book. It shouldn't be. But it is.

Told from the perspective of the tree, "Wishtree" is the story of an immigrant family who are made to feel bad for living in their neighborhood. The book introduces all different types of characters--from bigots, to those who are scared to stand up, to those who welcome with open arms. "Wishtree" is a book that shows the ripple effects hatred--and love--can have over generations. ( )

Generations of human and animal families grow and change, seen from the point of view of the red oak Wishing Tree that shelters them all.

Most trees are introverts at heart. So says Red, who is over 200 years old and should know. Not to mention that they have complicated relationships with humans. But this tree also has perspective on its animal friends and people who live within its purview—not just witnessing, but ultimately telling the tales of young people coming to this country alone or with family. An Irish woman named Maeve is the first, and a young 10-year-old Muslim girl named Samar is the most recent. Red becomes the repository for generations of wishes; this includes both observing Samar’s longing wish and sporting the hurtful word that another young person carves into their bark as a protest to Samar’s family’s presence. (Red is monoecious, they explain, with both male and female flowers.) Newbery medalist Applegate succeeds at interweaving an immigrant story with an animated natural world and having it all make sense. As Red observes, animals compete for resources just as humans do, and nature is not always pretty or fair or kind. This swiftly moving yet contemplative read is great for early middle grade, reluctant or tentative readers, or precocious younger students.

A deceptively simple, tender tale in which respect, resilience, and hope triumph. (Fantasy. 8-12)

-Kirkus Review