mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
ALL THE STARS!!! This is THE middle grade book of fall 2017 and it should be on the pre-order list for every single library and middle grade classroom in the country. While it may be listed as for ages 10-14, I would read this book aloud as far down as first grade.
WISHTREE is at first glance a middle grade novel about a tree and animals, but WISHTREE is also, and more importantly, a message book.
It uses the medium of a beautiful middle grade story to spread a message about wishes and inclusion and friendship and religious tolerance in a time of great turmoil in the US. And yes, it also has great dialogue between Red the oak tree and Red's animal friends - that's what will first hook kids! But as teachers and parents share this book with children, Red and the animals will fall to the background as discussions about big topics arise.....big topics that we do need to be talking about.
What Applegate has done with this book is exquisite, as she has wrapped this vital message up in a book that is incredibly accessible to to even the most reluctant middle grade reader - short chapters, simple sentences and manageable vocabulary are the perfect venue for a message like this. I will be recommending this as a staff book club pick this year and hope to have it read aloud to as many classes as possible in my school. It's THAT good. And THAT important.
Please see the book website http://wishtreebook.com/ for resources and to register for a Wishing Day event on 9/28/17.
Thanks to NerdCampMI and the publisher for the advance review copy of this title - all opinions are my own. This galley will now be passed on to the #kidlitexchange review network.
WISHTREE is at first glance a middle grade novel about a tree and animals, but WISHTREE is also, and more importantly, a message book.
It uses the medium of a beautiful middle grade story to spread a message about wishes and inclusion and friendship and religious tolerance in a time of great turmoil in the US. And yes, it also has great dialogue between Red the oak tree and Red's animal friends - that's what will first hook kids! But as teachers and parents share this book with children, Red and the animals will fall to the background as discussions about big topics arise.....big topics that we do need to be talking about.
What Applegate has done with this book is exquisite, as she has wrapped this vital message up in a book that is incredibly accessible to to even the most reluctant middle grade reader - short chapters, simple sentences and manageable vocabulary are the perfect venue for a message like this. I will be recommending this as a staff book club pick this year and hope to have it read aloud to as many classes as possible in my school. It's THAT good. And THAT important.
Please see the book website http://wishtreebook.com/ for resources and to register for a Wishing Day event on 9/28/17.
Thanks to NerdCampMI and the publisher for the advance review copy of this title - all opinions are my own. This galley will now be passed on to the #kidlitexchange review network.
vanessa_issa's review
3.0
Livro curtinho, mas muito fofo! Foi uma leitura gostosinha pra essa época do ano, onde a gente fica mais emotivo, relembrando histórias do passado e pensando no que realmente importa em nossas vidas.
notesonbookmarks's review against another edition
4.0
Me: "a talking tree book. At least this is one I get through without crying."
Also Me: "wtf Katherine Applegate!?!
Also Me: "wtf Katherine Applegate!?!
bookaholicandaboxer's review against another edition
3.0
My students did not like the book. One said so it’s about a talking
yoadrienne16's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Read this with my young daughter, and neither one of us wanted to put it down. The oak tree is a wonderful narrator and lens into the lives of the people around it. The plot is simple enough that it didn’t surprise me, but it was fun watching my daughter experience it. I still enjoyed the story, and I hope to read it with her again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
jodyanthony's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to the audiobook version. My son had read this book in 4th grade and wanted me to give it a go. Very cute story.
sundeviljewels's review against another edition
4.0
What a darling book 📖!
A student of mine was reading it, and I asked her to borrow it. It made me smile.
It was a quick read, and the artwork makes the animals and tree lifelike.
Trees may not be able to tell jokes, but they all nave many stories to tell.
A student of mine was reading it, and I asked her to borrow it. It made me smile.
It was a quick read, and the artwork makes the animals and tree lifelike.
Trees may not be able to tell jokes, but they all nave many stories to tell.
mdettmann's review against another edition
3.0
At first I was like, uhhhh is this really going to be about the POV of a tree? But, of course, it was a sweet story about empathy, nature, and friendship with lots of quirky named animals. If you liked this book, pick up Amina’s Voice (less animals, more heart)
bernadettebloom's review against another edition
5.0
Did a book study with my class and had some insightful discussions about acceptance, immigrants and friendship. Red is an old oak tree who witnesses and narrates Samar, a Muslim girl, and her family trying to fit in to their new neighbourhood.
Beautiful prose, gentle message.
Beautiful prose, gentle message.
margardenlady's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Sweet story about friendship and persistence, told from the perspective of a red oak tree. Lots of tree and forest life facts are sprinkled throughout the pages but mostly it’s about the community spirit fostered by this 216 yr old tree.