Review: Wishtree

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wishtree
by Katherine Applegate


SUMMARY: Red is an oak tree more than 200 years old. But he is more than just an oak tree, he is also a wishtree. For many years, it has become a tradition to tie wishes onto his branches each May. However, this year someone carves a word into his trunk, and Red decides to do something about it.

MY REVIEW: Have you ever heard of a “raggy tree” or a “wish tree?” It’s an old tradition from Ireland. I had never heard of it before.

This is a beautiful story, relevant in today’s world. It is a middle-school story but without the usual attitudes and actions of middle-schoolers. Except for one incident of intolerance, which is what drives the story. There are funny moments, and there are poignant moments. There are many “make you think” moments.

The story is told from Red’s view from where he has grown for the past 200+ years. He has many friends who nest in his branches or nearby. He is ever the optimist, ever hopeful, and “everyone needs to hope.” One day he decides that two people *need* to be friends and wonders how to make it happen, and so he hatches a plan, saying “Trees are the strong silent type. Unless we’re not.”

I absolutely adored the illustrations, as I love pencil drawings.

This is definitely a book for all classrooms, about 4th grade to 8th. Younger if you’re reading aloud. And even older students can appreciate it’s message. For homeschooling families, it would make a great unit study.

MY RATING: 5 stars for its message of hope. Highly recommend this one! We need more books like it.


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