E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Red is an oak tree who has been around for over 200 years. She has a number of animal families inhabiting her branches, along with her best friend, the crow Bongo. It is tree policy not to talk to humans, but when a boy carves "Leave" into her bark in an effort to scare off Samar's Muslim family from living in the neighborhood. The tree makes an effort to make Samar's wish come true, and employs various animals in various ruses in order for next door neighboor Stephen to talk to her and become friends. Francesca, who owns the houses where Stephen and Samar live, decides to cut down the tree, which is pushing up the sidewalk, interfering with the plumbing, and causing problems on "Wishing Day" when people follow an old Irish tradition of tying wishes to the tree. Red isn't happy, but starts to make her peace with leaving, although she does break her policy and tells Samar and Stephen the story of a baby left in her care years before. The animals who live in her are less than pleased, and work on a plan. Bongo gives Samar a key on a ribbon; it's the key to Francesca's ancestor's diary, which Samar locates in a storage shed. Stephen rallies his classmates around the tree, and around Samar's family, but will it be enough to save Red from being cut down?
We're Glad You're Our Neighbor Yard SignStrengths: This is certainly on point with current topics in the news, and with multicultural awareness. The sign at left is appearing more and more in my neighborhood. Applegate is a lyrical, effective writer, and I have to admit that I cried a little at certain points of the book. I can see this being used in classrooms, like Palaccio's Wonder, to promote kindness and awareness. I wouldn't be surprised if this won a Newbery Honor.
Weaknesses: This is a very gentle, slow book, narrated by a tree. All of my readers seem to want books that are more fast paced or humorous. Perhaps this would do better with elementary readers.
What I really think: Will probably not purchase. It's a lovely book, but I don't think I have the readers for it.

I love this non-traditional narrator! I do believe it is my first book from the prespective of a tree. A simple sweet story of friendship and change.

What is your story? Everyone has something to tell, especially a tree that has seen so many years come and go.

Katherine Applegate does it again! I loved this book so much. I really knew nothing about it going in except that it was from a tree's point of view (and I wondered how that could make a whole story!). The story of the tree, the animals that make their home in and around it, and the humans in the houses that it shades were so honest and sweet. Only Katherine Applegate could turn a nature story into one that addresses Islamaphobia and hate speech - and do it so well! An amazing story. Like The One and Only Ivan, I will recommend this one to everyone I know.

Phenomenal story. Sure to be a classic. Should be required reading.

This was a charming story -- another great book from Liz Szabla, editor at Feiwel and Friends. I consistently love their books. I enjoyed the tree and its community and the preservation/tolerance of the changing multicultural neighborhood and its history.

If I had the power, I'd slap a Newbery medal on this book (yes, in May) and close the book on 2017. Applegate's seemingly effortless beauty in writing, as simple and spectacular as cloudless azure summer sky, captivates the reader from page one. No kidding, I was smiling with appreciation from the first few paragraphs, knowing as a reader I was in for a treat. Empathy, wisdom ("stand tall and dig deep"), tolerance, friendship, and to top it all off, it's all served with wry, patient humor by a character who's been around for 216 rings. The brevity of this book is another strength; the pace moves quickly, avoiding unnecessary sentimentality. Characters have full backstories and the setting is strong but the narrative is bogged down in details - allowing reader to focus on what's really important. I will be talking about this book at our next county-wide librarians meeting and I won't be going out too far on one of Red's limbs to say this book will have a medal on it come January 2018.

Wishtree is a beautiful story, told from the perspective of Red. This tree shares the good, the bad and everything in between that happens in a neighborhood when a family is singled out to leave.

This story will touch your heart!

Oh, my. The feels, people! This book is just so, so lovely. Red is an incredible narrator and this is such a sweet story. I teared up a little, snickered more than once, felt sad, angry, and hopeful. A story of acceptance, kindness, love, and friendship that I hope will have wide appeal. It's a fairly quick read. If I didn't have to adult so much, I could easily have read this in a day. I look forward to sharing this with my students.

I was excited to see this book. A new Applegate is always a welcome event. And this book did not disappoint. What an unusual perspective, a story narrated by a tree. Lovely working out of communication between tree, animals, and humans. Sensitive story lines, and we really don't know how things will resolve until the very end. A beautiful book. The copious illustrations don't translate well to an ereader, so I will be looking for the book when it comes out so I can enjoy the artwork more.

Trees will always be magical to me now. I loved the story being told from the point of view of the tree. I loved all the funny names for the animals the nested in the tree. And I loved the how the tree was so calm, peaceful and understanding about life, nature, and death. What a wonderful story to share with upper elementary students.