My Review: Applegate is my all time favorite Middle Grade author so I definitely was excited about a new book from her. This one is just adorable and really captures some important issues without being heavy handed. The setting is unique but easy to imagine, with some creative creatures. I really enjoyed the way Applegate encourages acceptance of people for who they are with all their quirks. The emphasis on the environment and the way different elements of nature effects other elements, it is definitely a book that will spark up some great conversations. I read an eArc of this one but I will definitely be picking up a hard copy and I really hope there are some illustrations to really draw you even further into the story.

My Rating: Applegate always manages to deliver books that are so relatable with great messages but that are also imaginative and easy to read, and this book was no different. I give it a rating of Four Paws and Stump Wag!

Willodeen is a quiet and gentle sort of story that provides a really accessible entrypoint to talk to young students about climate change and environmental justice, as well as empowering them towards activism. While reading, I kept thinking of conversations a classroom could have in a circle setting - students could discuss places they care about, times they've felt unheard and silenced, ways they can support each other in standing up for what they believe. This could be paired with curriculum about environmental equilibrium as well; for example, by playing predator-prey tag (explanation available from wolfquest.org) before or after reading aloud the section where Willodeen connects the dots about the ecosystem of peacock snails and the blue willows and the screechers. I also appreciated that because the story is set in an indeterminate time and place, the focus is less on any one specific environmental issue and more on the overall subject.

Another lovely middle-grades novel from Applegate! A story of nature, friendship, grief, and hope. Beautifully written.

A big thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.

5/5 - Absolutely loved it.

This beautiful gem of a story is now undoubtedly one of my favorite books. Willodeen is the tale of a young girl with a big heart for all of nature's creatures. While the world she lives in is magical, it is not unlike ours and she encounters many of the problems children nowadays must face. This book is so many things - a coming of age story, a tale of coping with life's harshest cruelties, and a love poem for the strange mysteries of our home planet,

Every twist and turn in this story is fascinating and extremely satisfying. Like Willodeen and Connor's puzzling, the story itself presents a puzzle with pieces that shift into place as we realize our place in the world depends on the other creatures sharing our space with us.

I especially loved that the book tackles some difficult topics - the death of close family members, being part of a blended family, LGBT couples, the destruction of natural habitats, and how people who may not be neurotypical can go on to do great things. It is clear that the protagonist is a nod to Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who certainly has made a massive impact despite being young and different. The story is also a reminder to all children that they can go on to make a difference, even if they are small and even if they do not fit in. Each of these themes is discussed with honesty and compassion.

Really I suppose the final comment I have left to make about this book is that it's simply beautiful. The characters are wholesome and lovely. The setting of their village with its magical creatures and glowing hummingbears is enchanting. And while the story itself deals with cruelty and ugliness, in the end I'm left with the afterglow of having visited an amazing place through my reading. This is a story of survival, coexistence, and hope. It is an utterly beautiful story.

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan, and Katherine Applegate for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

living in Perchance, Willodeen, age eleven, has lost the people she loves the most in the world, but discovers there is plenty of love for her, especially from Birdie and Mae, her guardians, and her beloved hummingbear, Duuzuzu. She is angry that hunters are killing the screechers, who are loud and annoying, just for the fun of it. Her friend, Connor, who makes a craft called puzzlers, shows her the beauty of nature and the power of her beliefs. What a great reminder to readers of all ages that “The earth has music for those who listen”. I loved this sweet story.

I will try to skip the plot description, as you can easily find that on the title page. This review got a little long, sorry.
This children's book is right up my alley - I love fantasy, and this has many fantasy tropes to it. The setting is just off earth's pre-industrial Western society, like many fantasy books are. There is mention that the big capital city just got gas lamps all over, so that sort of dates the technology for you. The book takes place in a little village town where people use fire lanterns, draw water from a well, and every year has a very large Festival that draws many tourists on the steam train that runs by town. The animals are also not-quite-earth: screechers, hummingbears, lirkmunk, etc. It's like Avatar the Last Airbender, how all the animals are mashups of earth animals. Classic fantasy tropes all around.
There is an element of magical realism to this story, too, as opposed to "strict" fantasy. Trying not to spoil anything, I will say that something shows up or comes into being in a way that strongly suggests magic, as no one can figure out a logical way for it to have happened, but "magic" isn't really a system in this world, and they never figure out where this thing actually comes from.

The characters are great, I love them all. Willowdeen is the title character. She's uncomfortable around people - describes social cues as a book everyone read then tossed in the river before she got to, or a timer inside telling people when to laugh or step closer, and her's is broken so she's either too early or too late. I think this is a feeling that LOTS of people have, so lots of kids will relate to it, but the descriptions sort of make me think she's somewhere on the autism spectrum.
Willowdeen also almost never goes to school, which kids will love. Her family was killed in a great fire when she was ~6 (the book takes place when she's 11) and she was adopted by two cranky old ladies who don't force Willowdeen to go to school, and allow her to roam the forest and observe the animals. Mae and Birdie are her adoptive mothers. They have had all kinds of jobs in their life but the most obvious is that these two were in the theater. It is never explicitly stated that these two are lesbians, but as an adult they are very clearly coded that way. Just something to keep in mind when recommending to parents of kids. (But I smile everytime I think "lesbian thespians" to myself.) These two ladies are very dramatic, down to earth, wise, willing to admit when they don't know something, and love Willowdeen fiercely.
Connor is perhaps the first human friend that Willowdeen has ever made. He also isn't very comfortable with people, but is quite happy to walk in silence through the forest with Willowdeen. Connor is more involved in the town, however, because his father is basically the equivalent of a mayor and is planning for Connor to take over for him, eventually. Connor is an artist who makes "puzzlers" to sell - nature sculptures, usually in the form of the famous hummingbears that draw tourists, but not always.

The book has strong messages about conservation and respecting nature. As a reader (and an adult) it's fairly easy to see the connection between two pieces of nature and how one influences the other, but it's also understandable how someone IN that situation might not figure it out. It also is a very good demonstration for kids about learning how to speak up, even to adults who might struggle to listen to you due to your age. (Greta Thunberg anyone?)

I read a digital copy, so I don't know how big it actually is, but it only took me ~1.5 to 2 hours to read, so for kids it's probably about a 4 hour book (depending on reading skill), which is still a relatively quick read - longer than Magic Tree House, shorter than Harry Potter (the first books).

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Book Group Feiwel and Friends for the review copy of Willodeen by Katherine Applegate. My students and I have enjoyed books by Katherine Applegate in the past, so I jumped at the chance to preview this one. Willodeen is a young girl living in a fantastical world where the migration patterns of the mystical hummingbears add to the local tourist economy. However, the number of hummingbears arriving at Perchance have been dwindling.

Although strongly rooted in fantasy, this book touches the real world issues of ecology and conservation. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the beautiful book. I will certainly be sharing this with my students.

Absolutely adorable as well as an important story. This is the perfect tale about how just one voice can save so much - creatures, ecosystems, and all who are connected. We all need more magic and activism in our lives, especially in these times. If we pay attention, we will see the change that needs to be made, just like Willodeen did.

"...nature knows more than we do. And she probably always will."

Willodeen by Katherine Applegate is yet another adorable middle grade novel that teaches the importance of respecting the balance of nature. I enjoyed the main character and the whimsical creatures that Applegate has created. Just enough of a fantasy to be an escape, while being close enough to reality that everyone will enjoy this book. I flew through this quick read and highly recommend to adults and kids alike.

Disclaimer: The quoted text is from an advanced reader copy I received from Macmillan and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was charmed by Willodeen from the very first page. She was orphaned by a fire that took her parents and little brother. This tragedy creates a background for the story, but does not define who Willodeen is. She is her own person, independent and determined to save the screechers from extinction. Reluctantly becoming friends with Connor, Willodeen discovers the loyalty of friendship and how asking for help is not a weakness. Children of all ages will be entranced by the story of Willodeen and Connor, Duuzzuu and Quinby who exist in another world not unlike our own, where adults carelessly make decisions without thinking through the consequences. Speaking out for the endangered screechers, Willodeen discovers her own path to healing and purpose.

Thank you to @macmillian and @netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book!

Willodeen, an eleven year old who adores creatures of all kinds, encounters a special type of magic when overcome with anger at her neighbor’s desire to rid Perchance of Screechers. This magic sends Willodeen and her friend Conner on an adventure to save their town’s animals when the well-loved hummingbears of Perchance are no longer returning.

This was such a sweet and admirable read. I adored Willodeens empathetic heart and her love for what many in the story deemed unlovable. Easily a book I would recommend to many of my students (upper elementary/middle for an independent read, lower elementary for shared reading).

Katherine Applegate has been writing beautiful books for children - books that are not just loved by adults for children, buy by children - for years, and I hope she continues to do so for years to come. This was fantastic.

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Willodeen much prefers being with nature rather than people. She becomes distraught once she realizes the Screecher animals start disappearing one by one thanks to human hunters. How will Wilodeen convince humans to stop hunting the animals to extinction?

A really sweet save the earth type story that thankfully, *doesn't* end on a depressing note about how there's nothing that can be done to save the planet. Willodeen manages to convince her fellow humans to work together to help save beautiful creatures in the end, leaving a good message for kids.

I wanted more of Connor and Willodeen bonding moments, I thought they were pretty sweet. The writing isn't complex, but it works well for kids.

A heartwarming story about animals and their place in the world.

Figuring out the right questions to ask is the hard part, but when a young Scientist and a young Artist combine forces, so many answers are found. Applegate’s story is superbly written, with messages of being what one is meant to be and doing what one is meant to do, in nature and in oneself, the interconnectedness of all living things, as well as the ultimate balance of nature.
I couldn’t stop reading as the connections and processes that Applegate easily wove throughout the story were intelligent and thoughtful, yet seemed so easy and commonsensical when reading as an elementary student would.
Applegate combines literature with science, art and social studies, and as a teacher, the possibilities of this novel in a classroom are endless. I recommend this book wholeheartedly, both for entertainment and educational purposes.

Carrying an important message about the precarious balance humans and the Earth maintain, Willodeen is an important and relatable look at how important a part every piece of nature plays in the life of everyone.

Another wonderful middle grades offering from Katherine Applegate. Soft, sweet with a powerful message subtly delivered. Katherine Applegate continues to deliver books that even the most reluctant young readers will enjoy.

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
“The earth is old and we are not, and that is all you must remember…”
Willodeen lives in the town of Perchance and loves all the creatures in the woods around her – especially the unlovable beasts. Her family died in a fire that swept through the town six years ago and now she lives with her foster parents. Perchance hosts an annual festival celebrating the hummingbear migration but the hummingbear numbers have been decreasing and this year none have returned. The town has also put a bounty on one of the more nuisance critters called screechers – think wild boar crossed with skunk and porcupine. Willodeen witnesses the killing of the last screecher and is inconsolable. When her friend, Connor, makes her one out of reeds and grasses, something magical happens and gives Willodeen the courage to speak up.
The quote above really sums up human existence on this planet. This story is relatively short and beautifully written. It gently emphasizes how humans must live in harmony with all the creatures on this earth, how everything is intertwined. Highly recommend for grades 3 and up.
#Willodeen #NetGalley

Willodeen is an 11 year old girl who loves nature and every creature in it - including a creature called a "screecher". The residents of Perchance, the town where Willodeen lives, do not like the screechers and feel that they are responsible for the dwindling tourism. Perchance makes their money off of tourism when people flock to the town once each Fall for the festival to see the trees filled with hummingbears - cute little creatures who make shimmering bubble nests. Willodeen is frustrated that the townspeople only care about the "cute" creatures and she works to prove that everything in nature has a purpose.

This book is beautifully written. The creatures in the story are unique and magical and the characters are easy to love. Willodeen is similar to Greta Thunberg as she is determined to make the adults realize how important everything in nature is and wants them to know that they can help to fix the things that they have done wrong.

This novel also helps to teach about the importance of community and how people need to work together for the good of all. This would be a fantastic read aloud to upper elementary students or as an independent read for more advanced young readers.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #McMillanChildren'sPublishingGroup for an ARC of #Willodeen by #KatherineApplegate in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to getting this book to read to my students upon it's publication.

4 Stars!

*Thank you Negalley and Macmillian Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Willodeen is the newest book by Katherine Applegate and after loving “The One and Only Ivan” and “Wishtree,” I had to request this book! We follow eleven-year-old Willodeen who lost her parents in a fire and is being raised by two women in a village in the forest. There are animals called screechers that let off a stinky smell, make very loud noises, and are to the villagers they are a nuisance. The screechers are being hunted for a bounty, and Willodeen starts to notice that the cute and adorable hummingbears (tiny bears that fly around like humminbirds) are also disappearing as more and more screechers are being killed. The village relies on the hummingbears to bring in groups oftourists, and her village relies on the tourists and hummingbears to survive. Willodeen sets off to find out what is happening to the hummingbears and tries to figure out if there is a connection to the missing hummingbears and the disappearing screechers.

This book is about loving nature, animals, and everything that is connected to the environment. Ivan was one of my all-time favorite characters by Katherine Arden, and Willodeen is an adorable character as well with her own strengths, and her own messages, but I didn’t quite feel the emotional punch with Willodeen like I did with Ivan. This is still a fantastic book, and I think young readers will love this short story. The writing is as great as Katherine’s other books, and young readers will have a very easy time reading this book. I think it will be good in the 4th-7th grade classrooms, and even could be a read aloud at younger grades. There are so many important themes to discuss with kids in this book, and I can’t wait to get a copy of it for my own kids.

Themes: being connected, love for environment, death of a parent, friendship and family, everyone is important, nature and environment.

Willodeen is another glorious fantasy by the author of The One and Only Ivan and the Wishtree. Willodeen has been recently orphaned when her family died in a wildfire. Thankfully, two old witches take her in and love her like their own. Willodeen appreciates the two women, but she's angry and sad and now she has something new to worry about. The hummingbears are disappearing and with them the income brought to the village by their annual festival. To make things worse, Willodeen has noticed that the ugly, smelly Screechers have disappeared as well. An unexpected birthday gift and a budding friendship help Willodeen look closer at the relationship between the changes in her village environment and the disappearing animals. With the help of her new friend and her loving guardians, Willodeen must find the courage to speak up and work hard to make the changes needed for survival of them all. Willodeen is a deeply moving book - along the lines of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax but without the rhyming. This is a book written for middle-school aged children, but like Applegate's other books, it is perfect for families, book groups, read-a-louds, anyone who cares about great reading about the world around them. Great holiday or birthday gift and a superior book club choice. Many thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read this wonderful ARC.