Willodeen is the newest book from NYT‘s bestseller Katherine Applegate about a young girl who risks everything for a creature no one wants. An intelligent animal-lover, eleven year old Willodeen spends her days in the forests surrounding her village, studying the animals who live there and their habitats. Her favorite animal is the screecher, who she fiercely protects when she can. The screechers put off a foul smell, make horrible noises at night (hence the name), and root among some of the town’s favorite trees. Considered a pest, the town put a bounty on their heads much to Willodeen’s disappointment. Now she studies them in secret, protecting them when she can. Through a series of events, a baby screecher winds up in Willodeen’s care. Now it is up to her to prove that these animals and all the animals surrounding her village are in need of protecting.

I adore Willodeen. She is a traumatized young girl, losing her entire family in a fire a few years prior. Now she lives with the two elderly ladies in town who grant her the freedom to do as she wishes. Willodeen doesn’t enjoy crowds so she avoids them, staying out of school and learning through observation. She loves studying the wildlife around the village: screechers, hummingbears, the blue willow trees, etc. She even has a hummingbear she rescued who survived the same fire she did.

But like the screechers, the hummingbears are disappearing. This is a puzzle that plagues not only Willodeen but her village as well. Her village depends on the hummingbears to bring in tourists for the annual fall faire. Without them, many of the villagers will go broke. Through her tears, Willodeen finds a baby screecher or maybe turns one of her friend’s “puzzlers” into it. She really isn’t sure. But in studying her baby screecher, she may find the hope her village needs.

The story told through Willodeen in this book is so important. Like all of Applegate’s books, there are hidden lessons. Here the reader learns through Willodeen the importance of protecting the wildlife and habitat around them. She learns how nature is interconnected and how one missing piece affects the whole puzzle. I appreciated what the author conveyed here. I also loved the creatures that are purely fiction and add a bit of whimsy and magic to the otherwise heavy tale.

Final Thoughts: Through beautiful imagery and magical creatures, Katherine Applegate weaves a cautionary tale about the importance of protecting nature and its inhabitants in her newest release Willodeen.

This book was sweet and cute. It was a nice escape to a word that has some of the same problems ours does, but where there is more hope and a happy ending. It has adorable creatures. It has great messages about nature and friendship.

I felt like the main character, Willowdeen, was being coded as autistic, but that word was never directly used, so I'm not 100% if that is what the author intended.

Willodeen is a bittersweet story about a girl who loves animals and who learns to love people again. She lives with two women who took her in after she lost her home and family in a fire. She’s an outsider in her own village and does not trust people. Willodeen’s world echoes ours in a simpler time, but with wonderfully fantastical flora and fauna. Adorable hummingbears are just what they sound like. In fact the village depends on the season when tourists come to town to see the hummingbears. Only something has happened that is keeping the hummingbears away. Screechers, on the other hand, are not so cute, are really stinky, and as their name implies, make awful noises. The villagers see them as pests and are determined to wipe them out. Of course, screechers are Willodeen’s favorite. Willodeen meets a boy who could maybe be a friend. Like in the Velveteen Rabbit, tears have magic and a thoughtful gift of a woven doll-like screecher comes to life. In taking care of this screecher, she and her new friend solve the mystery that is threatening the village’s livelihood. I loved that the book is a sort of modern day fable that touches on big issues such as interconnectedness of nature, humans’ impact on the environment, communities that depend on ecotourism, classism, loss of parents, family, and acceptance. All with a touch of fantasy, a small bit of magic, and without being heavy handed. Applegate has given us a beautiful story that hopefully gives children courage to speak up about climate change and reminds us adults that we really should listen to what the children have to say about society’s problems. They may have the answers. Willowdeen will appeal to children ages 5 and up as a bedtime read aloud. Independent readers who are fans of Applegate and Kate DiCamillo will like this book as well (and will also enjoy having it read to them!)

This imaginative book is so perfect and unique for middle grade readers. In parts this book is extremely sad but shows a perseverance that will help process the grief that I believe is important for children to see in books. Willodeen has lost her family in a fire and is alone in the world except for two unlikely caretakers. She is also puzzled over the disappearance of several species in her village. I loved the importance of balance in nature that is shown throughout the book bringing awareness to the fact that everything plays an important part in maintaining that delicate balance, Displaying the power of one voice and a careful study of the little things, Willodeen shows you can make a big impact!

I absolutely loved Willodeen! The characters were so lovable and the story was very well written. Applegate did an amazing job of teaching a lesson to her readers without it seeming like that was she was doing. I really liked this story and I am looking forward to reading it again in the future. I highly recommend it to anyone that is purchasing books for children, or anyone really.

First, thank you to NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for a fair and unbiased review..

A delight, pure and lovely. We should never doubt our children for they see and know.

Willodeen has had a very rough childhood, losing her entire family in a wildfire. Thankfully, before that happened, her father was there to teach her about the world and to trust her inner-knowing when it came to nature.

The village of Perchance has two creatures that are of concern to us, dear reader, There are screechers, horrible, loud creeatures that seem to do nothing but make everyone miserable with their sound and smell. Then there are hummingbears, a small delightful creature that brings tourists and money to the village. While Willodeen's father taught her that nature was all connected, the adults in the village don't see it that way. When they put a bounty on the head of the screecher, their beloved hummingbears begin to disappear. Will they see a connection? Will their hearts and minds be open to listening to a pre-teen wild child?

A beautiful story of love and friendship, of interconnecedness, and of the need of compassion for ALL living things. Tears of sadness and heartbreak were shed, and tears of joy and happiness were shed as well. Let this book be a lesson to all of us, young and old.

This was a lovely middle grade story from the author of The One and Only Ivan and The One and Only Bob. Applegate has a way of creating characters and creatures that have so much heart. While this book left me wanting a little bit more, I did enjoy the fictional creatures and the found family aspects. I was also impressed with how she brought climate change and human impact on the plant and animal world down to a child's level without sugar-coating it or "dumbing it down". It's an important topic that I feel was handled in a very delicate way.

Willodean is an orphan, the lone survivor of a fire in her family home what she was a small child. Taken in by two elderly ladies, Willodean has always been more comfortable around animals than people. One of her favorite is the screecher, a smelly wild outcast whom others have no use for and view as pests. As her village seeks to understand why the beloved, sweet hummingbears no longer return each year, Willodean and her friend Connor seek the answer with the help of a young screecher pup. When they make an amazing discovery, will the villagers listen? Find out in this gently-told tale of friendship, community and the balance of nature by a renowned author.

Willodeen was a surprising book that took me right into the fantasy of animal species coming back to the girl who loved them. Kids will be hooked immediately to the story and feel for the characters. This could really be paired with nonfiction texts about animal extinction and writing activities about which extinct animal would we clone. I really felt for Willodeen left an orphan after a devastating wildfire. Her neighbors become her family and Willodeen still suffers with nightmares.
I wasn't surprised that Katherine Applegate could make me feel all the feelings, but I was surprised about the fantastical elements in such a relatable setting.

Willodeen is a wonderful middle grade novel for opening up discussions about caring for our environment and how each entity in it is connected to another, even when it seems that some creatures aren't worthy of our attention or care. Willodeen is a young girl whose family perished in a fire in their small community of Perchance. She was taken in by two elderly neighbors who have grown to care for her and love her, though Willodeen herself struggles to accept them as her family. She doesn't attend school, but prefers to spend her time wandering in the woods nearby, learning about nature and seeking out creatures, especially the hummingbears, one with scorched wings that she takes care of, as well the screechers, who make a lot of noise and smell bad enough that not only are they avoided by most people, but there is a bounty for anyone who kills one. The townspeople rely on the tourists who come each year to see the hummingbears, but lately the creatures' numbers have been dwindling. Willodeen is sure this is connected to the rise in temperatures and loss of the blue willow trees that the tiny winged bears nest in. She believes that all things in nature are connected, and she sets out to form a hypothesis about what is happening and prove or disprove her theory. As she progresses, she makes friends with a boy named Connor, who encourages her to speak up to the town council about her concerns. It is heartwarming to see Willodeen gain confidence in herself and trust of those around her who love her. Applegate once again writes an engaging story that teaches a lesson without being preachy or harsh. Her gentle tale will open children's eyes up to the world around them, and it's need for our attention without being political. This will be a wonderful readaloud and will become a favorite for teachers and their students, too.

“Once upon a time, when stones were soft and stars were bits of dust, I loved a monster.” I mean, what a FANTASTIC line.

This is a really sweet, soft fantasy about a girl called Willodeen. Strong found family vibes (which is a perpetual fave) and an enduring, impactful story. Willodeen loses her mom, dad, and younger brother in a fire that rages through their small village and leaves her injured as well. She is taken in and nursed by two older women who live together, but can't quite let herself get attached to them because she doesn't want to be hurt again. For related reasons, she's also quite isolated and has a hard time making friends. But a thing she does love doing is observing the unique wildlife in their village. She has a small hummingbear (a creation of this fantastical world that is a very small bear that can fly like a hummingbird, freaking adorable) who is injured and has adopted her, and she likes to explore the woods, especially looking for screechers, an animal deemed less than desirable by the community because of its powerful stink when frightened. Coincidentally, around the same time the screecher population is dwindling because of a bounty the village has placed on them, the hummingbears also stop building their nests in the village, which is a problem as the hummingbears have been a big draw for tourists. Willodeen investigates why this might be, along with an accidental friend she's made, Connor, a boy who lives in the village and crafts fantastical creations, including a model screecher that he gifts to Willodeen on her eleventh birthday.

This book made me unexpectedly emotional? It is a book about the importance of community - not just with other people, but with nature. About being vulnerable and strong, and having your voice heard, even when you're a young person. And about there being value to be found in all living things, if only there is an attempt at understanding.

It's got lots of short chapters, which makes it a good choice for younger kids looking to get into longer chapter books but still needing some solid stopping points.

CW: death of a parent

“Once upon a time, when stones were soft and stars were bits of dust, I loved a monster.”
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Willowdeen loves all creatures, even those that no one loves like the screechers that howl at night and emit a smell when frightened. Hunters in her village have been killing screechers for years, leaving them almost extinct. At the same time their town of Perchance has been plagued with fires that killed Willowdeen’s parents and brother, which forced her to move in with Mae and Birdie. The town’s coffers are running dry since their tourism has become almost nonexistent due to the lack of hummingbears that stopped migrating to their town. One day when Willowdeen is fighting for the screechers at the town council meeting, her angry tears cause a carving of a screecher given to her by her new friend, Connor, to come to life. Now Willowdeen will do anything to keep it alive.
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Applegate is the MG queen when it comes to books that are bigger than all of us. She’s able to take important topics and make them relatable for students. This novel deals with protecting our earth and it’s inhabitants, a topic we need to discuss more and more with our youth—the future of our planet. I pictured Greta Thunberg the entire time. This is another home run for Applegate and would make an amazing title for One Book One School. And this cover is adorable! This middle grade book releases 9.7.
CW: animal death

I read this book and had my son read it as well. His favorite book was The One and Only Ivan when he was younger, so I thought he'd be a good judge of it. We both enjoyed it and believe it would be good to have in a classroom for children to choose to read if they like. I love the cover as well.

This book is a lot of fun and is full of heart. In the village of Perchance creatures known as Screechers are seen as a nuisance for making loud noises and emitting skunk like odors. The town has put a bounty on their heads and that is not ok if you ask eleven year old Willodeen. Willodeen loves all animals, but she especially drawn to the odd ones, partially because Willodeen herself is a bit of a loner oddball.

Having lost her family in a terrible fire, and being taken in by two wonderful ladies, Birdie and Mae, Willodeen is determined to solve another one of the villages problems: their biggest tourist attraction and the lifeblood of their yearly faire, the Hummingbear, have begun to disappear. Can Willodeen protect the hated Screecher and bring back the beloved Hummingbear at the same time, or is this once lovely village going to fade away to nothing like these two creatures?

This is a light and easy read that students will love! I can't wait to add it to my classroom library when it comes out on September 7th.

This is probably my most favorite of Applegate's books. First, Willodeen is amazing. I love her personality. I love her found family. I love that she is so wholly herself. But I also love the fantastical elements, such as the Screechers, and the way that it unravels into a lesson about ecology and climate. I also love how all of her stories show that one person, one action... It means something. I highly recommend for elementary school and middle school readers alike.

Willodeen loves animals. Not just the cute ones that everyone likes, but all animals. She has a special fondness for screechers, the most hated animal in her village. Screechers aren’t just ugly & stinky, they also make an ear-splitting screeching noise. Because they are considered nothing but a nuisance, they have been hunted to near extinction. Nobody wants them around especially during the Honeybear Festival, a yearly festival hosted by Willodeen’s village.
Honeybears, miniature winged bears, spend several weeks in her village each fall. Tourists come from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the adorable bears, bringing tourism dollars that keep the town afloat until the next festival comes round. But fewer and fewer honeybears have visited over the past several years and everyone fears that they will stop coming at all. Nobody can figure out the reason until Willodeen uses her observation skills to find a connection between the screechers and honeybears. It isn’t easy to convince the adults in town that the two species are dependent on one another for survival. With the exception of the two women who adopted her after she lost her family in a fire & her friend’s father, the adults dismiss her outright and at times are cruel to her. But her love for nature and all it’s creatures gives her the courage to do what she knows is right. A timely message about the consequences of carelessly exploiting nature for our own gain with no regard for future.

I am a huge fan of this author and how she is able to get the reader invested in her story and characters. Willodeen was a sweet story about trusting in yourself and others around you. For me, it took awhile for me to get into the story. But as I read further into the book, I enjoyed the dynamics of the characters.
I would recommend this book to readers in my class and would love to use this as a novel study in the near future.

11 year old Willodeen has a soft spot for the underdog which is why she loves the smelly and grumpy screechers who derived their name from their insane nightly scream. Most villagers deem screechers a pest in contrast to the sweet hummingbears who draw tourists for the annual money-making Autumn Faire. Luckily, Mae and Birdie who unofficially adopted Willodeen after her family died in a wildfire also believe in the worth of screechers and allow Willodeen along with Duuzu, her pet hummingbear, to wander the forest in search of the strange beasts. Willodeen observes that both the screechers and hummingbears are becoming scare. She knows why the screechers are disappearing, for the village elders put a bounty on them deeming them a nuisance but what is the cause for hummingbears dwindling?

During her travels, she meet artistic Connor who unexpectedly leaves her one of his carved puzzlers in the form of a screecher as a birthday gift. Upset about the screecher situation, Willodeen’s angry tears magically make the screecher come to life. Named Quimby, this extraordinary animal teaches Willodeen the connection between screechers and hummingbears. Now if only Willodeen can convince the village to trust her.

I am always in awe of Applegate’s writing because her signature concise text carries a lot of weight and meaning. With short chapters, lots of white space, and Santoso’s gorgeous, delicate illustrations, Willodeen is accessible to a wide range of readers. While Willodeen is a blend of realistic fiction and fantasy, readers are easily transported to the village of Perchance because while screechers and hummingbears are not imaginary, the issues facing the town were real. I love that readers witness Willodeen’s astute deductive reasoning skills as she uncovers the relationship between screechers and hummingbears. Acknowledging the symbiotic relationship among species is vital to protecting the environment whether you live in Perchance or your own town. Thanks to Macmillian Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for sharing an eARC. Willodeen publishes soon on September 7, 2021.

Absolutely a fabulous book for kids. It reminds me a great deal of the story told in the Lorax - Willodeen speaks for the "screechers". Her hometown is isolated in unspecified rural mountains. The town folk barely scratch out a living and rely heavily on tourism supplied by the annual visitation and nesting of hummingbears. Wild fires are devouring much of the landscape, harsh dry winds are drying out the trees, and sadly, one year the hummingbears don't appear.

Willodeen, considered eccentric by most of the town, is observant and notices things others do not - patterns and cycles of nature. Her own family was lost in one of the raging fires, and now she lives with two women on the edge of town. They support Willodeen on her quest to save her town, and she and her new friend Connor seek answers.

It's the story of the ecology of a place, of an imbalance of nature and over use of natural resources. It is also the story of family and adventure, and believing that one person can make a huge impact on one's environment. A beautiful story, and timely in nature to our own rapidly changing world.

Love the concept, the setting, the imaginary animals, and the message: everything is connected. The one drawback for me is that I don’t find Willodeen’s voice (the story is told mostly from her POV) as convincing as those of other Applegate characters. Still, a good story to purchase for my library and share, especially with my 5th grade students, whose curriculum covers related topics.