Wishtree
Wishtree, by Newbery Medal-winning author Katherine Applegate, is a heartfelt middle-grade novel narrated by a 216-year-old oak tree named Red. The story centers on themes of community, kindness, inclusion, and religious tolerance as Red observes and interacts with the diverse inhabitants of its neighborhood. The central conflict arises with the arrival of a Muslim family, Samar and her parents, who face prejudice from some community members. The book explores how Red, along with its animal friends, works to foster friendship and acceptance, especially when Red itself faces the threat of being cut down. The narrative is presented in short, accessible chapters, making it suitable for young readers typically aged 8-12, though it is also recommended for read-alouds with younger children. While addressing serious topics like discrimination and xenophobia, Applegate maintains a gentle and often humorous tone through Red's observant and wise perspective and the antics of its animal companions. The story encourages empathy and understanding differences, offering a message of hope and the importance of standing up for others.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe main character, Red the oak tree, identifies as both female and male, noting, “Some trees are male. Some trees are female. And some, like me, are both.” Red also states, “Call me she. Call me he. Anything will work,” acknowledging diverse pronouns. This explicit gender-neutral or nonbinary identity of the central character has led to challenges from some parents, particularly those from Christian backgrounds, who view it as promoting nonbinary concepts. The author, Katherine Applegate, has described challenges to the book as 'bigotry against LGBTQ people'.
1. Red, the oak tree narrator, explicitly states its gender identity as encompassing both male and female, saying, 'Some trees are male. Some trees are female. And some, like me, are both.' 2. Red further indicates an acceptance of diverse pronouns, narrating, 'Call me she. Call me he. Anything will work.' This portrayal has been a point of contention and a reason for the book's suspension from reading programs in some school districts due to parental complaints about 'promoting transgenderism and nonbinary pronouns'.
Violence
MediumThe book contains instances of implied or threatened violence and acts of vandalism, rather than graphic physical violence. A significant act of hostility involves a boy carving a hateful message into the main character, Red. The theme of an animal being threatened with harm (being cut down) also runs through the narrative, and historical backstories involve loss of life.
1. A boy carves the word 'LEAVE' into Red's trunk, targeting Samar's Muslim family, which is an act of vandalism and an implied threat of exclusion. 2. Red, the sentient oak tree, faces the impending threat of being cut down by Francesca, the property owner, which is a significant source of tension and emotional distress within the story. 3. Red recalls a past incident involving Maeve, an Irish immigrant, whose family members died, indicating themes of historical hardship and loss, though not explicitly violent scenes.
Witchcraft & Occult
MediumThe central premise of the 'wishtree' involves people tying wishes to its branches in hopes they will come true, a practice rooted in Irish tradition. Red, the main character, is a sentient, talking tree that also communicates with animals, presenting elements of magical realism and anthropomorphism. While not depicting explicit dark magic or occult rituals, the 'wish-granting' nature of the tree can be interpreted as a form of benign superstition or folk magic.
1. The core narrative revolves around Red being a 'wishtree,' where people write wishes on cloths and tie them to its branches, believing in the power of the tree to hear and potentially help fulfill these wishes. 2. Red is a talking tree that can understand and communicate with various animals, such as Bongo the crow, giving it a supernatural ability beyond natural trees. This anthropomorphic element is central to how Red understands and influences the human world.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe book contains intense emotional themes related to prejudice, discrimination, and the threat of loss, which could be upsetting for sensitive readers. Samar's family experiences unwelcoming behavior, and Red faces the existential threat of being cut down. While not graphic or horror-focused, these elements contribute to a tense emotional atmosphere.
1. Samar, a young Muslim girl, and her family face escalating harassment and unwelcoming behavior from some neighbors, including the carving of 'LEAVE' into Red's bark, creating a fearful and isolating experience for them. 2. The ongoing threat that Red, the central and beloved character, will be chopped down by Francesca is a significant source of suspense and sadness for both the characters and the reader.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe book explicitly addresses themes of disrespect and prejudice through the actions of certain community members towards Samar's family. A clear act of disrespect is the vandalism of Red, the central symbol of community. However, the narrative also highlights positive acts of standing up to intolerance, showing children and teachers rallying against such negativity.
1. A clear act of disrespect is when a boy carves the word 'LEAVE' into the bark of Red, the neighborhood wish tree, directly targeting the new Muslim family and expressing unwelcoming sentiment. 2. Samar and her family experience 'mistreatment' and 'suspicion' from some residents, demonstrating a general disrespectful attitude from parts of the community towards newcomers who are different.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumThe book is not overtly anti-Christian but may present themes that some Christian parents find concerning or conflicting with their worldview. It promotes religious tolerance by featuring a Muslim family and their experiences, and the 'wishtree' tradition is a non-Christian spiritual practice. The gender identity of Red, the tree, as 'both' male and female, has also been a point of contention for some Christian parents who perceive it as promoting unbiblical gender ideology. One Christian review indicated that while the book has 'unbiblical topics,' it can also be used for 'profound teaching moments'.
1. The central 'wishtree' concept, where people tie wishes to a tree in a hopeful, quasi-magical practice, is a form of folk tradition that may be seen as superstitious or conflicting with Christian theological perspectives on prayer and providence. 2. The narrative features a Muslim family as central characters, promoting acceptance and religious tolerance towards a non-Christian faith, which, while positive for many, might be seen by some Christian parents as validating non-Christian worldviews without critical distinction.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowThe book, a middle-grade novel, contains no explicit romance or sexual content. There is a historical subplot involving a wish for love and the formation of a family through adoption, but this is presented in a non-romantic, non-sexual context suitable for the target audience.
1. The character Maeve, in a historical backstory, makes a wish 'for someone to love,' which is later fulfilled through the adoption of an abandoned baby, focusing on familial love rather than romantic or sexual relationships. 2. The narrative primarily focuses on themes of friendship, community, and acceptance, and does not include any romantic relationships or sexual undertones among its characters, human or animal.
Profanity
LowReviews and summaries indicate that the book is generally free of profanity. One Christian parental review specifically noted that there was 'no cursing' directed towards the family experiencing prejudice.
1. A parental review explicitly states, 'We don't really see name-calling or even physical violence toward the family,' which implies the absence of curse words or strong language. 2. No instances of profanity are mentioned across numerous general or specific content reviews for the book, reinforcing that it maintains language appropriate for its middle-grade audience.
Substance Use
LowThere is no indication of substance use, such as alcohol, drugs, or smoking, within the content analysis or reviews of 'Wishtree'. The book is intended for a middle-grade audience and does not feature such themes.
1. Across numerous summaries and parental reviews, no mentions of characters engaging in or discussing substance use were found. 2. The narrative's focus on a talking tree and themes of community and acceptance for a young audience means substance use is entirely absent from the story.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 8-12, suitable for independent reading or as a read-aloud for younger children (ages 4-7) with parental guidance, due to themes of prejudice and gender identity.
Additional Notes
The book primarily focuses on universal themes of kindness, empathy, and acceptance, utilizing the unique perspective of a sentient tree and its animal inhabitants to address societal issues like xenophobia and prejudice. While some elements, particularly the gender identity of the main character and the 'wishtree' practice, may spark discussion or concern among certain Christian parents, the overall message champions inclusivity.
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