Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Wishtree is the newest release from Katherine Appelgate, award-winning author of The One and Only Ivan. This tale of friendship, community, and acceptance is told from the point of view of Red, neighborhood oak tree. Red is known to the neighborhood as the wishtree, because each spring adults and children tie ribbons, scraps of fabric, and even underwear that contain wishes onto Red. This tradition hasn't been a problem until recently. Red and his animal friends work together help the people in the neighborhood. (I don't want to tell too much about the plot, because I don't want to give away too much.)

I think this book make a perfect read aloud for grades 1-6. The chapters are relatively short and manageable length for readers. The characters are engaging and speak to issues we unfortunately address each day. I can just imagine the thoughtful discussions that would come from discussions about Red and the characters in Wishtree.  Classroom teachers and librarians need to read Wishtree in order to be able to talk about it and recommend it to that special reader.

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (part 1)

      Early this year I fell in love with The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. In March I read the book and immediately felt I needed to tell all my other reading friends about it. I read it with other teachers in our staff book club. (You can read all about that here.) I purchased a copy for each of my fourth graders, and we read it together before they graduated from Lincoln Elementary. We didn't understand how a mother could be so cruel to her daughter, Ada. We were touched by the growth Ada made when she was able to escape her mother's cruelty while facing the problems of World War II England. We were so disappointed when the story ended. There were so many questions related to the characters that were left unanswered.
      We were elated to hear that Kimberly Brubaker Bradley was releasing a sequel to The War that Saved My Life in October. Hopefully our questions would be answered. Would Ada receive surgery to repair her clubfoot? Would Ada's mom allow her and Jamie to remain with Susan? What would happen to Butter? How would the town survive WWII?
     Yesterday I was able to get my hands on The War I Finally Won. I am on page 11 of the book, and I have really mixed feelings. I can't wait to keep reading, but I have such strong feelings about how I think Ada's story should turn out. Will I be disappointed with the sequel? I really hope not.
     As a reader I'm suggesting you do two things-

• First, read The War that Saved My Life. Tell me what you think. 
• Second, follow up by reading The War I Finally Won, 

Happy Reading!!!