Author: Katherine Applegate
Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore
Author Katherine Applegate has many well-known books to her name, including The One and Only Ivan and The One and Only Bob, and her latest, Willodeen, is just as wonderful as all the others. Willodeen was released last September and is intended for ages 8-12. There are roughly 260 pages, with a large font, so it is not too difficult of a read at all.
Willodeen, the main character, is not like the other kids her age. She doesn’t have any friends, she is often bullied, and she is constantly in nature, asking questions, making observations, sketching what she sees. She also loves screechers – even though the rest of the town considers them to be smelly, nasty rodents that need to be killed off. Willodeen puts her skills to use though when the town’s pride and joy, the hummingbears, seem to have gone extinct. Without them, the town cannot host their annual Faire, which brings in heavily-needed tourist dollars. What Willodeen comes to realize is that the screechers are connected to the hummingbears – the latter cannot exist without the help of the former. But, ultimately, will the adults of the town actually listen to the words of an 11-year-old, or will they cast her off as a bizarre child who surely doesn’t understand how nature works?
The undercurrent of the book is definitely one of environmental activism – Willodeen is trying to help fight back against the frequent wildfires, the extended droughts, the disappearing species. And it’s a very good message for kids too, that even they can make a difference. If they see something that needs help, they can ask questions, conduct simple experiments, and come up with possible solutions. You can substitute monarchs for the hummingbears and kids have an immediate jumping-off point after reading this. Willodeen is full of other lovely points too, like the neighbors who step in to raise Willodeen, like Connor the puzzler-making new friend, like the supportive school teacher who actually listens. Overall, this book is a beautiful, inspiring tale of a young girl with a huge heart, an unbounded curiosity, and a fierce determination.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of Willodeen today!
