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.

"...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.

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.