I was excited to read this story from the author of The One and Only Ivan, Crenshaw, and Wishtree, but I didn't know what to expect when I began it. Willowdeen quickly became my favorite of the author's characters, which surprised me because Ivan and Red are high on my list of fictional favorites. 10-year-old (soon to be 11) Willowdeen realizes that she doesn’t seem to know the social niceties that other people do; She has an affection for “strange beasts,” her favorite being the super-stinky screechers - creatures who have no apparent value or benefit in her world; She lives in a community affected by mudslides, droughts, fevers, and fires - one of which takes Willowdeen’s family when she is only six (an event mentioned, but not seen) While significant, this loss is tempered by those who take Willowdeen in, care for her, and encourage her to use her voice to aid the now-hunted-for-a-bounty screechers. The author has created a perfect mix of harsh realities of the (fictional) world with elements of fantasy such as the sweet bubble-blowing hummingbears and even the smelly, clawed screechers - one very special one in particular. Readers will root for Willowdeen to discover how to care for that special screecher and to use her skills of observation and deduction to figure out how to help not just her beloved creatures, but also the residents of the village whose livelihoods and even lives are threatened by fires and other environmental changes around them. Teachers like me, who love reading books aloud to their students, will like the short chapters, the literary language, and most importantly the chance to share a story together that shows the power of the families we find, friendship, and the voices of our young people to help us see how change can start or that it is needed in the first place.

11 year old willodeen loves all animals. I love the name willodeen. She loves a strange animal called the screechers. They are monsters and feared.The land has been overrun with droughts,fires,mudslides and sickness. Hummingbears a favored animal has disappeared. I loved wiloodeens love for the unlovable.

I loved this book and read it in one sitting! It was a wonderful mix of reality and fantasy. The story is about a 10 year old girl named Willodeen who has suffered great loss. She is different and doesn't always fit in, a theme that young readers will certainly understand and relate to. Willodeen feels more comfortable with nature than she does with people. She especially loves and closely observes one special kind of animal called a screecher that most others consider a nuisance or pest. The survival of her town depends on the arrival of the hummingbears each year who make beautiful bubble nests and bring in tourists. When the hummingbears dwindle and then don't arrive at all, everyone is looking for a solution. Does Willodeen's careful notes contain an answer to their problems? You will have to read it to find out! I am a middle school science teacher and I think this will be a wonderful read aloud for the beginning of the school year. Even though she doesn't know it, Willodeen is a scientist. This will be a great example of real world science. Being observant and asking the right questions will lead you to the correct tests to run. This would also be a good book to read for Earth day because it has environmental themes as well. I think this book will be a big hit and I am thankful to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy!

Katherine Applegate has surpassed herself with Willodeen. A cautionary tale about the results of the misuse of nature, this story doesn’t hold much back. Raw with loss, the main (human) character must deal with unspeakable tragedy. Yet Applegate treats the subject with pragmatism; just the way children need to deal with difficulties. And with loved ones, which Willodeen grows to accept.

The primary purpose of the book is to illustrate how nature (and humans) are connected. That these connections are what insures a healthy future for all. A rich springboard for limitless discussions and studies about nature and humans’ responsibility for our planet and all of the inhabitants, Whether feathered, furred, or finned.

In Willodeen, Katherine Applegate brings to life a magical world with fascinating creatures like screeches and hummingbears. While the hummingbears are cute and beloved, the screechers are stinky beasts that are almost hunted to extinction. No one likes them but Willodeen, an eleven year old girl that loves all animals and understands that nature is a delicate balance. Fans of The One and Only Ivan will love this book as well with it's short chapters, lovable characters, and important message of acceptance.

Fast paced but very tender, Willodeen is set in an alternative US populated by magic and unusual animals. Key amongst them are the monstrous "screechers," beasts which seem to be blue-hued combinations of boars and skunks, and the far more appealing hummingbears. Willodeen's community is largely reliant on income generated during an annual celebration of the latter and views the former to be such a pest that they've been nearly hunted to extinction. But now the hummingbears are becoming rarer and rarer too and it's only Willodeen who makes the connection between the two trends. A very accessible (and sometimes adorable) story about nature and conservation with strong themes of loss, recovery, and embracing difference throughout.

This whimsical novel is reminiscent of the gorgeous pros that Applegate normally writes. The protagonist Willodene is dealing with a loss and she’s trying to figure out how to navigate this new world without the family she had before. She realizes the family is sometimes found through the depths of trauma. The story mixes magic with the promise of change and healing.

Another huge hit from Katherine Applegate!! This is one of my favorites she has written. I love how Applegate takes important issues (in this case our co-dependence on nature and on one another) and gives it a fantasy spin. I love how in all her books she keeps chapters short which makes it harder to put down. Kids as well as adults will love this one. I love the characters, both human and not. Well done and beautifully written.