Thank you Netgally for Willodeen. I was honored to have been granted access to one of my favorite authors newest offering in an ARC.

Katherine Applegate has given us a cautionary tale young and old are going to adore and in the meantime be left with a greater awareness of this world in which we share with some of the lowliest of creatures,

Our hero, as I think of her, is Eleven-year-old Willodeen. She adores creatures of all kinds, but her favorites are the most unlovable beasts in the land: strange beasts known as “screechers.” They are smelly and loud! The villagers of Perchance call them pests, even monsters, but Willodeen believes and understands screechers and all animals serve a vital role in the complicated web of nature. Yet, the adults want the unsightly beasts gone from their village.

Lately, though, her hometown of Perchance has seemingly angered nature. You see, Perchance has been cursed with fires and mudslides, droughts and fevers, and even the annual migration of hummingbears, a vital source of local pride and income, has dwindled. The hummingbears are tiny, adorable animals that winter in Perchance. They create beautiful shimmering bubble nests perched atop blue willow trees. This fact draws tourists from far and wide to see the startling creatures. The village puts on a street festival called The Faire that brings great revenue into Perchance. For as long as anyone can remember the hummingbear migration has been a financial lifeline for the little town. This year, however, not a single hummingbear has returned to Perchance, and no one knows why.

On her birthday, Willodeen receives a gift called a puzzler from her new friend, Connor that brings unexpected magic into her life and sparks a revelation in Willodeen. Even though she is young, she’s determined to speak up for the animals she loves, and with great hesitation, does so in the town meetings with boldness she didn’t know she possessed. Can a child possibly have discovered the key to the answer of the mystery of the missing hummingbears?

Readers will love the story and find it to be a timely and timeless tale about our fragile earth, and one girl’s fierce determination to make a difference.

Here are Applegate’s ending words to this impressive story...

“She has just a moment on this old, wise earth, this earth that will always be wiser than its inhabitants. And she is lucky indeed to be part of its magic.”

A heartfelt read! A young orphaned girl is determined to find and protect the last remaining Screecher, despite fierce opposition. She has to find a way to convince the townspeople that it is in their best interests, and that she has credibility. Beautifully depicted, it will empower readers to stand up for what is right, and protect the resources we have. Themes of conservation, believing in yourself, healing, and maybe some magic.

This was absolutely darling. I really appreciated the neurodivergent-coded main character, and her ability to be herself with her strengths saving the day. Really good message about the circle of life, and how important each of us is to the planet, no matter how repulsive or disagreeable. Excited for my kiddo to be old enough to read this together.

In Willodeen’s village of Perchance, there was a yearly Faire to celebrate the nesting of the fantastical beasts known as hummingbears. These winged bear like creatures who made nests of bubbles in the blue willow trees were cute, cuddly and a favorite tourist attraction. But to Willodeen, it was the ugly, monstrous screechers that found a way into her heart. When the hummingbears stopped nesting by the village, Willodeen felt certain it had to do with the disappearance of the screechers.

This whimsical tale of the fragility of nature and the chain reactions set off by events throughout the ecosystems is both timely and cautionary. Katherine Applegate is a master storyteller and this one does not disappoint. It is a great read to kick off a conservation unit and would make a wonderful read aloud for any age.

A fun story from the author of The One and Only Ivan and Wishtree. This one follows a young girl named Willodeen. She loves animals, but pays particular attention to one kind of animal, which the locals call "screechers" which have tusks and let out s horrible smell when scared. When her town starts paying hunters for screecher pelts, no one notices when the population is down to almost zero. They also don't notice that their beloved hummingbears are also missing. A great story of how nature works together, even the stinky, smelly ones.

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.

A good intro to environmental concepts like keystone species and how even nature we don't find to be cute or beautiful is important and has its place. I liked that the protagonist was coded as neurodivergent, too! The worldbuilding was excellent and the secondary characters were interesting as well. I want to see what hummingbear nests look like, they sound beautiful!

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.