Wishtree – Middle Grade Book Review

By georgieva.iskra / February 14, 2026

Book cover of Wishtree by Katherine Applegate, middle grade novel about racism and community featuring a large wish tree with red tags, an owl, and a crow.

In this Wishtree book review, Katherine Applegate’s middle-grade novel explores the experiences of an urban community through the lens of an oak tree.

Plot summary

The oak tree at the centre of Wishtree serves as a long-standing pillar of its community, holding the wishes of both children and adults. Over the years, Red quietly observes the lives of the human and animal inhabitants who gather around him. Set within a diverse neighbourhood, the narrative acknowledges that not all members are equally open to change. The arrival of a new family and an act of exclusion mark a turning point, revealing tensions within the neighbourhood.

Themes in Wishtree

Katherine Applegate invites readers to reflect on what it means to settle into a new place and on the universal need for a friend. Implicitly, the writer prompts thoughts about preconceptions and social expectations. The themes are developed through Applegate’s characteristic use of short sentences. The clean typography and Charles Santoso’s illustrations reinforce the book’s reflective tone. At the same time, they combine a calm, energy-filled environment: from the oak leaf motif to the dynamic community of animals.

Wishtree, with its themes of racism, friendship, empathy, and character development, is excellent for children ages 9 to 12 and for fans of The One and Only Ivan by the same author, which won the Newbery Medal. The story encourages readers to reconsider community and the impact of everyday acts of kindness.

Final Thoughts

The middle-grade novel Wishtree is an excellent choice for celebrating Earth Day and for an inclusive reading in KS2.

Further Information:

If you loved Wishtree, check out more information about its author and illustrator: