Orphaned Willodeen lost her family in a tragic fire, but so still carries their lessons with her. Now living with Mae and Birdie, Willodeen would rather spend her time in nature like her father, then attend the local school. It's this intense love for nature that leads her to study the native wildlife, particularly the Screechers. In fact, she may be the only one alarmed when their numbers start to dwindle. The rest of the town is more concerned with the sweet Hummingbears and why they aren't returning for the annual festival. Could the two events be related? And if so, will Willodeen be able to solve the mystery before it's too late?
Katherine Applegate tells a sweet and timely tale of how nature works in relationships. There is so much to unpack in this book: from Willodeen's family situation and healing from trauma, to the interdependency of nature, to developing relational skills, and so much more. The themes in this book are all age appropriate for upper elementary to middle school, making it a wonderful tale to explore as a family or in the classroom. The characters are vulnerable and real. They each have unique strengths, and yet they also have weaknesses that can only be overcome in relation to each other. No one person is pitted as "the bad guy," rather the characters are rich with both good and bad qualities making them very relatable. The message was a little heavy handed at times, but all in all, Willodeen would make a lovely transitional novel for children who are ready for richer themes within a manageable length.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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