Katherine Applegate – BookBunnies

Caramel reviews Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Both Caramel and Marshmallow have enjoyed reading many books by Katherine Applegate through the years. And they have reviewed them for the book bunnies blog. (Readers might enjoy Marshmallow’s reviews of The One And Only Ivan, Willodeen and Crenshaw, and Caramel’s reviews of The One and Only Bob, The One and Only Ruby, and The One and Only Family.) Today Caramel is talking to Sprinkles about Wishtree, first published in 2017.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, today we are talking about a new-to-us book by Katherine Applegate.

Caramel: Yep. It is named Wishtree and it is about a wishtree. A wishtree is a tree that people tie things to its leaves and branches to make a wish. A tree for making wishes. So It’s kind of like the name of the book.

S: Yes, I suppose it is very descriptive. So this is a book about a tree. How does that work? Wouldn’t that be kind of boring?

C: No, it is a tree that can talk, so it is interesting. And it is the tree telling its own story so you learn that the inside story of trees is really not boring at all.

S: Wait, the book is narrated by a tree? I have to read this book; it sounds fascinating!

C: Yes, it really is.

S: Okay, so please tell me more.

C: Okay, so, in this town there is this oak tree that has been there for two hundred years, and at some point the people who live there have started to think that if they write a wish on a piece of paper and tie it to the branch of the tree, it will grant their wishes.

S: Does it actually work?

C: Yes, but not because of magic or anything. The tree is not magical, but it can still help sometimes, because it has animal friends that help it to grant wishes.

S: So the tree has friends? That is cool. And they are not all other trees.

C: Oh no. It has many animal friends. There is a crow named Bongo, for example, that is the tree’s best friend.

S: Cool. So is the whole book about the tree and its friends then?

C: Yep, but this person whose garden the tree is in wants to cut it down, and its friends try to save it.

S: The tree’s animal friends?

C: Yes. And they do manage to save it in the end.

S: That’s good.

C: Yes. Then there is a child named Samar in town who is bullied because she is different from the others, because her family is Muslim and some of the other children do not treat her very kindly. So Samar is very lonely and she wishes for a friend. And then things get really tense but the tree and its animal friends find a really kind way to solve all the problems. Samar gets a friend and the person who wanted to cut the tree down remembers her great-great-grandmother’s first wish which came true and made the wishtree become a wishtree.

S: So all ends well then?

C: Yes, and you know I always like happy stories.

Caramel is reading Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. — Caramel is reading *Wishtree* by Katherine Applegate.

S: I do. Did you know that the author wrote this book after The One and Only Ivan, thinking that after writing through the eyes of a gorilla, writing through the eyes of a tree could also be fun?

C: No, but that is really cool!

S: I agree. Did you also know that some people tried to ban this book? Apparently because the tree says that it is both female and male so it has both genders, so people thought this was inappropriate for young readers. Here is an interview with the author about one such event.

C: Oh, well, that is interesting, but I disagree. It is a scientific fact that oak trees have both male and female flowers on them.

S: Apparently it is called monoecious. Even Wikipedia has an article on monoecy.

C: Hmm, I did not know the word, but I knew the concept. Some trees can reproduce just by themselves.

S: Of course Caramel, you and your facts! I am just happy I at least found a word that you did not know.

C: No I knew the word monoecious, the tree calls itself that in the book. I just did not know the word “monoecy”.

S: You continue to amaze me Caramel.

C: Yep, I am amazing, aren’t I?

S: Yes, but I would not call you very modest. Anyways, do you think this is a good place to end our review?

C: Yep, I think that would be a good idea.

S: Would you recommend Wishtree to other little bunnies?

C: Yes. It is a really nice story about friendship and kindness and also trees and how cool they are. And it has a happy ending. What is not to like? So yes, every little bunny should read it!

S: Okay, that is great Caramel. So let us wrap things up. What do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Wishtree by Katherine Applegate and recommends it to all little bunnies who like the quiet of trees and find happiness in friendship. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Wishtree* by Katherine Applegate and recommends it to all little bunnies who like the quiet of trees and find happiness in friendship.

Caramel reviews The One and Only Family by Katherine Applegate

Last week Caramel reviewed The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate, the third book about the motley crew of dear friends of silverback Ivan whose story started it all. Today he reviews the fourth and currently the last book in this series, The One and Only Family, which was released earlier this month. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking followup questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, this is the fourth book in this series. What can you tell us about it?

Caramel: This is the newest book in the One and Only Ivan series. I can’t say it is the best but it is pretty good.

S: Do you have a favorite?

C: No, they are all so good. That is why I can’t say this is the best, because they are all the best.

S: I see. Okay, so the first three books had Ivan, Bob, and Ruby in their titles, and they were mainly narrated by Ivan, Bob, and Ruby, respectively. But this one does not have a name in the title. It is just “family”. So who is telling this story?

C: Ivan.

S: The one and only!

C: Yes! The OG!

S: So we are back at the beginning, kind of. Tell me what is going on with Ivan then.

C: He is going to be a daddy!

S: I remember he had a mate in the second book, but I don’t think they had babies together.

C: Yep. Ivan had a mate named Kinyani. And in this book they have twin babies!

S: That is so exciting! But wait, if there is a new book, there might be new problems to solve. Can you tell us a bit more? What is the book about then?

C: It is about the joys and challenges of parenthood.

S: That is such a lofty thing to say for such a tiny little bunny!

C: Well, I am sort of quoting Ivan.

S: Oh I see. I remember Ivan was a quite sophisticated gorilla.

Caramel is reading The One and Only Family by Katherine Applegate. — Caramel is reading *The One and Only Family* by Katherine Applegate.

S: So tell me more about the book.

C: There are times when Ivan is sad because he remembers his original family, and there are a lot of funny and sweet things that happen, too. Just what you would expect from this series. It is always so good!

S: I see. I am guessing you liked the book then.

C: Obviously!

S: Okay, so if you were to describe it using three to five words ,what would you say?

C: Funny adventures with old friends, hard-to-put-down page-turner.

S: Hmm, again, that is a lot more than three to five words, but it will do. You said old friends. So do we see Bob the dog and Ruby the elephant in this book, too?

C: Yes. And the girl too, Julia.

S: I see. More or less the same main cast then.

C: Yes, but we get to see more of Kinyani, and then there are the twins, Raji and Tuma.

S: And they are all as likeable as the original crew?

C: Yes, I liked them!

S: So you would recommend this book to other bunnies?

C: Yes, but it would be best if they read the earlier books first. They would know the characters much better that way.

S: Makes sense to me Caramel. Okay, so maybe this is a good time to wrap up this review. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading The One and Only Family by Katherine Applegate and will not forget these wonderful friends for a long while. — Caramel loved reading *The One and Only Family* by Katherine Applegate and will not forget these wonderful friends for a long while.

Caramel reviews The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate

Marshmallow was the first one who read and reviewed The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, but Caramel followed her soon after. Then he read and reviewed the sequel, The One and Only Bob. This week he finally got his paws on the third book in the series: The One and Only Ruby, published in 2023. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, here we are, talking about yet another book about the gorilla Ivan and his friends.

Caramel: Yes, but this one is not so much about Ivan. It’s more about Ruby, the baby elephant that we met in The One and Only Ivan.

S: Oh, is she still a baby in this book?

C: Yes. Or maybe she is a bit older, she is acting like seven or eight, but that would be still quite young for an elephant. Or maybe she is only two years old, because apparently that is around the time elephants start getting their tusks, and that is what is happening in this book.

S: That is interesting!

C: And what is also interesting is that apparently some female elephants lost their tusks by evolution in the second half of the twentieth century due to ivory poaching. It is very interesting but also very sad and angry-making. Why do people have to kill elephants for their tusks? It is theirs! Let them keep their own tusks!

S: I know Caramel, and I totally agree with you. It is not fair. But let us come back to Ruby and the book. So what is the book about? Is it all about her tusks?

C: Not quite. It is more generally about her story. She does not like tusks, and there is a sad reason for that.

S: Hmm, I am getting some ideas because of what we just talked about.

C: Yep. And that’s why I am glad we are not elephants. But I won’t tell you more.

Caramel is reading The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate. — Caramel is reading *The One and Only Ruby* by Katherine Applegate.

S: Okay, then, maybe we can move on. Tell me about the book in other ways. Is Ruby the narrator this time? The Ivan book was narrated by Ivan and the Bob book was narrated by Bob.

C: Yes, this is from Ruby’s voice though Ivan and Bob are still around.

S: Does she sound different from them?

C: A little. So it is the same style in some way but different enough to be convincing.

S: Okay. Is the book funny? Or just sad?

C: Both. So it is sometimes sad and sometimes funny.

S: I understand you are itching to read the next book, which just came out. So you must have liked this one.

C: Yes, I did. Very much.

S: Alright, so if you were to describe the book in three to five words–

C: I’d say: emotionally complicated, important topics with sweet old friends.

S: That is more than five words but I think they will work. I knew you had missed Ivan and Bob.

C: I did!

S: Okay, Caramel. Then let us wrap up this review so you can read the next book. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate and is keen to read and review the fourth book in the series; stay tuned! — Caramel loved reading *The One and Only Ruby* by Katherine Applegate and is keen to read and review the fourth book in the series; stay tuned!

Marshmallow reviews Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Marshmallow and Caramel both loved Katherine Applegate’s 2012 book The One and Only Ivan; Marshmallow even reviewed it for the book bunnies blog. She has also reviewed Willodeen by the same author. Today she writes about Crenshaw, a 2015 novel by Applegate.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like books about family, friends, magic, or growing up, or if you have enjoyed other books by Katherine Applegate, then this might be the book for you.

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Jackson’s family is having financial issues so much so that he and his sister Robin invent games to slowly savor the small amount of food they have. Their parents are clearly nervous about their financial situation but try to hide it from the kids. Jackson is a no-nonsense kind of kid; he wants the facts, as hard and cold as they may be. He finds it annoying, insulting almost, that his parents are trying to hide their troubles or dismiss them as small or insignificant.

Jackson most fears losing their house. When he was younger (around the time he was in first grade), his family lost their house. His father, who worked jobs requiring physical labor, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and so they had to live in their van for fourteen months. Thankfully, they could eventually move into an apartment. But now, they are once again facing financial difficulties and a seemingly impending eviction, so Jackson feels overwhelmed.

One night, his imaginary friend Crenshaw reappears. Crenshaw is a large black-and-white cat who has fingers, can talk, and likes bubble baths and purple jelly beans. Fittingly, Jackson rediscovers Crenshaw while he is taking a bubble bath. Most kids would be happy, perhaps comforted, to see their old imaginary friend from their younger years. Jackson, however, is most displeased. He does not want Crenshaw here and now for several reasons. First, he thinks he is going insane. Secondly, he thinks it is childish. And finally, he thinks it forebodes and perhaps guarantees that his family will lose their home and become homeless again. This is because Crenshaw first appeared right after Jackson’s family became homeless the first time. He fears that Crenshaw’s reappearance is a telling sign. So he forces Crenshaw out, physically (out of his house) and mentally.

But this does not stop their eviction. Even though his parents work hard to fix their financial situation, selling almost all of their possessions, Jackson and his family find themselves kicked out of their home and are forced to live once more in their van. Jackson doesn’t know where he will go to the bathroom next, when or where his next meal will be, or even if he will be able to stay in his school. Can he and his family survive a life full of instability and insecurity?

Marshmallow is reading Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. — Marshmallow is reading *Crenshaw* by Katherine Applegate.

Marshmallow’s Review: I think Crenshaw is a very good book. It depicts a very sad portrait of what a disturbingly high number of children’s lives look like today. The adversity and challenges that Jackson and his family face was actually based on the lives of children the author (Katherine Applegate) met. Jackson and his family’s situation is all too painfully real for too many people today.

This book is moving. The development of the characters and plot is expertly done. The uncertainty of Jackson’s life is evident throughout the book and is conveyed very well to the reader.

I think that Crenshaw is an important book for all people, regardless of age, to read. I think that everyone needs to read this book, so understanding and empathy would increase for those going through a difficult time similar to the one faced by the characters in this book.

I have enjoyed reading some of Katherine Applegate’s other books (you can read my reviews of The One and Only Ivan and Willodeen) and felt that this one had a similar writing “voice”: soft yet powerful at the same time. The simple storytelling makes it an accessible read for all ages and experience levels. There is no violence, sexual content, foul language, or other things that would make this book inappropriate for younger readers; so simply put, anyone of any age could read and like this book.

The main point I would make was that I felt that the titular character of Crenshaw was not seen as much as one could have liked or expected. However, the development of themes (like the magical aspects of life versus the determinedly logical mind of Jackson, or the idea of family forever) was very well done.

I love the cover photo and think the title is very clever. The title for the copy I read is white, but appears to have a 2D fur-like texture. In summary, I really enjoyed reading Crenshaw and would recommend it to all.

Marshmallow’s Rating: 97%.

Marshmallow rates Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate 97%. — Marshmallow rates *Crenshaw* by Katherine Applegate 97%.