Trees can’t tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories.

Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood “wishtree”―people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red’s branches. Along with a crow named Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red’s hollows*, this wishtree watches over the neighborhood.

You might say Red has seen it all.

Then a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red’s experience as a wishtree is more important than ever.

Red is the antithesis* of what you see in many action-packed middle grade stories: calm, cool, steady, stationary, quiet. Fortunately, the tree’s animal friends provide movement and comic relief*.

The book’s human characters are more enigmatic*. We only see small insights into their actions and motivations from Red’s stationary vantage point.

The book has short chapters and the writing is straightforward. All levels of middle grade readers will be able to handle the writing and the themes, which focus on diversity*, inclusion*, kindness and love.

Funny, deep, warm and nuanced*, this is a New York Times bestseller by Katherine Applegate, who is also the author of “The One and Only Ivan,” recipient of the Newbery Medal.

The book is available at online bookstores like jd.com.

(SD-Agencies)