Super Short Summary

In Katherine Applegate’s Wishtree, a 216-year-old northern oak tree named Red narrates the story of a diverse, modern American town where Red serves as a wishtree. The townspeople tie wishes to Red’s branches every year, continuing a tradition started by an Irish immigrant named Maeve. Red befriends Samar, a lonely Muslim girl who wishes for friendship amidst escalating harassment. After a vandal carves a threatening message into Red's trunk, Red breaks the rule of nature by speaking to humans to unite the community and save their own life. By Wishing Day, the town rallies to support Samar's family, and Francesca, Red’s owner, decides not to cut the tree down, honoring her great-great-grandmother Maeve’s legacy of love and tolerance.