“Wishtree” author reacts to Virginia community’s cancellation of “One Book” program

This conversation originally aired on the July 14, 2024 episode of “Inside Appalachia.”

Children’s author Katherine Applegate visited Floyd, Virginia, this spring after the school system canceled its community reading program “One Division, One Book” due to concerns about the book’s main character, an oak tree.

Applegate’s book Wishing tree was selected by the county school department’s “One Section, One Book” community reading program. Schools distribute a copy of the same book to each family and mandate reading a few chapters each night. In the middle of the reading program, however, the school system abruptly suspended the program. School officials sent an email to families in March saying community members had raised concerns about certain content in the book. The figure in question? A 216-year-old red oak tree.

The cancellation of the program sparked an outcry among parents, which led to Applegate’s visit. Applegate is a prolific author of young adult and children’s books. She won the Newbery Medal in 2013 for her novel The one and only Ivan. Wishing tree was released in 2017. It is told from the perspective of a red oak tree. It is called the wishing tree because there is a community tradition where people write wishes on one day of the year and hang them on the tree.

In the Appalachians Host Mason Adams spoke to Applegate before her appearance at a library.

Adams: For people who have not read it, can you describe what your book Wishing tree is about?

Applegate: You know, it’s funny; it’s about a lot of things. I always tell kids, once they read a book, it’s theirs. They find what they need in a story. But essentially it’s about welcoming. It’s about a community that’s had its share of immigrants over the years. And it’s told from the point of view of a red oak tree named Red, who happens to be 216 rings old. And I decided to do that A) because it would be fun. And I love playing with strange narrators. I’d just played Ivan the gorilla. So I thought I could handle that. And B) because a tree would have a really long perspective on the comings and goings of a community.

Adams: I would be happy if you would read a little Wishing tree.

Applegate: “I was happy to have Samar’s family come to the neighborhood. It had been a while since we had new arrivals. But I knew that in time they would put down roots, just like so many other families from so many other places.

“I know a lot about roots.

“One night, not long ago, Samar came to visit. It was two in the morning. Late, even for her.

“She had been crying. Her cheeks were wet. She leaned against me and her tears were like hot rain.

“In her hand was a small piece of cloth. Pink with little dots. There was something written on it.

“A wish. The first wish I’ve seen in months.

“I wasn’t surprised that she knew about the wishing tree tradition. I’m something of a local celebrity.”

“Samar stretched, carefully pulled down my lowest branch and tied the fabric into a loose knot.

“‘I wish,’ she whispered, ‘for a friend.'”

“She glanced over at the greenhouse. A shadow moved behind a curtain on the upper floor.

“And with that, Samar disappeared back into the little blue house.”

Adams: What was your inspiration for writing the book? Was there anything in particular?

Applegate: Yes, definitely. And that’s true of some of my writing. I was just talking to a group of kids at Blue Mountain School and I told them, “Write out of anger. Sometimes anger gives you the best ideas. The things that you’re passionate about, that make you curious, that worry you, that confuse you. But most of all, the things that make you angry.”

When I wrote The one and only IvanI had just read New York Times Article about this gorilla – true story – who was trapped in a mall in Tacoma, Washington and spent 27 years there. I was outraged and wanted to write about it. Wishing treeThe trigger was again an article, this time about a family in Iowa City. They happened to be Muslim, it could have been any family. But they had just moved into a neighborhood and someone had put a big note on their door saying, “Go away.” I was just outraged because we see this kind of thing so often. This was several years ago. And I’d like to say that things have gotten better, but I’m not sure that’s the case.

Adams: This book was selected for the community– and school-wide book programs across the U.S. What do you think resonates with people and makes it such a popular choice for these programs?

Applegate: By the way, it is a great honour to have a whole school – you know, the crossing guard and the lunch lady, everyone reads the book. I regularly confess to the children that I did not read much as a child. For me, the real gateway drug, if you will, was Wilbur and Charlotte the Pig. I just love this book. And I love animals. I was absolutely sure that I would be a vet when I grew up. So it was perfect for me.

After that, I started to see the value of reading, but it took a while. The idea of ​​a school reading – I think if I’d had that as a kid, it would have really changed my attitude to reading. Even if you don’t like the book. You don’t have to like the book, but you talk about it and everyone has the same experience.

With Wishing treeI hope that’s partly because it has some funny and poignant moments, but mostly because it’s so much about community and how we protect and welcome each other. It fits really well into a school curriculum.

Adams: I am a parent here with two children in the Floyd County school system. And this year, Wishing tree was selected for our One Department, One Book program. But in the middle of this year’s program, the school system sent out an email saying, “Some of our community members are uncomfortable with the content in question…After careful consideration, we have decided to suspend the One Department, One Book reading event. Families are welcome to continue reading the book on their own, but schools will not be offering any related activities.”

Apparently Chapter 5 was the spark of controversy. Would you mind reading that chapter?

Applegate: “We differ from crows not only in our names.

“Some trees are male. Some trees are female. And some, like me, are both.”

“It’s confusing, as is often the case in nature.

“Call me she. Call me he. Anything is possible.”

“Over the years, I’ve learned that botanists – those lucky souls who spend all day studying the lives of plants – call some trees, like hollies and willows, ‘dioecious,’ meaning there are separate male and female trees.

“Many other trees, like mine, are called ‘monoecious.’ That’s just a fancy way of saying that you find separate male and female flowers on the same plant.

“It is also proof that trees have a far more interesting life than we sometimes give them credit for.”

Adams: Did that come as a surprise to you? And was it also addressed in other community book programs?

Applegate: Well, the first time I heard that Wishing tree was challenged, I was actually on a book tour last year and a kid in the audience at a bookstore asked me about it. And I had no idea what he was talking about. Apparently it was challenged in Florida, it was featured in an Oscar-nominated short documentary last year called The ABCs of Book Banning. And in it there is a beautiful young Muslim girl who reads a passage from Wishing tree.

So that was my first indication that it occasionally had some effect on people. That particular objection was new to me. And while it’s easy to laugh at, I think the reason behind it is very clear.

Adams: What did you think when you heard about the situation in Floyd County? mentioned it on your Facebook page. What was your first reaction?

Applegate: I think what disturbed me the most was that the book was in the middle of the reading phase of One Division. So the kids were already in the middle of it. And there was no explanation as to why it was being pulled. So the message was clear: “Hey, there’s something wrong with this book. And you better not read it.” And of course, there’s no better way to get a kid to read a book than to tell them that.

Adams: What have you heard about the community here? I mean, you traveled here to give talks. What made you decide to come here?

Applegate: That’s what I think people take away from it. It was just wonderful how the parents got involved. One parent turned to me and said, “Hey, if you come, I have a bed and breakfast you can stay there.” Another said, “Hey, I’ll talk to the Roanoke Times and make sure they cover this.” And yet another said, “Hey, I’ll talk to the school board. I’ll do whatever you want.” It was remarkable. And the open arms that I was welcomed with just made me want to, “Hey, you have to go visit these kids.”

Adams: What would you say to children who were told they were not allowed to read your book?

Applegate: I say this to parents: If you don’t want your child to read a book, that is absolutely your right as a parent. If you don’t want your child to participate in sports or sex education, that is absolutely your right. But you can’t My Children what they can read and learn. And when I talk to children, I say, “Yeah, read it. They don’t want you to read it; read it.” But you know, that’s just my opinion.

Adams: What advice do you have for children who also want to become writers?

Applegate: I tell them over and over again, “Embrace your weirdness.” The wonderful thing about illustrators and children’s book authors is that we are all a little bit weird. And I mean that in the best way. We see the world differently. There is so much pressure when you grow up and want to be just like everyone else. And it is that spark, that weirdness, that often helps you see the world differently. I often tell them about The one and only Ivanwhich I threw away halfway through because I was convinced that no one would read a book about a gorilla. And then I realized, “You know what? I I want to read a book about a gorilla! I’m sticking with that.” And that’s how you have to approach your writing. You have to love what you write. Don’t worry about your best friend. Write from the heart.