“Willodeen”
by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Charles Santoso.
Feiwel and Friends, New York, 2021, 260 pages, Grades 4-6.
Science has rapidly developed in the last century. Whereas many people did not understand the interconnectedness of the biological world in the first half of the 20th century, this understanding now is the basis of the ecological studies of nature.
When something is removed from nature, a series of chain events happen. Sometimes a species of bird will become extinct. This was the case of the passenger pigeon in North America. But the recent awareness of ecology has also brought species such as the bald eagle, back from extinction. Katherine Applegate addresses many of the issues involved in current ecological discussion in this charming book, “Willodeen.”
In this novel, readers will discover the consequences of people making decisions to solve a “supposed” problem. As Applegate points out, this solution sometimes leads to terrible events in nature.
Willodeen is a young girl living on the outskirts of the village of Perchance. In the forests outside the village, hoglike creatures known as “screechers” live in the underbrush. They have a horrible smell and are hated by most of the villagers. The screechers root under blue willow trees and eat grubs while turning over the earth.
The blue willow trees are also the home of the beautiful “hummingbears.” These lovely creatures migrate through the village during the year and bring many tourists to the community. But the visits of the hummingbears are becoming less frequent. Members of the town decide the screechers are to blame and begin killing them. Willodeen and her friend Connor study both animals. They are concerned that their village is dying because of drought and the lack of the hummingbear migration. The drought causes the forest to dry and wither, making it a tinderbox for a future forest fire.
The children begin to understand the relationship of the screechers and the hummingbears. They challenge hunters seeking to kill the screechers and actually lie to save one from being shot. They want to tell the village elders all that they have learned about the connection between the screechers and the hummingbears. But who wants to listen to children when the drought and the poor economy take up so much energy?
Somebody needs to listen. A giant fire erupts in the forest and races towards the village. All the people must pull together to save the town. The catastrophe is barely averted and everyone wants to know how to stop these terrible fires and the changes in nature. Only Willodeen and Connor understand. They go to the village meeting and address the adults. What do they say?
Do Willodeen and Connor prove their theories? Are the screechers and the hummingbears somehow interconnected? Can changes called “progress” actually be part of the problem? How do people preserve the natural world while still finding the resources needed to live? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out “Willodeen” by Katherine Applegate.
Applegate writes about the interconnectedness of the physical world. However, she doesn’t condemn people for using the natural resources of the world. People and animals need to eat. This means there is a life cycle in nature that is good and ordered. What she is arguing for is the recognition that the natural world needs to be respected. If this understanding is lost, then droughts, forest fires and other natural disasters will occur. The relationship between Willodeen and Connor tenderly leads readers to this understanding. Middle school readers will find this book satisfying and helpful in understanding the interrelationships between people and the physical world.
