Newbery Award

'Wishtree' Author Responds To Virginia Community’s Cancellation Of 'One Book' Program

Katherine Applegate’s book Wishtree was the book chosen by the county school division’s “One Division, One Book” community reading program. The schools distribute a copy of the same book to every family, with a schedule to read a few chapters each night. Midway through the reading, 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 material in the book. The character in question? A 216-year-old red oak tree.