Katherine Applegate, author of THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN and WISHTREE, has just release another hit. WILLODEEN takes readers into a world of both fantasy and realism. Combining imagined creatures with real world problems, Applegate emphasizes the importance of the environment and the actions necessary to preserve the delicate balance that makes everything work.
Willodeen lives with two aging aunts. A fire destroyed her previous home and killed her mother, father, and brother. She spends most of her time wandering in the forest exploring nature. Living in Perchance means awaiting the annual Autumn Faire that celebrates the famous migration of the hummingbears. This year there is concern because no one has seen any hummingbears arriving to nest in the blue willows. How can there be a Faire if there are no hummingbears?
Willodeen has also noticed that the number of screechers living in the area has dwindled. No one likes the pests known for their awful odor and their frightening cries. Hunters have been killing them for the reward offered to rid Perchance of this annoyance. Willodeen believes she witnessed the death of the one remaining screecher.
When she meets a young boy named Connor, Willodeen discovers there is someone else just as concerned about the fate of the hummingbears and screechers as she is. One day Willodeen stumbles across something she thinks could be the result of magic. She discovers a baby screecher she immediately bundles up and carries home. Figuring out how to care for the creature takes both Willodeen and Connor's problem solving. When it is discovered the screecher loves eating peacock snails, another magical thing begins to happen. Could the presence of screechers be the answer to getting the hummingbears to return?
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