Wishtree

by Katherine Applegate
Lexile:  590
Genre: Fantasy

Red is an oak tree who has watched over the neighborhood for hundreds of years.  Red knows the detailed past and present of all the people and animals who have moved in and out over the years.  Many years ago, someone decided that Red would become a wishtree and that tradition has continued.  Every year many people bring small scraps of fabric or paper with their wishes written on them.  But this year is different...a new family has moved into the neighborhood and a young teenager has scratched the word LEAVE into Red's bark.  The owner of the land on which Red lives, has decided to cut the tree down.  Red isn't ready to be done with this neighborhood...can he and his friends change the owner's mind?