Overview

An instant #1 New York Times bestseller! An instant indie bestseller! An Indie Next pick! From the Newbery Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The One and Only Ivan and Odder comes a stunning middle grade standalone novel-in-verse about compassion, resilience, and surprising friendships, following a dog named Wombat in the aftermath of a catastrophic fire. Wombat isn't actually a wombat--but when the homeless dog is discovered, singed and ash-covered after a terrible fire destroys a community, someone tags her with the nickname and it sticks. Wombat is a ""destiny dog."" Something inside of her (she nicknames it ""Voice') keeps telling her there's a special someone out there who is meant to be her person. Surrounded by a devastated town, Wombat takes up residence on bench near the makeshift community center, an old brick warehouse that, for the most part, survived the flames. A small part of the community center evacuation site has been repurposed for the local wildlife rehab sanctuary that burned down. All of the animals were spared, and the temporary quarters include an elderly fruit bat and a young Northern saw-whet owl. No matter what, Wombat refuses to move from her perch, despite the efforts of many humans. Clearly the dog is waiting for someone. But for whom? And what are the odds they survived? Fans of modern classics like Because of Winn-Dixie, Pax, and Katherine Applegate's own Crenshaw and Odder, and timeless tales like Charlotte's Web, will find a friend in Wombat and her story.

Full Product Details

9780063221178

Table of Contents

Reviews

""The third-person perspective shifts from character to character in clusters of free-verse poems that fully immerse readers in each one's experiences in turn. This extra-concentrated delivery of Applegate's typically spare writing proves effective, balancing terror and sadness with heart and humor. Affecting and hopeful."" - Kirkus Reviews ""The canine's endearing restlessness and aching to belong makes for a winning protagonist. While a happy ending is telegraphed early on, the narrative remains charged, with harrowing descriptions of the disaster--drawn from Southern California's recent fires--balanced by an undercurrent of hope. Expressive, realistic b&w illustrations from Bricking (Ivy and Forest Rewrite the World) amplify the emotional resonance."" - Publishers Weekly ""[Henry and Wombat's] hesitant bond gently unfolds in spare but vivid text that sharpens emotion, from the specific grief both Henry and Wombat are feeling to the larger sense of loss, echoed in interactions with other community members whose homes have been devastated by the fire. Although not as fantastical as Applegate's Willodeen, the environmental bent makes this an easy pairing with that title, while the dual animal/human perspectives will draw in fans of Pennypacker's Pax."" - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books ""The tension stays strong. There is a lot of philosophy in the book that will offer interesting opportunities for conversation. There are themes of family and community, of loss and natural disasters, of making peace and forgiveness, of destiny and fate, how animals can help humans heal in surprising ways. An appealing and heartwarming story that will resonate with lots of readers. ­A charming novel in verse that fans of Katherine Applegate won't want to miss."" - School Library Journal

""The third-person perspective shifts from character to character in clusters of free-verse poems that fully immerse readers in each one's experiences in turn. This extra-concentrated delivery of Applegate's typically spare writing proves effective, balancing terror and sadness with heart and humor. Affecting and hopeful."" - Kirkus Reviews ""The canine's endearing restlessness and aching to belong makes for a winning protagonist. While a happy ending is telegraphed early on, the narrative remains charged, with harrowing descriptions of the disaster--drawn from Southern California's recent fires--balanced by an undercurrent of hope. Expressive, realistic b&w illustrations from Bricking (Ivy and Forest Rewrite the World) amplify the emotional resonance."" - Publishers Weekly

Author Information

Katherine Applegate is the Newbery Medal-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for young readers, including the One and Only series, the Endling series, Crenshaw, Wishtree, the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter books series, and the Animorphs series. She lives with her family in Nevada.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available