REVIEW: Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate
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?
Dear Ms. Applegate,
Last year’s “Pocket Bear” enchanted me so much that I was thrilled to get a chance to read “Wombat Waiting.” It repeats the pattern of difficult themes faced by children and adults, using magical realism to help them through dark emotional times.
Henry, his sister, and their moms live in California. Wombat is a scruffy stray dog living on the streets who meets with an older dog who tells her that she’s a “destiny dog” – destined for one person only but also facing the risk that she might never find her “person.” When the Santa Ana winds whip a fire out of control, they all end up at a shelter. But Henry is skittish around dogs and Wombat is skittish around all other humans except Henry. Can the two of them put the pain of the streets and of a lost home behind them?
The plot featuring losing almost all you own to fire is tough enough for children – and adults – to handle without making the book too dark. I think some parts of “Pocket Bear” were a teensy bit darker while “Wombat” starts dark and grows lighter as it goes along.
Wombat has never known a home but has managed to survive on the streets. Suddenly she hears a Voice whispering in her ear about what to do and where to go. She might not understand where the instinct comes from but she’s willing to follow Voice giving her contrary instructions after the old dog tells her her destiny. When she finally finds her person though, she’s going to have to wait some more – something that children might find hard even without a fire in the background of their lives. But it’s an important lesson that some things take time to be the right time.
Henry’s family grabs important things before they flee but losing everything else, even if these things can be replaced, is hard. Still Henry’s moms tell him that these are only things, that they’re all fine, that he will have school again though perhaps in a different building. Their gentle reassurance helps settle his fears and calm him. The lesson of helping neighbors in place of saving more of their things is a wise one and gently added to the story for children to take in.
I also like that throughout the book, we see plenty of people trying to assist others. Yeah, there are a few grouches but not many. But even those brief mentions of anger can maybe help children to know that it’s okay to have those feelings from time to time. Overall though, this is a gently paced book about hope and how being patient is sometimes needed in the face of loss and rebuilding your life. Kindness and thought for others goes a long way. I wasn’t sure if I’d like a novel in verse but the spare nature of the writing still packs a punch though not quite as much of one as I wished for. B
~Jayne
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I forgot to add that this book is being released tomorrow on the 5th.
There goes my heart. Thanks, Jayne.