The Wish Tree is a book that one does not expect a lot from. It looks like a cute winter story. I even assumed a holiday/Christmas story by the cover itself. However, Kyo Maclear creates a story that is not just a sweet and simple winter story. It has something more. You almost feel full after reading it. It is, if nothing else, an experience book. What the experience will be is up to you, the reader.
The story is about the youngest sibling trying to find a Wishing Tree and all of the obstacles that they have to overcome in the process: older siblings telling them there are no wishing trees, forest friends in need of assistance and so forth. The story is about being a good person. The story is in many ways, whatever you want it to be. There is some room for interpretation and the author’s story is clear at the same time. The feel of the story is classical and modern at the same time.
The ending was a bit odd (not sure how the child will explain the pie that they got in the forest) but over all this is a sweet story about belief and perseverance.