The Wishing Tree

Matter-of-Fact Magic

by Ruth Chew

An out-of-season mockingbird, a convincingly intelligent tabby, a cryptic lady, and a special park tree.... tantalize a sister and brother into setting out upon ethereal adventures. (1980)

Another out-of-print masterpiece by America's story-creating wizard of the 1970s & 1980s, Ruth Chew.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Adventure, Juvenile, Mystery

142 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1980

About the author

Ruth Chew is the author of a number of popular books for young readers, including Secondhand Magic and The Wednesday Witch. She was born in Minneapolis and grew up in Washington, D.C. She studied art at the Corcoran School of Art and worked as a fashion artist. She was the mother of five children.

Reviews

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. It was one of the few books I read over and over again. It's too bad it's not in print anymore, but it makes me all the more glad that I saved my copy.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice little juvenile snack. Love Ruth Chew books. Also her illustrations are gorgeous! Next will be Magic in the Park!

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Wishing Tree”, 1980, is among Ruth Chew’s stories that I enjoyed best. It doesn’t contain intrusive parent figures. For instance, they care for a cat until they know if he belongs with anyone else and may keep him, if he doesn’t. These children, Peggy & Brian are able to freely go to a park, as everyone was in the 1980s, providing they were home before dark. You made a deal with your parents concerning your whereabouts and they trusted you to return. You couldn’t be contacted until you did. I loved those days of settling logistics up front.

What makes this book fun and fascinating is that it contains a little magic on a trip that is entirely unknown. I love adventures to this day, where you don’t know what’s around each corner; what kind of surroundings will greet you. The story itself throws readers right into oblivion, for there is no sequence of events. Children notice a scary tree in their park and a bird who is clearly singing out of season. A bag lady warns them to be wary of the tree and this is all as peculiar to them as it is the reader.

It appears the tree answers wishes but Peggy & Brian must proceed cautiously, so as to not be stuck in dire, misspoken straits. There is a special way to walk through the tree and therein lies the path to an empty castle. A giant supplies fantastical background information but the children play an important part in helping him and the bag lady. Ruth’s metaphysical ambiance is not only created by a wish-granting tree with magical portals, the giant, and out of season bird. A blanket that replenishes food is an example of her trademark detailing that makes her stories memorable and dazzling.

[Diane Ashour · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Ruth Chew in the past and love some of her other books. This one takes a bit more suspension of disbelief, and I wasn't quite satisfied with the end. For someone else who would like surprising fantasy turns, though, it's perfect.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I devoured Ruth Chew's books as a kid! They were so magical. A magic tree takes two children to faraway worlds.

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth Chew never disappoints. Great little book for a second or third grader. I wish they would put these back in print.

[Crystal Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth Chew was one of my favorite authors during my childhood. I have fond memories of reading her Witch books. They fostered my love for children's literature.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

For more reviews, check out my blog Craft-Cycle

I remember loving this book growing up and rereading it multiple times. I found my old copy while cleaning out my mother's house and thought I'd give it another re-read.

Overall, I liked the book. I love all of the weird twists and turns it takes. The basis around the wishing tree is fascinating. But I can't help but be a little disappointed in the ending. It felt very rushed and didn't feel like a real ending. It was more of a quick-fire way to solve a few of the problems.

A good read with a slightly disappointing conclusion, but I still enjoyed the adventure.

[Elana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little story. I feel like these little magical tales triggers the imagination. I also feel that because anything can happen in this little magical world, it leaves room for my adult brain to fill in with all the worst case scenarios, so reading these Ruth Chew books are not as magical or enjoyable to me now as they would have been had I enjoyed them as a kid.

[Shaybutter]

Picked this up from a used bookstore. It’s a cute little story, but absolutely written for young readers. As an adult reading this for the first time, I didn’t enjoy the writing and wished there was more to the story.

[Scott Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child. The images are so evocative.

[Veronica-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely children's story. Full of imagination about a magic tree, a cat and a bird that talk, a giant and a castle and two inquisitive children. I loved it. Highly recommended.

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Simplistic and easy to skim. Decent for early readers. I'd rather have just read some actual fairy tales.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A magic tree, a giant and a talking cat. Fun times!

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystical, fun and simple with a happy ending for everyone.

[Nicole Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brother and sister discover a hidden world with the help of a magic cat

[Lucinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t remember this from my childhood but it’s clever enough, full of magic & talking cats

[Kimberli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute story!!

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting resolution to a cute, little story. Definitely had some of her favorite elements, but spun into a new tale.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

At dusk, Brian hears a bird in the park and goes looking for it. Peggy follows him, and they find the bird in a knobby old tree. Beside the tree sits a shabby old woman with a talking cat in her shopping bag. The cat follows the children home and spends the night. The next day, when the children and the cat return to the park, the woman runs away from them. The bird is back in the tree chirping. When Peggy wishes that she could understand it all, she hears the bird say, "Look in the tree." The bark around the tree’s hole stretches, and the children and the cat find themselves inside. When they emerge, they are in a warm, green land with a castle. They go swimming and find a small chest. After returning home, they find a golden key inside the chest. When the cat sees that they have the key, he takes them back to the land "under" the tree where they use the key to unlock each door they encounter. The children meet the castle’s owner who is a giant. He tells them that their cat stole a magical tablecloth from him. Peggy and Brian help the giant get it back.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was 8, and going back to it I still really enjoyed it. It marks my first encounter with the word "waterlogged," but upon rereading I was left very dissatisfied with the ending--it didn't tie up the loose ends it created.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice chapter book for 2nd or 3rd grade.

Peggy and her brother Brian discover odd things happening around a tree in the park only to discover the tree has the ability to transport them to another world and make things spoken in its midst come true. Literally.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was a little 'un many-a-time. It was always entertaining. I think I've read most of the books by this author, but I know for sure that I started with this one.

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in a long line of Ruth Chew witch stories, but I can't remember the particulars of this one. My sister could probably tell you all about it.

[Annehobdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was kind of for little kids

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Katie June 2011

[plumcrazybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wonder if this was the book that got me thinking about a different world being behind the full length mirror in our bathroom. :)

[Mell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read from early junior high. Had a unique plot.

[Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the end.