She is quiet, intelligent, and friendless-but she enjoys a special connection to the natural world. Samar is the only child of the Muslim family. Francesca watches passively as a new Muslim family in the community bears escalating harassment. In the present day, Maeve’s great-great granddaughter named Francesca is technically the owner of Red, as Red grows on her property. Initially ostracized for her choice, Maeve eventually succeeded in carving out a place for herself and her hybrid family within the community. Maeve, unmarried and lonely, adopted the Italian baby and gave her a name that honored her heritage-Amadora. Maeve received her wish when a destitute Italian immigrant left a baby in one of Red’s hollows. They became a wishtree when a young woman named Maeve brought her Irish tradition to the town and tied a wish on Red’s branch for someone to love. Red has been rooted to their spot since before 1848, when an influx of immigrants arrived in the area. Every May 1, on Wishing Day, townspeople make a pilgrimage to Red to tie their dearest wishes to Red’s branches. Red is a dioecious tree who has both male and female characteristics, so refers to themself with the pronoun “they.” The story takes place in an unnamed American town, where Red is a wishtree. This book’s narrator is a 216-year-old northern oak tree named Red.
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