Wildoak

Eleven-year-old Maggie has a stutter that makes it difficult to communicate and makes her feel inadequate. She is sent to visit her grandfather near Wildoak forest, in the hopes her stutter will improve but if not, her father will send her to an institution. At her grandfather’s Maggie explores the forest, discovers it is being clear-cut, and finds a snow leopard caught in an illegal trap. She manages to free and nurse the leopard back to health and Maggie and her grandfather try to save the forest from destruction. The novel is suitable for a class read-aloud, an independent novel, a literature circle, or a small group book club and explores the themes of sustainability, disability, and self-acceptance.