Shari Johnson, Publisher
A very critical Facebook comment was provided to Ridgeview News on Tuesday evening, sending a flag a book for which parents needed to understand had been controversial in other schools and should be determined if it was right for your child.
A book that was provided to Calhoun children titled “Wishtree”, written by Katherine Applegate. The book is a 2017 middle-grade novel, which has faced controversy and restrictions in several school districts, most notably in Virginia (2024) and Wisconsin (2025). Parents and community members objected to the book which it is written as a narration by a tree. Its themes involve gender – neutrality, religious discrimination and using the tree with both male and female pronouns.
We All understand, or we should, that a tree is viewed neither as male nor female. Most of us understand that humans can’t be cats. But the reality is, there are many people who don’t live in reality and believe that because your child is in a public school, they have the right to determine what is morally right for children you are not of an age to fully understand their intentions.
This is why I asked the question a few weeks ago, who determines the moral standard? Is it the school? Is it the church? Is it the parents? I personally believe it’s God. And I also believe it is the parent’s role to teach their belief system to their children.
Key Aspects of the Wishtree Controversy:
- Gender and Pronoun Usage: The primary objection stems from the narrator, a 216-year-old red oak named Red, identifying as “both” female and male, and stating, “Call me she. Call me he. Anything will work”. Critics called this “gender-fluid and non-binary ideology” and accused it of being “indoctrination,” according to reports in YouTube and CBS58.
- School District Reactions:
- Virginia: Floyd County Public Schools suspended a “One Division, One Book” program in March 2024 after complaints about the tree’s gender identity.
- Wisconsin: The Kettle Moraine School District removed Wishtreefrom a voluntary, district-wide reading list in late 2025, with officials stating it would not have been approved for the curriculum.
- Themes of Discrimination: The story also deals with a Muslim family facing discrimination in their community, which was cited by some as a concern.
- Author’s Response: Katherine Applegate expressed disappointment, noting the, book was intended to encourage empathy and understanding, as noted on her Facebook page.
The point of Ridgeview News addressing this is to help parents be aware of conversations that “could be had.” Not that they are. Perhaps it will open the dialogue for your family to address it in the way you desire your children to believe.
For me, Shari Johnson, Publisher of Ridgeview News, I believe the Holy Bible from Genesis to Revelation as being the inspired, inerrant word of God. You are free to believe how ever you want to believe. But you are not free to teach my children or my grandchildren how to believe against my faith.
When it comes to religion, a Muslim family has the right to raise their children in the belief of Allah without discrimination. The same is true for any religion, including Christianity. But there are people who use books like Wishtree to groom children into a perverted lifestyle. They would have you believe that American freedoms allow it.
What American Freedom was designed for is so that your families can practice your faith without Government interference. That is freedom of religion. You can raise your children as you determine. You can feel safe in your community, elect officials that stand on the ground that you do, and have the power to get rid of those who violate your trust. This article is not to raise contention, it’s to raise awareness that we need to protect our children.
