Wombat Waiting
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected 7 May 2026
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- 8,99 €
Publisher Description
From the Newbery Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The One and Only Ivan and Odder comes a stunning new middle grade standalone novel about compassion, resilience, and surprising friendships, following a dog named Wombat in the aftermath of a catastrophic fire.
Wombat isn’t actually a wombat—but when the homeless dog is discovered, singed and ash-covered after a terrible fire destroys a community, someone tags her with the nickname and it sticks.
Wombat is a “destiny dog.” Something inside of her (she nicknames it “Voice’) keeps telling her there’s a special someone out there who is meant to be her person.
Surrounded by a devastated town, Wombat takes up residence on bench near the makeshift community center, an old brick warehouse that, for the most part, survived the flames. A small part of the community center evacuation site has been repurposed for the local wildlife rehab sanctuary that burned down. All of the animals were spared, and the temporary quarters include an elderly fruit bat and a young Northern saw-whet owl.
No matter what, Wombat refuses to move from her perch, despite the efforts of many humans. Clearly the dog is waiting for someone. But for whom? And what are the odds they survived?
Fans of modern classics like Because of Winn-Dixie, Pax, and Katherine Applegate’s own Crenshaw and Odder, and timeless tales like Charlotte’s Web, will find a friend in Wombat and her story.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this wholesome verse novel by Applegate (Pocket Bear), based on a true story, a small stray dog scrapes out a living in a local park when Santa Ana winds ignite a devastating wildfire that sets the canine on a collision course with a similarly affected human family. Though instinct urges the dog to flee from the fire as it approaches the park, "a voice, soft and sure," draws her toward the blaze. Meanwhile, tween Henry Cooper, his two mothers, and his younger sister are forced to evacuate their home for a shelter. Henry loves helping his veterinarian Mama Ro at a wildlife center, but a past trauma has left him wary of dogs. As fate nudges boy and pooch toward each other, both must decide whether they are ready to trust. The canine's endearing restlessness and aching to belong makes for a winning protagonist. While a happy ending is telegraphed early on, the narrative remains charged, with harrowing descriptions of the disaster—drawn from Southern California's recent fires—balanced by an undercurrent of hope. Expressive, realistic b&w illustrations from Bricking (Ivy and Forest Rewrite the World) amplify the emotional resonance. Henry is described as having light brown skin. Ages 8–12. Author's agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Heirloom Literary. Illustrator's agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Assoc.
