Wish on a Willow by Maria Oka-Middle Grade Fiction Review

 Book Synopsis

If Eloise saves the willow tree, can its magic save her dad?

Nothing about this summer is what eleven-year-old Eloise expected. Stuck at Gee-pa’s farm, she discovers Mama Willow—an enormous weeping willow whose branches shimmer in the sunlight and whisper with secrets. And when Eloise finds her daddy’s childhood journal tucked away in Gee-pa’s attic, she uncovers something even more unexpected: The tree supposedly holds magic. She isn’t sure she believes the journal’s stories . . . until she begins to see the magic for herself.

The truth is, Eloise needs a little magic. After her dad’s terrible bike accident—the reason her mom brought her to the farm in the first place—Eloise is weighed down with fear and worry. What if her daddy never gets better? What if their family is changed forever?

And to make matters worse, a smooth-talking developer announces plans to cut down Mama Willow to build a flashy new event center. Eloise can’t let that happen. With Mama Willow nearby—and two new friends at her side—Eloise holds on to the hope that the willow’s magical leaves can heal her dad. And she will do anything to protect it.

With the help of her daddy’s journal and the secrets Mama Willow holds, Eloise and her friends race to save the tree before it’s too late. Because this wish is just too big to let go.

Book Details

• Publisher: ‎ Shadow Mountain
• Publication date: ‎ September 1, 2026
• Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
• Language: ‎ English
• Print length: ‎ 256 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639935819

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and/or authors. A review was not required, and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own. ****

My Review

If you’re looking for the next great middle-grade read, you have to check out Maria Oka’s Wish on a Willow. It is such a beautiful, moving story that hits all the right emotional notes while throwing in a little bit of magic, which I always love.

The book follows three 10- and 11-year-old girls who are all dealing with some really heavy stuff. Eloise is staying with her grandpa while her dad is in the hospital after a terrible bicycle accident. I so loved how close Eloise and her gruff and grumpy grandpa became while she stayed there. Meanwhile, Kimiko is dealing with school bullies, and Olive is tired of constantly moving from town to town and wants a place that she can really call "home." They end up bonding under a massive tree they call "Mama Willow." After reading her dad's old childhood journal, Eloise is convinced the tree is magical, and soon enough, some pretty wild, miraculous things start happening as the girls team up to save it. The bravery they showed was so inspiring, especially for girls this age. 

I absolutely loved how this book tackles tough topics like grief, bullying, and fitting in, but still manages to feel incredibly hopeful. It's a total rollercoaster of emotions, but don't worry, because it has a super heartwarming, happy ending. 

Because it handles some big, emotional themes, I’d highly recommend reading this one together as a family. It’s the perfect conversation starter for parents, grandparents, and kids. I highly recommend this novel for anyone looking for a story that touches the heart and inspires determination.

---

****Meet Author Maria Oka****

Maria Oka believes that all trees have magic in them, especially willows. In addition to reading and writing, she loves summer beach days, dance parties, and eating ice cream in any weather.

She grew up in Holly, Michigan, and São Paulo, Brazil, as one of seven kids. Maria completed her undergrad at BYU and holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from VCFA. She lives with her husband and their four daughters in Los Angeles.

~*~*~*~*Purchase Wish on a Willow ~*~*~*~*

HERE:

Hardcover-https://a.co/d/0brNG6ap

Kindle-https://a.co/d/0bo09aan