A Standalone Novel

Wish on a Willow

by Maria Oka

A magical willow. A heavy truth. And one summer that changes everything.

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.

Praise for Wish on a Willow

"My childhood self would have adored spending time with Eloise and her friends, wishing for miracles and finding them in each other."
— Linda Urban, award-winning author of Almost There and Almost Not
"A moving tale of friendship, family, and hope — magical in more ways than one."
— Chad Morris, award-winning co-author of Mustaches for Maddie
"A triumph! Oka perfectly captures the very essence of friendship, family, and the magic of childhood in this quintessential summertime story."
— Meghan P. Brown, award-winning author of The Edge of Forever
"WISH ON A WILLOW wraps you in a warm embrace and makes you think of family, friendship, and your own deepest hopes and dreams."
— Tyler Whitesides, award-winning author of The Janitors series