{"product_id":"wombat-waiting-9780063221178","title":"Wombat Waiting","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn Indie Next pick!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom the Newbery Award-winning, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe One and Only Ivan \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eOdder \u003c\/i\u003ecomes a stunning middle grade standalone novel-in-verse about compassion, resilience, and surprising friendships, following a dog named Wombat in the aftermath of a catastrophic fire.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWombat 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWombat 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSurrounded 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo 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?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFans of modern classics like \u003ci\u003eBecause of Winn-Dixie\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003ePax\u003c\/i\u003e, and Katherine Applegate's own \u003ci\u003eCrenshaw \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eOdder, \u003c\/i\u003eand timeless tales like \u003ci\u003eCharlotte\u003c\/i\u003e'\u003ci\u003es Web\u003c\/i\u003e, will find a friend in Wombat and her story.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Katherine Applegate\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Storytide\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/05\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 336\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.70h x 5.80w x 1.60d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780063221178\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAudience:\u003c\/b\u003e Ages 9-12\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eHorn Book Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/01\/2026 pg. 81\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/02\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBulletin of Ctr for Child Bks\u003c\/i\u003e 04\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 04\/01\/2026 pg. 69\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 04\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eApplegate, Katherine:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKatherine Applegate\u003c\/strong\u003e is the Newbery Medal-winning and #1 \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author of numerous books for young readers, including the One and Only series, the Endling series, \u003cem\u003e Crenshaw\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eWishtree\u003c\/em\u003e, the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter books series, and the Animorphs series. She lives with her family in Nevada.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"booksdeli.com","offers":[{"title":"Katherine Applegate \/ Hardcover \/ English","offer_id":48232337211549,"sku":"9780063221178","price":23.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0619\/5648\/9373\/files\/img_3b592077-7a83-4572-bfe5-766a9cde9327.jpg?v=1778578446","url":"https:\/\/booksdeli.com\/products\/wombat-waiting-9780063221178","provider":"booksdeli.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}