Wombat Waiting — Content Guide for Parents
Found in this book
- ViolenceBrief
- Scary contentSupporting
- ClimateBrief
- Gender & orientationBrief
Not found
- Religion
- Race & culture
- Profanity
- Sexual content
- Gender roles
Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
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Summaries and source quotes for every theme.
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Religion
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
From the Newbery Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The One and Only Ivan and Odder comes 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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wombat Waiting appropriate for a 7-year-old?
A fight breaks out among people sheltering from the fire, and police calm it down peacefully. A catastrophic wildfire drives people and animals from their homes, and reviewers call the descriptions harrowing, balanced by hope.
Does Wombat Waiting have violence?
Found (Brief): A fight breaks out among people sheltering from the fire, and police calm it down peacefully.
Does Wombat Waiting have scary content?
Found (Supporting): A catastrophic wildfire drives people and animals from their homes, and reviewers call the descriptions harrowing, balanced by hope.
Does Wombat Waiting have religion?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does Wombat Waiting have race & culture?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does Wombat Waiting have profanity?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does Wombat Waiting have climate?
Found (Brief): A bookseller-quoted review notes an environmental slant in a story about a wildfire and its effect on a community and wildlife, though climate change is not named in the sources.
Does Wombat Waiting have sexual content?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does Wombat Waiting have gender roles?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does Wombat Waiting have gender & orientation?
Found (Brief): Henry and his little sister have two moms, who appear as family members in the story.
