Review: The Boy in the Tree

The Boy in the Tree is a captivating, heartfelt story of family and connection, of the power of memories, of making a stand and finding the courage to accept the difficult changes that life may bring.

12-year-old Noah has struggled to settle in to secondary school and is constantly getting in to trouble which has resulted in him losing his best friend from primary school. Sitting outside the headmaster’s office during his latest detention, he overhears school prefect, Grace Whitlock, talking to the headmaster about starting a campaign to save the old oak tree on Waterford Avenue which is soon going to be cut down so that a new road can be built to provide access for new houses.

On his way home after detention, Noah goes to see the oak tree and is reminded of visiting it in happier times when his mum and dad were not constantly arguing. Noah makes a decision to become involved in the campaign to help save the oak tree even if it only has two members: himself and Grace – and she is not convinced that he is sincere. Noah proves her wrong when he takes his protest into the branches of the tree, refusing to come down until the tree is saved, but he is secretly hoping that his actions can also save his parents’ marriage.

It is not long before Noah attracts the attention of the media and suddenly the Boy in the Tree has become viral news. Can Noah’s protest protect the oak from determined council planners? Is there any hope that his actions can stop his parents from splitting up?

This is wonderful story of connection with nature as people are brought together through memories of the old tree, reminding them of its importance in the community. It is also a story of the power of activism and taking a stand for something you strongly believe in and Noah strongly believes in the importance of saving the tree and its ecosystem, especially since he has struck up a bond with the pigeon who is nesting there. Sometimes, it only takes one person to make a difference and lead the way so that others can find the confidence to follow their hearts and so an individual making a stand becomes a community coming together to make a difference.

Noah is an incredibly sympathetic young boy whose school life is affected by changes in his home life as he is struggling with the breakdown of his parents’ marriage, something that he keeps to himself, perhaps because he hopes that they will never actually split up. He certainly hopes that his protest will bring them together, but what if change is sometimes for the better?

The illustrations throughout are absolutely stunning, and so expressive, from their depiction of a changing family life to the impact of environmental action on a community.

A beautifully told, empathetic story of family, environmental activism, and change for the better.

Thank you to Barrington Stoke for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.