Tree Girl- Ben Mikaelsen
I first became a Mikaelsen fan after reading Touching Spirit Bear which has been a hit with teachers and students alike. The next book I read was Red Midnight, another amazing read about an unbelievable escape from Guatemala in a sea kayak, which the author manages to make quite believable. My most recent read was Tree Girl, and once again, Mikaelsen has taken a piece of history and brought it to life. Fifteen year old Gabriella’s life in Guatamala is filled with the ordinary happenings of village life, with the highlight being the celebration of her birthday. One of her great joys has been her ability to climb the tall trees of the forest, earning her nickname. She has had the unprecedented privilege of going to school, and one day her teacher and other students are ruthlessly slaughtered. Running home to her village, she is shocked by a scene of horror and destruction. rescuing only a younger brother and sister, she runs for their very lives, She is not able to keep her little brother alive and continues to attempt to find safe haven for her and her little sister. Entering what appears to be a safe village, she climbs into the safety of the highest branches and from that vantage point, witnesses another horrendous slaughter. Having lost her sister, she vows to never again climb a tree, and with great hardship, works her way to a refugee camp. There she must begin to decide how she will be able to find a future for herself, never giving up hope that she may be re-united with her little sister. Gabriella is a young woman with tremendous courage in the face of unimaginable horror. That this stort has its basis in historical fact, is once again an appalling reminder of what so many people in te world endure. This is an excellent novel for young people to examine another culture and become more aware of the world we live in.
High School, Historical Fiction, Middle Years, Realistic Fiction | Comments (3)3 Responses to “Tree Girl- Ben Mikaelsen”
Leave a Reply
I read this one on the way home from Kaleidoscope. It is a great piece. I’m pretty sure I put it on my YA shelf. The content is so clearly described and the content is unsettling.
Yes, I’ll put this on my YA shelf as well and add it to my list of books on global awareness/growing up around the world themes.
Another powerful book for global issues. Although it is set in the 80s, it is still very contemporary. After hearing Ben tell the story of how he came to write this book, I was especially moved by Gabriella’s plight. This is written at a slightly easier level, so could be used with reluctant readers.