The Great Treehouse War

Lisa Graff is the award-winning author of several books for children, many of which have made state and national book lists. Graff’s work is notable for its graceful fusion of humor and emotional depth. Her novels often explore themes of personal growth and family dynamics, tackling topics like divorce, loss, friendship, self-confidence, and identity. She is most well-known for her novel A Tangle of Knots, which was longlisted for the National Book Award in 2013. A Tangle of Knots blends magical realism with fantasy adventure elements to explore themes of fate and identity. Graff is also well-known for Umbrella Summer (2009), a poignant and insightful novel that explores a child’s reaction to the loss of a sibling. 

In The Great Treehouse War, Graff explores themes such as Navigating Parental Divorce and Complex Family Dynamics via humorous exaggeration. The central premise of the novel is inherently a little absurd; many of the situations and characters’ behaviors are heightened to establish and maintain a light, engaging tone while also exploring heavier themes and emotional threads. Graff also uses this heightened quality and humor to mirror the extreme emotions that children dealing with a high-conflict divorce often experience, prompting the reader’s empathy and understanding.