Plot Summary

Tree Girl

Ben Mikaelsen
Guide cover placeholder

Tree Girl

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2004

Book Brief

Ben Mikaelsen

Tree Girl

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2004
Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Guatemala • 1980s

Publication Year

2004

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

Lexile Level

880L

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen, fifteen-year-old Gabriela Flores, who loves to climb trees, witnesses her family and village being torn apart by the Guatemalan Civil War. After her brother Jorge is kidnapped, her mother dies, her classmates are massacred, and her father and siblings are killed, she flees with her sister Alicia. After reaching a refugee camp, she finds hope and purpose in teaching and decides to embrace her identity as "Tree Girl" to face her fears and create a new life for herself and Alicia amidst the chaos. The book includes scenes depicting violence and personal loss.

Mysterious

Challenging

Emotional

Inspirational

Adventurous

Reviews & Readership

4.3

1,556 ratings

79%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen is widely praised for its compelling narrative and emotional depth, vividly portraying the struggles of war-torn Guatemala through the eyes of a young girl. Readers appreciate the book's ability to evoke empathy and raise awareness about historical atrocities. However, some critics feel the story can be overly intense and disturbing for younger audiences. Overall, it is a powerful and thought-provoking read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Tree Girl?

A potential reader who would enjoy Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen is a young adult or teen interested in historical fiction, social justice, and coming-of-age stories. Fans of A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park and Sold by Patricia McCormick, with their focus on resilience and survival, would find this novel compelling.

4.3

1,556 ratings

79%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Guatemala • 1980s

Publication Year

2004

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

Lexile Level

880L

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!