Tree Girl
240
Novel • Fiction
Guatemala • 1980s
2004
YA
14-18 years
880L
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
1,556 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
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.
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.
1,556 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
240
Novel • Fiction
Guatemala • 1980s
2004
YA
14-18 years
880L
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