Far From the Tree by Robin Benway
Posted on 02/27/2020
Photo: Cover of Far From The Tree by Robin Benway

Students are moved by this heartbreaking yet uplifting story about family, love, loss, and hope.

Jeanne Mochel, a Librarian at Soddy Daisy High School

 

 Christmas Tapestry is the Hamilton Book of the Week nominated by Jeanne Mochel, a librarian at Soddy Daisy High SchoolBeing the middle child has its ups and downs, but for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including Maya, her loudmouthed younger biological sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties.

Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs. And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he’s learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest.

 

Editorial Reviews 

Amazon

cid:image003.jpg@01D4C7AC.A3A09720from Amazon Readers

From Amazon.com:

Far from the Tree is the kind of book that strikes close to a reader’s heart. I had to know what happened to Grace, Maya, and Joaquin, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Beautiful.” (Ally Condie, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of the Matched trilogy)
 

To check out more recommended books in the Hamilton Book of the Week at https://www.hcde.org/parents___students/suggested_reading.

 

Hamilton Book of the Week seeks to move Hamilton County Schools closer to district goals found in the Future Ready 2023 action plan.  We hope to encourage kids to read more books for fun by sharing books popular at area schools. 

  

Goals more students reading will address include:

  • Reading improvement will increase the number of students on-track or mastering English language arts
  • Improve the district ACT score to a district average of 21    
  • Reach the target goal of a 90 percent graduation rate by 2023