The Treemakers

The Treemakers Trilogy #1

by Christina L. Rozelle

This is a previously-published alternate cover edition of ASIN B00P49KVKG.


Sixteen-year-old Joy Montgomery, daughter of Zephyr the Magnificent, the great magician, can only reminisce of better times. Before the Superiors. Before the uprisings. Long ago. Before the dying Earth ripped the family she loved away from her.
In this desolate dystopian future, the Greenleigh orphans are “privileged” with the task of building mechanical trees for Bygonne, so their world behind The Wall can breathe another day, and so the Superiors may continue their malevolent reign.
Lured by a yearning for freedom, tenacious curiosity, and hunger for adventure, Joy discovers hope and magic amid the misery, and power in her promise to care for those remaining, whom she loves enough to risk her life for. To save them, herself, and the boy she adores from the abuse and slavery by the Superiors, Joy must entrust the aid of an unlikely ally who harbors a dangerous secret.
With an intriguing stranger at the helm, Joy and the treemakers embark on an intense and terrifying, yet liberating quest for the truth about the existence of the forbidden paradise beyond The Wall.


*Please note: This is the first book in the series. The second book will be available late 2015. This story is intended for mature young adult audiences, and contains themes that may be disturbing and/or offensive to some people. If you find abusive, sexual, violent, deeply intense emotional, and/or character death events disturbing and/or offensive, this book is not recommended for you or your children. Though please keep in mind this story balances those events and sequences with love, friendship, integrity, strength, nurturing, hope, perseverance, determination, and the fight for freedom from bondage. This story is not intended for the weak of heart.

Genres: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Horror, Romance

288 pages, ebook

First published December 3, 2014

About the author

Christina L. Rozelle is the author of the bestselling YA Dystopian Scifi series, The Treemakers Trilogy, which includes her groundbreaking debut, “The Treemakers,” and its sequels, “The Soultakers,” and “The Seeker’s Keys.” Hailed for its strong, believable, and relatable characters, original and complex plotting, and phenomenal world-building, The Treemakers Trilogy appeals to lovers of dystopian literature who are looking for something refreshing and new.

Rozelle’s writing roots sprouted with poetry and prose in countless journals in her early years, continuing through her tumultuous teenage years, and well into her turbulent young adult life. Though her younger self dreamed of scribing non-fiction and poetry someday, when she discovered the magic in creating fiction she never looked back. Overcoming countless obstacles of her own, the wisdom gained along her personal path through healing breathes life into her beautifully dark, yet hopeful tales of triumph. Filled with an array of emotional triggers, not many topics are off limits in her works. Rozelle’s exceptional storytelling dives deep into the survival and growth journeys of diverse, broken characters and unlikely heroes. Authentic, gritty, intricate, and wildly imaginative, her stories also offer hope—a light in the dark—as her characters discover their own inner strengths and worth in the midst of debilitating adversity.

Though her wanderlust calls her to a nomadic life of traveling the world in planes, trains, ships, and RVs, Christina happily resides in a small town in Colorado, USA, with her children.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You don't realize how big somebody was in your life, until you measure the space of their absence."

"How do we know what's really out there? The world is huge! So much we haven't even witnessed! So much potential for life we didn't even know existed."

"How awesome-- and tragic-- that all magic is man-made."

"Their masks have crumbled, dropping pieces here and there for us to trip over as we try to navigate the storm."

"Everything dies, yet, nothing's ever really dead."

There's so many great lines in this book as you can see by the few I've listed. This is a great first installment that won't disappoint. The books starts as a harsh dystopian, but then as soon as you think you know what's going on it shifts to a sci-fi fantasy. The first half and second half of book are quite different. The book world is quite unique.

Rozelle gives us a very likable protagonist, Joy. She's strong, motherly and intelligent. There's love and loss and sacrifice and betrayal. The characters get it all, luxury and heartache.

This book proves that if you don't read indie then you miss some great literature. A fantastic read!

[Caelan Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Name is Caelan and I am 17 years old,male and a junior in High school and this is my first review! My mum has had me reading since i was tiny but I caught the "book fever" while reading Potter, hunger games and the like. My mum said this would be right up my ally, she was right (please don't tell her I said that)

The Treemakers is one of my favorite stories I have read. Mrs Rozelle's bleak and terrifying dystopian world is utterly amazing! I found the book original and I was very emotionally invested in the characters, Joy, Jax, Mateo, "Sparky" and Smudge. While each one is trying to make a life in a world that is destroyed and devoid of caring adults they become a family of friends. Brought together by their desire to live freely and to love openly. There are tender moments that are obvious.. like a kiss and then there are the moments of such love with a simple brush of a hand.

There is also plenty of conflict to keep you interested in each character. There is also enough mystery to keep you guessing and wondering just what will happen to our band of orphans. I would give this book to any of my friends to read that are 14 and up. There is some violence but its not overdone. I can't wait for more more more!!

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise! What, to be honest started out as a solid, yet overdone young adult dystopian tale shifted gears midway and took on a new pace, a new face and an incredible journey into the unknown for a group of children who knew nothing but servitude, the drudgery of forced labor and abuse, and lies, a life of lies by those who lorded over them. One teen will come to the fore, risking everything in hopes of finding the unknown a better place, because isn’t dying free worth it?

THE TREEMAKERS by Christina L. Rozelle’s foundation for her series, The Treemakers, lays a strong platform to leap off into more books in the series with strong-willed characters, fantasy characters, a little science fiction and a lot of story left to tell.

I promise you, getting through the first few chapters was so well worth it for me, because this tale blossomed and exploded into an adventure in daring, coming of age and bravery that made those pages fly by! Mistakes are made, loyalties questioned and loved ones will die, but in the end, there was a promise of a brighter future and a better, if not perfect world.

It’s almost as if Christina L. Rozelle wrote two books, there is so much change in tone and atmosphere throughout this tale, and of course, the daring of youth to challenge what they have always been told. Highly recommended older young adult reading!

Trilogy: The Treemakers - Book 1
Publisher: A Spark in the Dark Press; 3 edition (December 3, 2014)
Publication Date: December 3, 2014
Genre: YA Dystopian Fantasy
Print Length: 374 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Amy Bartelloni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be honest – the cover and the interesting title drew me in, but the story does not disappoint! It’s no secret that I love a good dystopian, but it’s hard to tell a good story and have it be real. This book is both. What I loved the most about the book was that it didn’t shy away from being gritty and real and hardcore. These characters are tough! There were some parts that were even hard to read, but it was those parts that made me feel so deeply about the book and characters.

So – the characters. You might think the main female character is soft with a name like Momma Joy – but she is one of my favorite lead characters. Yes, she has a love interest, but she doesn’t let that distract her, and even that is messy and realistic. And I love that Joy is fierce. I love her fire, but there’s a softness underneath that allows her to take care of everyone else.

The story of the treemakers pulled me in right away, and it unfolds at a perfect pace that gives away secrets a little at a time. There were surprises at every turn, and I can’t say much else without giving away the story, but I was at the edge of my seat by the ending & I couldn’t turn pages fast enough! I hope there is a sequel in the works!

[Tamara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received a copy of the book from intafreebie.com

This book was a brilliant, new idea that fell flat, was boring, and was terribly written.

[Logan Keys · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY I CAN POST!!


If you like a book about light in the darkness---if you like a story about love found, maybe lost, maybe only hoped for. If you enjoy having your mental eye ball dried out from trying to take in all of the gorgeous imagery and world building—THEN---_The Treemakers_ is THE book for you!

Gut-clenching, heart-racing, sour followed by gumdrops. Gritty but not so that we lose sight of the goal.

Firstly:


Dude, these kids are pissed!



Without giving spoilers, life at the tree factory is terrible, horrible, but somehow the author conveys the what-if factor to a T.

What if they get out? What if they could find a way?

It was blowing my little mind!

Joy’s the kind of character you can’t help but wonder how much more she can endure.

Strongest female lead I've read hands down!



But TOTALLY still feeling the teen issues of...love!





And I love THE TREEMAKERS!



This book starts the hard way. It grabs you by the ear-hairs and slams your brain matter into the earth saying, You, will, read, me.

Jax is my fave. He’s the kind of boy you want to know…like in real life.





Until this author gives me another book I'm...




& & & &




All I can say is, Christina L. Rozelle…

[Cranky - The Book Curmudgeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** 5 Cranky Stars *****



An impressive debut novel from Christina L. Rozelle. Set in a dystopian future after a mysterious cataclysmic event, the main character of the story is named Joy. Joy, the emotion, is devoid in the soulless world she inhabits.



Children are slaves, conscripted into the work force of Bygonne, where they work making metallic trees to keep their world from suffocating. i.e. People are literally struggling to breathe.



They work for a shadowy group of adults, both merciless and predatory. The children are both commodities and disposable. Devoid of any care, Joy becomes the mother figure, trying to extend some form of humanity in a bleak existence.



Joy is a story teller. She spins hope, love, and magic through her stories. Attempting to make sense of the world they inhabit, a world with plenty of dangerous secrets.



In Bygonne, however, hope can get you killed. So, too, can the attempt to liberate yourself from oppression.



Told through first person narration, "The Treemakers" is part environmental-warning and part bio-punk.



I longed for more in this story. More reveal, more words on the page when I got to the end. It was an engaging read with just enough backstory and forward momentum to keep one interested.



Recommended for those who love YA and dystopian narratives. I'd also recommend this book to younger readers as well.

[☆Stephanie☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received a copy of this book free from the Author on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review**

Title: The Treemakers (The Treemakers Trilogy #1)

Author: Christina L. Rozelle

Publisher: A Spark in the Dark Press, 2015

Genre: YA Dystopia, YA Science Fiction

My Review:

Wow. That was a mind-bending book. I actually have more questions than answers. When I read the description, I was intrigued, and it did hook me from beginning to end. I did feel like some parts had a bit of an “info-dump” because of the complex world the author created, but most of the time, I felt like I could understand what was going on. I almost think it borders on the horror genre…there are some unpleasant parts that may not be totally great for middle grade readers.

The Run Down (and bear with me here…):

Ok…so Joy works in a “tree-making” factory with a large group of children and young adults, and she considers them all her family because they are all orphans. They slave from 6am to 6pm making trees (not real ones) that are supposed to replace the oxygen that has been damaged from what sounds like a hole in the ozone layer. Typical green apocalyptic “the world’s gonna end if we don’t clean up our act” kind of premise. The kids get fed slop, work with dangerous machines, and suffer hellish punishments. One day when Jax and Joy sneak out to scavenge from their old underground living quarters, they come across a portal that takes them to what could only be considered paradise: fresh air, clean water, a tropical island. They decide that whoever owns the portal must take them away from the factory. All of them. But a mysterious girl named Smudge who has access to the portal seems to be hiding something. When Joy, Jax, and two of their friends get caught while sneaking out by the Superiors, they are taken to the dungeon…and unspeakable acts are committed against the four. They decide enough is enough: it’s time to take the people in the factory to this paradise, whether Smudge likes it or not. But is Smudge helping them…or really doing this for other insidious reasons?

There’s a lot of world-building here, and you don’t get it all in book one. Apparently there is another book already out called “The Soultakers,” and that probably gives more info. The book ends on a small cliffhanger: stuff gets resolved, but there are startling confessions and an “End of Book One” that lead me to believe that we are not getting the whole story, and there’s a lot more to be had.

Is it Classroom Appropriate?

This is a tough one. I can’t find a Lexile score because this is a small independent author who hasn’t had a lot of exposure. There’s too much other plot for it to be used in a unit on dystopian literature, or even a unit on environmental literature. It borders on horror in some spots, and there are allusions to things happening behind close doors (wink, wink). I’d say no on this one…it’s more of an enjoyable read by a YA dystopian literature fan. Or an older fan like me. I would not risk using it in the classroom, but it’s definitely something that older teens could read and enjoy.

Age Range:

I’d say no younger than 15. But all the way up to older fans.

End Result:

I plan on reading the sequel for my own enjoyment. Though it may not be a high school book, it could be used in a college course as a science fiction read, or post-apocalyptic read. It would make a fun book club read. I give this book ★★★★☆; I almost gave it three, but it was definitely something I couldn’t put down. And I am interested enough to see what happens next. Rozelle has a strong protagonist in Joy…and she is almost a true heroine who puts her own feelings aside for the needs of the group. She’s kind of forced into the role as one of the older children (at 16), but she doesn’t regret being “Mama Joy.” That in itself is endearing. And Rozelle’s writing is quality. That’s a rare find sometimes nowadays. I would recommend to fans of horror or post-apocalyptic…it’s not sci-fi enough for the science fiction fans and not fantasy all, so I’d recommend to those who enjoy thriller aspects to their books and like to be held in suspense.
Let you know when I read “The Soultakers.”

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WARNING: Although this book is labeled as "Young Adult," this book is not suitable for younger readers. There are themes that exist in this book that make it appropriate only for mature audiences. For example, it contains scenes of abuse as well as death of some characters. In my opinion, this book is only appropriate for readers age sixteen and older.

Once in a while you come across an Indie author that you can't believe has not been discovered yet by a major publisher. Christina L. Rozelle is one of those rare authors. I am 100% sure that once a major publisher discovers this trilogy, they will be signing her up right away. If not, they are REALLY bad at their job.

Superficially this looks like a typical Young Adult Dystopian story, but once you begin reading, it quickly becomes apparent that it is so much more.

The characters are so well written that is nigh on impossible not to get caught up in their story.

Everything about this book is amazing. Christina L. Rozelle truly has a gift and I am extremely impressed at how vivid her descriptions are and how I was instantly able to form a highly detailed picture in my mind of what both the Tree Factory and what each of the characters looked like. In fact, this book would make an excellent movie which I truly believe would make the film company that produces it millions of dollars.

Even though this book is classified as Young Adult, I think it holds a much broader appeal. Anyone who loves a great story with incredible depth will fall in love with this book.

The phrase "unable to put down" is often used to describe good books, but it is overused. When reading THE TREEMAKERS, I was literally unable to put it down. I read the entire book within 24 hours and immediately started reading THE SOULTAKERS which is the second book in the series.

I loved the fact that this book was unlike most "Young Adult" novels in which the main character spends much of her time swooning over some hot guy. This book is much more realistic.

If you were to spend your day as a slave - working your young fingers to the bone, being offered only the barest minimum amount of food and water to keep you alive, how could you possibly waste any of your precious energy on romantic interests?

Sixteen-year-old Joy Montgomery is the daughter of Zephyr the Magnificent. He was a great magician, but now that he is dead, Joy has been sent to the Tree Factory. The Superiors run the factory with an iron fist and all the workers are orphaned children. Children who do not perform adequately are sent to the cannibal tribe that lives far away.

They are the Greenleigh orphans. The children build
mechanical trees for the colony of Bygonne, so their world behind The Wall can breathe another day.

To go outside is to subject yourself to a horrific death by suffocation. The world's air no longer contains enough oxygen for people to survive outside.

Despite the abuse at the hands of the evil Superiors and the horrific living conditions, Joy is somehow able to hold onto hope and she hatches a plan to get not only herself, but all of the children to "Paradise."

No matter how I describe this book, I am sure that I am not doing it justice. No matter how amazing I make THE TREEMAKERS sound, it is one hundred times better than that. This is a book (and series) that should be added to the "To Be Read" list of absolutely everyone who loves Dystopian fiction with phenomenal world-building, well written characters and a strong female lead.

This book has earned the highest rating possible which is 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read more of my reviews on my blog at http://AmiesBookReviews.wordpress.com

[Beverly Laude · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a roller coaster ride this was! If you enjoy dystopian YA books, grab this one and start reading! Ms. Rozelle has a great imagination and her world building is amazing. The characters are great, the villains are hateful and the action is just enough to keep you reading long after you should be in bed!

Throughout the book, you think you know what to expect and what will happen next just to have Ms. Rozelle pull another rabbit from her hat. There are some heartwrenching scenes throughout the book, but there is always hope. And, isn't that what we love about dystopia?

There are many wonderful quotes in this book, but I think this is my favorite: "Sometimes in life, there's sadness. But it doesn't take away from the love, and the joy, and the beauty, and the friendship that remains."

This book is the first of a trilogy, but it doesn't end in a cliffhanger. You could actually just read this book and be satisfied. But, I plan to read the rest of the series and know that it will continue to amaze me! Well done!

[Amber Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling, heart wrenching, and hilarious, along with the perfect dash of romance, this book had me captivated from the very first page.

My moms friend gave me this book and I was really surprised on how freaking
A W E S O M E, it is! Because, before now I wasn't really interested in any Indie author books, but oh man was I missing out. Because The Treemakers is the best book I've read in a long time, so I seriously suggest putting down whatever lame book you are currently reading and go order this superb novel like. right. now.

I really loved how strongly Christina developed the characters, especially the Protagonist, Joy Montgomery! With the perfect mix of love, strength, and a bad-ass attitude she had you cheering her on throughout the whole book.

I think its totally awesome how the main character is a strong independent woman, because it sends a great message to the female audience saying that girls can be leaders too. So way to go Christina, GIRL POWER!

And boy does this book have some hawties! I am totally going to have to say that for a world with toxic air, a scorching sun, and awful living conditions that it certainly doesn't effect how the guys look.
Read the book and you'll know exactly what I mean.

There are also soo many plot twists! Seriously I was awestruck when I read certain things and totally blown away at how someone could even come up with this kind of stuff, its like she would have had to plan out each chapter according to the next because so many things link together in the most deliciously brilliant ways! Gosh I don't even know how her and authors like JK Rowling do it!

But not only does she inspire young readers to take a stand for what they believe in, she also packs this book with so much kick-ass action and adventure it'll have you literally sitting on the edge of your seat hurriedly trying to force your eyes to read faster so you can see what happens on the next page. And trust me I would know- I read this whole book in a day! Ya, that's how good it is.

Also if you've ever read any of Stephanie Meyers work, then you'll agree with me when I say that her style of writing is very similar to Christina's! I can tell this book is going to be very popular, and I CANT WAIT FOR BOOK TWO LIKE SERIOUSLY HURRY UP AND WRITE IM DYING!!!

[Leslie Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Wow! Dystopian YA thriller drama?CHECK!!! The Treemakers is a current fav of mine. Christina takes one of the most exciting genres around and makes it so much better! Joy is our main girl of the hour in this book about life in the aftermath of ( no spoilers!) where children and teens are the primary workforce behind the dangerous job of making what's left of our Mars like world livable. The job is dangerous as you find out by the 3rd paragraph!

The life of our characters are bleak and grief ridden. So much has been lost and teenagers are given no choice but to be the adults to the orphaned children left behind in the stations. It goes without saying I absolutely loved ( or fully hated) each character! They are so well written that you will see the decimated world through their eyes. You will feel the hope and the love that can still be found in such a world. Your heart will race as theirs do as the fight to survive in these badlands and as they try to look for more.

The images are STRIKING! You are given every detail of this world and as the scenery changes, you will love the flow! It's heartbreaking and yet breathtaking ! Joy's world is ugly yet you will see so much beauty! My son has just finished The Treemakers, and is reading it again to relive the experience!( he is 17). As a high school reading tutor I will be using this as a must read for my students! Not only is it a great book and will help my " non-readers" turn into " reading fiends" but the lessons taught are so worth the time! I recommend this book to any and all fans of YA/dystopian books ages 13 and up to 100:) I can't wait for more books from this author and I would love more of Joy and Jax. Bravo!!!!!-Leslie cox

[Brittany McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brought a very interesting new dystopian approach to the table of storytelling. The treemakers are a group of people who spend 12 hours a day making different parts of equipment to help create manufactured trees to provide oxygen for their side of the wall in protection from a hole in the ozone. Going outside without heavy protective gear will literally burn you alive, as Joy witnesses firsthand.

Joy is a typical young solid teenager who begins to challenge life around her due to her innate desire to protect and fight for those she loves. Her intelligence and her sense of duty made her easy to like as a character, but there were also many great with Jax and Smudge standing out to me. It seemed very strange that everyone in charge was described as quite elderly and ancillary characters that helped enrich her journey, down oxygen. If this were true, it wouldn't have taken much for someone to take them out to me.

My main complaint with this book is the pacing. It moves painfully slow throughout the story, and if the actual ideas weren't so enticing I'm not sure I would have made it through. Luckily the ideas are great, and I enjoyed the journey. Further polish could take care of this. This is also a darker aura that would be more appealing to an older young adult and up crowd as opposed to the younger age of many of the characters in the story.

There was a lot of child-like innocence in life, sparring with the harsh reality of the darker aspects of life. Overall I enjoyed the journey and want to continue with the series.

Great debut. 4 stars for me.

[Cheree Castellanos Edits · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book!!! There is so much in this epic and terrible tale! In possibly the worst situation you could ever imagine children in, and being treated so badly I wanted to crawl into this book and exact some vengeance! The world has finally destroyed the ozone layer, and it now depends on the trees made at the treemaker factory, where these precious children are slaves and treated so cruel. Just when you think it can’t get worse, it does. But with that being said, there are so many beautiful and lovely moments too! This author holds nothing back and tells it without apology! People are sick, and sick people are more cruel than I can even fathom, and we see that here. But is there light at the end of this dark tunnel? Perhaps, but you will have to read this book of awesomesauce to find out. I have not been this sucked into a book in a long time, I may have even run into a wall with my kindle in my face because I just couldn’t put it down. But this book is not for the faint of heart, a post apoc dystopia that will leave you reeling! And wanting more!! An epic and terrible tale of survival against all odds!

[Jerilynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotionally intense rollercoaster!!I gobbled it down in two hours . A darker fantasy story but so very well written I can't wait the read the next book in the series. Do yourself a favor and read this book....please!!

[JennyWithThe📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Such an amazing imagination Christina Rozelle brings to life with this story. If you love to get lost in a book and just let your imagination flow, then this is the book for you!

[Pheebz · Rating 5 out of 5]

12 16 2015The Treemakers Dystopian YA ebook & Audible
By Christina L. Rozelle Narrated By L.Starr
Tremendously Entertaining.
Dystropian/ YA. The Treemakers. What an amazing book. Christina L.Rozelle is Brilliant and will blow your mind with this piece of art. She transports you to a barren world with a landscape from a nightmare. Wonderfully written characters who’s interactions are believable.
This story takes place in a land that is still feeling the effects of chemical fallout. Adults are done away with at age 30.The only adults are the Four Superiors: Mona Superior Cherry voice, Diaz Superior Cruel and hateful son of Arianna , Emmanuel Superior Likes wigs and frilly clothing ,has a deviant streak and likes to assert his charms over the children Arianna Superior Seems to be number one in charge The children calls her the “Corpse women.” Each is crueler than the one before. The other adults are the Superior’s henchmen. One guard is named Humphrey. The eldest of the children and lead characters are Joy (Momma Joy ) to the young children she will be 16 in may, she watches over all the girls in the Tree factory, she tells the a bedtime story most nights. Aby Joy’s best friend and a few older girls like Serna help Joy when needed Joy has fond memories of her father and the time before they came here. Her father was a Magician who she had seen perform once in front of a crowd. Her mother died of cancer when she was still young.
Then there is Jax He is 17. He looks after the boy children like a big brother might. Miguel is his closest friend. Jax and Joy have been venturing out after hours exploring the sub-levels of the tree factory, Humphrey, a lackluster guard lets them sneak out, as long as they bring him liquor or other treasures they find on their excursion. They are looking for the old trolley tunnels, maybe a way out for them and all the children. They always take Breathers with them because the air in the Tree Factory is not safe in all areas.
Joy and Jax stumble on what they believe to be a porthole to the outside on the 23rd sub level.
The theme of this book is, “Take the dark with the light and build on.” It is one of taking chances, the unbreakable human spirit, hope, grief and triumph and self-sacrifice and friendship.
They meet a strange person that is not from the Tree Factory. There is something about Smudge, in her eyes that Joy feels she can trust her. Jax is not so quick to trust her. They ask Smudge to help them get all the kids out of Bygone. Smudge is not receptive to the idea. Jax & Joy take Aby and Miguel to see the mysterious porthole they stumbled onto. The action pact story continues.
I won’t tell you any more . Pick up this amazing book to continue the fast pace story.

[Aria Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a creative and unexpected spin on the dystopian genre...The Treemakers was not at all what I anticipated and I mean that it the absolute BEST of ways! I had, of course, heard nothing but great things about this one so by the time Miss Rozelle's work of art rolled up to the top of my TBR I was more than ready to gobble up a tasty new adventure. The Treemakers did not disappoint. I immediately fell in love with Joy and her crew of misfits...my absolute favorite of which (though she comes later) is "Smudge." I refuse to give anything away and detract from the awesome experience that is Miss Rozelle's writing style, but be prepared to question EVERYTHING. Who can you trust when your very existence is not what it seems and the ones who are supposed to protect you are the biggest villains of them all? What exists beyond and is it really better than the desolate and deadly life in the factory? Get your hands on a copy and see for yourself why I am calling Christina Rozelle's The Treemakers a MUST READ.

[Chrystalin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review...

I love Dystopian Scifi! and for the most part I really enjoyed this book. The children in the Tree Factory show such amazing characteristics. Strength, resilience, love for each other, selflessness! These orphans were able to create their own family in spite of those who ruled over them. Momma Joy was my favorite! I felt like the evil of the Superiors needed to be expressed, but the way it was expressed was a little more than I could handle for a YA novel. Once the children were free of the tree factory, I found myself enjoying the story more and more.... unfortunately I also felt like the second half of the story was too rushed. I would have loved to spend a little more time there! I would have loved to see more development of the characters that we meet in the second half. And the events of the final chapter were so rushed yet I felt like they were important and deserved a little more time.

[Kat Heckenbach]

This is the, I think, third or fourth book in a row I haven't finished lately. This one I hit about 2/3 of the way through before deciding I just couldn't go on. I really, really wanted to love it. That cover is so gorgeous. The concept is actually kinda cool--a society with no trees left, so they make metal trees that oxygenate the air. But then a whole new story world opened up, and then another...there was really just too much going on without anything really happening. I think a lot of that is due to this really being the set-up book for a series, rather than a book with a complete story arc all it's own that is part of a series, and that's become something I just can't deal with anymore.

Anyway not officially rating this, as it's likely just as much my mindset right now as it is the book itself.

[Belinda Clemons · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love SciFi and Dystopian books this is the series for you. Christina has created a new dystopian concept you have never read before and it will draw you in. This book is so vivid you can see everything happening reading it. Joy and the other teens at the orphanage have become the adults in this book by working/slaving at the TreeFactory, building trees so that the dying world outside will have fresh oxygen, and taking care of the dying children/slaves inside the factory. Joy begins to plan how to free them. this is a dark yet light book where youll love some characters and hate others. it will also bring out a lot of emotions in you so be prepared.

[Lisa]

I can't wait!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this on my "to-read" list for a long time and finally got around to it. Why did I wait so long? I really enjoyed this, and have already started on the second book in the trilogy.

This is YA, but there is some sex (hinted at) and blood and gore - so not a babyish YA. Set in a future where the ozone layer has a huge hole in it, and the climate is burning hot with no oxygen, this is a grim future. Children run a factory making artificial trees to produce oxygen, and work as slaves for "Masters". Two older kids, Joy and Jax, meet up with a mysterious young woman who is later revealed to be AOAI - Awakened Organic Artificial Intelligence. This leads them to lead an escape attempt from the tree factory. They also meet up with some young people who escaped the salt mines. Lots of twists and turns, giant scary creatures, and finally some nice people. Can't wait to see what happens to these characters in the rest of the trilogy!

The characters feel real, and the author builds a fantastical world. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys sci-fi, dystopian, or PA fiction.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Seriously, this is the first word that comes to my mind when I think at this book. It was original. interesting. It was real. The author didn't gloss over the scary, sad or hard to read parts of the text. They were there, written with talent. I Can't even explain how much i loved this book. In my opinion, it's better than The hunger games. The characters made mistakes, suffered, and their mistakes had consequences. The world building is more than well done and the characters are unique. Give it a try, you will not regret!

[2OCC Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I'm not a huge fan of YA, I read the description and really liked the sound of this book. It was different and had a different type of setting, so I gave it a try.


Joy was young, yet has seen a lot more things then I have because of the world she lives in. She has such responsibilities that I had a very great deal of respect for her because she did everything she was supposed to until she took a stand. She was a natural born leader and I respected her soooo much for everything she did.

I loved be joys friendship with Jax. They care about each other, and there is a slight attraction but not much is made of it. But as new characters come into the story, it's amazing to see how the connections slide and evolve.

I don't want to go into too much detail with the plot, but the best way to describe it is a prison, a place where joy and the others work their hardest and don't get rewarded, but paradise is let that far away, they have to brave a whole new set of challenges to find safety, but to find out more you'll have to read the book.


The author has a very beautiful writing style. It kept me in the story and didn't leave room for my mind to wander.

I really enjoyed the action aspect, it showed that these kids weren't really kids at all but doing their best to try and survive the world that are left in.


We have our bad guys of course, right from the start we get to know one, a superior, she was like the wicked witch of the west mixed with a drill sergeant. We also have other Superiors that are just as bad.

This isn't your typical YA read and I found that I felt the characters were a lot older then their ages.

Overall, this was a great read! It took me a little while to get into the setting and new terms but once I did I couldn't stop. I had to know what was going on. The ending was not really a cliffhanger, but you are left wanting more. I can't wait to get to the next book. This may not have been my typical read, but I was pleasantly surprised, and can't wait to read the next one! 5 stars #2OCCJD

[Kayti Raet · Rating 4 out of 5]

****CONTAINS SPOILERS!****


Set in a bleak dystopian future sixteen year old Joy Montgomery is a Treemaker, "privileged" along with dozens of young orphans with the task of building mechanical trees, the only thing providing fresh air to their oxygen starved lives outside of The Wall.
Under the brutal reign of the Superiors, Joy and her friends yearn for freedom, finally seizing it after one final, horrifying round of abuse. To save everyone Joy must trust a mysterious, and unlikely ally. In their quest to flee to The Wall, Joy learns to question everything she thought to be true.
The Treemakers by Christina L Rozelle is an intense book. Rozelle's dystopian world is well-crafted in it's bleakness and has to be one of the genre's more original story lines. The world Joy lives in is definitely one I have no intention of ever living in. There are supersized, brain-sucking cockroaches, genetically modified creatures, sunburns are very, very bad, and the threat of suffocation is always close at hand.
Despite it all Rozelle still manages to inject some much needed humanity in her characters, who despite their trails still manage moments of innocence and laughter.
The Superiors are a nasty bunch and Rozelle unapologetically paints them in broad strokes of villainy, from Superior Emmanuel who wears stereotypical feminine clothes, to Superior Arianna who attempts immortality with her numerous mechanical enhancements.
All in all, The Treemakers by Christina L Rozelle is a fast pace read, with an intriguing mystery, and great world building.

[Lawrence Parent · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book, filled with action, mystery, depth of character and a believable setting, written by a gifted storyteller. Christina L. Rozelle has brought to life a world that could be, if our penchant for using the earth without giving back doesn't cease. She has created images both brutal and terrifying, while holding tight to the promise of one young woman. A girl, really, Joy has been through the hardships inherent in "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair. She has memories infused with hope. She has the "youngers" to care for that look up to her. She has "olders" who rely on her to know what to do. She has challenges enough to daunt the strong of heart, but she perseveres. When you read this book, you feel these things penetrating your heart.

"The Treemakers" belongs on the shelves of schools nationwide. Its audience, young adults, would relate to the strong characters, and be better for the experience. In the tradition of great storytelling, this book teaches much of what is important in the world, while alternately serving up drama, mystery, and the human existence in a very readable and surprisingly descriptive way. "Cloud in a can", to broken hearts, to courage in the face of evil, "The Treemakers" has all this and more.

And the ending is just tantalizing enough to keep you urgently needing the next installment.

Read this book, and you'll be thanking yourself.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first pages of this book Christina's ability to build dystopian worlds pulled me in. She created not only a world that was terrifying to think about but also created characters that I really felt myself cheering for. I wanted nothing more to see Joy, Jax, and all the Treemakers free from the evil that the Superiors oozed. I loved the fact that from the beginning that Joy and Jax brought out the true strength in each other and that together they were willing to go to any length to provide for the Treemakers.

After much tragedy Christina decided to throw me through an emotional loop by pulling the power couple that I had grown attached to apart. Even though I was mad at first about this it ended up making me feel closer to Joy and the motivation it gave her to protect the Greenleigh orphans.

Throughout the entire story I felt so attached to the main characters and so interested in the world that they had to live in. Even as the book came to a close I could help but to be flooded with questions and anticipation! By all means there were certain elements that came as a shock to when the book came to a close but others I knew were coming.

I am so excited for the continuation to this trilogy and can't wait to see what emotional loops Christina has decided to throw at her readers in The Soultakers. If you haven't read this book yet I highly recommend you pick it up as soon as possible! Trust me you will not regret your decision to follow me advice!

[BookzBookzBookz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's a story that breaks your heart and builds hope at the same time! Imagine a world, where the air is poisonous, there's no wild life, other than enormous rats called Jumpers, and the smallest of cuts can cost you life. Oh, and you have to work every single day of your life, just to make scraps because everything's taken (what little there is) by Nazi-like bosses called Superiors.

The Treemakers, by Christina L. Rozelle, is about a large group of children, treated as slaves in a world where no one's around to care anymore. They've had to survive in a world that protects them just enough to do one thing: Make mechanical trees that process air. They eat a nutritional slop daily, unless they make a mistake, and the only way they're able to conduct any form of hygiene is by spraying off with a hose, as a group every evening before bed. Is there anything better? Any form of escape?

There is, but they have to escape the clutches of those who'd do anything to keep them working, tortured and without. This escape is down below ground. Very far beneath the surface, but with a little help, they endure... but is there such thing as Paradise?

For the full review, http://bit.ly/1NgbJ77
Book provided by author for an honest review.

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Netgalley, what follows is my honest opinion.

Unfortunately, this can’t be a long review as I DNF’d after 20 or so pages. This is unusual for me as I usually give any book a least a hundred before giving up. But I was hugely disappointed by how the story played out. There could have been a lot of potential in the concept: a dying world where the lower classes are forced to create mechanical trees to render the atmosphere liveable for their ‘Superiors’. Now that sounds interesting doesn’t it?

But the characters were one dimensional, the dialogue was stilted and I’ve rarely read something that was quite so show-don’t-tell. I was interested by the world, but I didn’t care enough about the characters to stick with it.

I’ve seen some good reviews out there for this book – so maybe it is worth it if you an get past the beginning but I wasn’t interested enough to try. If you do still want to give it a go, the final thing I have to say is that I feel that the darker subject matter may be more suited towards the age range of to late teens (in the early pages a child deliberately commits suicide by walking out into the burning sun) even if the writing style feels much more juvenile.