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The Flesh of Trees
“Don’t play in the Green Wood. Children disappear in there!”
All her life, twelve year-old Sylvie Hummel has heard these words, but still she disobeys her parents and enters the Green Wood. Now she knows what happened to the missing children.
Let in on the secret, her cousin Erik also falls under the spell of the forbidden wood. But soon a ruthless forest owner shatters the cousins’ lives, and when he threatens to fell the trees in the Green Wood, he discovers what Sylvie and Erik have long known: these trees have their own protection.
All her life, twelve year-old Sylvie Hummel has heard these words, but still she disobeys her parents and enters the Green Wood. Now she knows what happened to the missing children.
Let in on the secret, her cousin Erik also falls under the spell of the forbidden wood. But soon a ruthless forest owner shatters the cousins’ lives, and when he threatens to fell the trees in the Green Wood, he discovers what Sylvie and Erik have long known: these trees have their own protection.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 24, 2018
2 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Kath Middleton
23 books158 followersKath Middleton began her writing with drabbles (100 words stories) and contributed a number to Jonathan Hill’s second drabble collection. It wasn’t long before she moved up a size to contribute short stories to anthologies. Shortly afterwards, she progressed to writing longer pieces and her first solo work, Ravenfold, was published to much acclaim. This was followed by the novella, Message in a Bottle. Several more books are in the pipeline and her first novel, Top Banana, was published in March 2015. In March 2016 she and Jonathan Hill published Is it Her - two novellas inspired by a painting. Kath likes to put her characters in difficult situations and watch them work their way out. She believes in the indomitable nature of the human spirit (and chickens).
Kath is retired. She graduated in geology and has a certificate in archaeology. When she's in a hole, she doesn't stop digging.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kath-M...
Kath is retired. She graduated in geology and has a certificate in archaeology. When she's in a hole, she doesn't stop digging.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kath-M...
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 18, 2018
Kath Middleton’s latest story is that rare thing - a wholly original take on the theme of how we should value the environment. Told as a modern fairy tale set in a fictional far away Scandinavian country and seen mainly through the eyes of the children Sylvie and Erik, a fantasy world of trees talking with and interacting with human kind is used as a vehicle to expose the evils of unscrupulous logging company owner, Pauli Grassen. His hold over the village seems unshakable as he tramples on the lives of those working for him, caring only for profiting from the exploitation of the forest. That is until Sylvie opens the way for the forest to fight back in the most magical way.
The writing is simple and precise, capturing a sense of childlike wonder at the fantastical events at the same time as the life of the village is presented in convincing detail.
An inspiring and highly recommended read.
The writing is simple and precise, capturing a sense of childlike wonder at the fantastical events at the same time as the life of the village is presented in convincing detail.
An inspiring and highly recommended read.
April 11, 2018
This is my first Kath Middleton novel, which is beautifully crafted, to bring that olde worlde feeling of a story from the past into modern times. It really does have the flare of The Brothers Grimm with it, the menace and warnings that should be heeded before it is too late. What I really loved about it was the instant appeal that it will have to younger generations, as the heroes of this story are the village children .
The old saying of you can’t see the woods for the trees really does have a true meaning in this tale, when the ever-growing timber corporation that employs almost all of the adults in the nearby villages becomes even more greedy, wanting to cut down the trees in the Green Wood. It comes down to money and the need to work and feed the family against doing the right thing. That is what is wonderful about children’s minds, they don’t get tangled up in costs, pushing the share prices up and lining their pockets. The environment is about to fight back big style with the help of the children too.
The consequences of what is happening to the environment is seen in simple terms through the children, mainly 12-year-old Sylvie Hummel and the sacrifice that she is willing to make to change the way in which the adults make choices. She is by no means the first child to go into the woods but hopefully the last not to return. We need to do like the children do and just see what is in front of us, not how we can profit from it. A story of woe and a story of hope.
The old saying of you can’t see the woods for the trees really does have a true meaning in this tale, when the ever-growing timber corporation that employs almost all of the adults in the nearby villages becomes even more greedy, wanting to cut down the trees in the Green Wood. It comes down to money and the need to work and feed the family against doing the right thing. That is what is wonderful about children’s minds, they don’t get tangled up in costs, pushing the share prices up and lining their pockets. The environment is about to fight back big style with the help of the children too.
The consequences of what is happening to the environment is seen in simple terms through the children, mainly 12-year-old Sylvie Hummel and the sacrifice that she is willing to make to change the way in which the adults make choices. She is by no means the first child to go into the woods but hopefully the last not to return. We need to do like the children do and just see what is in front of us, not how we can profit from it. A story of woe and a story of hope.
April 20, 2018
Sssh...If you go down to The Green Wood today...A beautiful ,Mystical story..
Twelve year old Sylvie lives with her brother and her parents in a village in the middle of a forest .The forest is cares for by the Grasen Corparation , the man in charge is a vicious, greedy ,selfish man Paul Gradan who has a team that he leads by fear...From an early age Sylvie has been warned by her mother never to venture into the Green Wood...children that have gone there before have dissapeared...but Sylvie with a mind of her own one day decided to go there ...What Sylvie sees and experiences she tells only her cousin Erik..At first Erik who is older thinks it's all in her imagination...Until the day he goes along with Sylvie...but what happened to the missing children? This story is set over eighteen years...going to the point where Erik now a man can perhaps right some wrongs...and make changes...This is a beautiful though sometimes spooky story of a young girl who in her innocent years knows right from wrong ...of humankind at its very worse and a boy who becomes a man through the darkest moment of his life...and all set in a place that is mystical...a precious secret place...where those who enter and are enveloped in secrets that must only be told to the chosen..A beautiful story with dark secrets...Read in one sitting ...
Twelve year old Sylvie lives with her brother and her parents in a village in the middle of a forest .The forest is cares for by the Grasen Corparation , the man in charge is a vicious, greedy ,selfish man Paul Gradan who has a team that he leads by fear...From an early age Sylvie has been warned by her mother never to venture into the Green Wood...children that have gone there before have dissapeared...but Sylvie with a mind of her own one day decided to go there ...What Sylvie sees and experiences she tells only her cousin Erik..At first Erik who is older thinks it's all in her imagination...Until the day he goes along with Sylvie...but what happened to the missing children? This story is set over eighteen years...going to the point where Erik now a man can perhaps right some wrongs...and make changes...This is a beautiful though sometimes spooky story of a young girl who in her innocent years knows right from wrong ...of humankind at its very worse and a boy who becomes a man through the darkest moment of his life...and all set in a place that is mystical...a precious secret place...where those who enter and are enveloped in secrets that must only be told to the chosen..A beautiful story with dark secrets...Read in one sitting ...
June 14, 2021
An unusual tale with a fairy tale feel, yet an up-to-date theme. Set in an imaginary Scandinavian country, it is the story of a logging community which is faced with realistic constraints and dangers: a ruthless man has taken over the local company which employs all the men in the village and is making them cut trees from the managed pine plantation which are too young and hence result in problems at the mill. Meanwhile, thugs who everyone knows are employed by this man are menacing the community and do not stop at murder if anyone tries to stand up for workers' rights.
Against this is the story of Sylvie, a young girl who is bored with the regimented sterility of the managed plantation and, despite her parents' warnings, explores the ancient green wood nearby. She discovers the secret behind the disappearance of children there over the years. Nature has teeth in this environmentally conscious tale which also explores the nature of sacrifice and the love of family.
Against this is the story of Sylvie, a young girl who is bored with the regimented sterility of the managed plantation and, despite her parents' warnings, explores the ancient green wood nearby. She discovers the secret behind the disappearance of children there over the years. Nature has teeth in this environmentally conscious tale which also explores the nature of sacrifice and the love of family.
April 2, 2018
My 4* review of Kath Middletons "The Flesh of the Trees"
A very spooky and compelling read. I will never go into a medieval wood again without giving the trees the respect they deserve. You will not have read anything of this type before, I suggest you give it ago. If you go into the woods today, you are in for a big surprise it's not the teddy bears you have to worry about, the children just disappear before your eyes.. #UKCBCauthorbookchallenge
A very spooky and compelling read. I will never go into a medieval wood again without giving the trees the respect they deserve. You will not have read anything of this type before, I suggest you give it ago. If you go into the woods today, you are in for a big surprise it's not the teddy bears you have to worry about, the children just disappear before your eyes.. #UKCBCauthorbookchallenge
May 2, 2018
As an adult I don't think I have ever read anything like this book, It reminded me of The Grimm Fairy Tales that I had read to me as a child, I enjoyed it but it was also quite alien to me as a complete change from my usual reads. I could quite easily picture the gnarled trees and the damp leaves on the floor of the woods as the descriptions brought everything to life.
June 16, 2018
A lovely intriguing tale, told like a traditional folklore story. I really liked the concept of the tree guardians and how they communicate with both children and adults. Aside from excellent writing, there are strong environmental values underpinning the narrative. A story that will stay with you.
October 4, 2018
The foresters toil in the sterile plantation for a rapacious businessman whose only aim is to maximise his profit. The men are almost serfs to the businessman. Such is the background in which young Sylvie, her brother and cousin grow up. In contrast, the ancient wood profoundly troubles their parents. The forest seems to represent how we are, the present, the urge to control and exploit, whereas the ancient wood seems to represent how we were in more innocent times, a place of variety and otherly spirits, when anything was possible. Two interrelated stories evolve which expertly blend reality with fancy in such a way as to suspend disbelief at the powerful yet gentle natural forces that shape the children's lives. Sylvie's world is convincingly and beautifully drawn. We believe in her. Yet at the same time she is a modern fairy-tale princess. That said, she has a definite sense of her own place and fate and is confident enough to take risks when others do not and to grasp her own destiny. Just as Sylvie is evolving, the very plausible conflict in the adult world comes to a head. Profound moral questions arise as the lives of the adults are variously rocked in the face of greed and the fear of otherness. Their lives seem to be caught in a narrow band between economic reality and lost innocence. Even the children know that as they grow up they, too, will cease to be able to commune with nature. They too face difficult choices, choices which torment their parents. I felt for the parents. Sylvie makes a morally worthy choice which is painful for her parents. Maybe this is what we all need if we are to be saved from our own rapaciousness. Maybe only children such as Sylvie have the power to see things we cannot. It's a sobering thought. So there are some big issues and themes bubbling away in THE FLESH OF TREES. The story-telling is expertly handled and I found the characters all well drawn and believable. And to my complete surprise the story triggered some personal thoughts of how I was with my own parents. So this is a story that, for me, reached into me and unlocked some deep memories. Bearing in mind the forces at work in the ancient wood, this should not have surprise me. There be magic in them there trees and Kath Middleton evoked it in this moving modern day tale of good vs evil and personal sacrifice.
March 17, 2019
I have read all of Kath Middleton’s books, my favourite, to date, being Ravenfold. I enjoyed this one equally as much. What Middleton does best, in my opinion, is transport the reader to a magical bygone era of fairy tale and them swirl into the mix an element of up to date modernism. The characters come across as genuine with writing that flows well and never trips up the reader. An added bonus in this tale was some wonderful description that made the forest as seen through the eyes of the child truly come to life.
As always, I look forward to more from this author.
As always, I look forward to more from this author.
April 6, 2018
I enjoy reading something different and this story is like an old fashioned fairy tale with a modern environmental message about the dangers of corporate greed. Told mainly through the eyes of Sylvie Hummel, a child with a natural curiosity and sympathy for the trees in the Green Wood, this is a story about community and camaraderie.
When threatened by the increasing demands of the corporate giant, a logging company that employs most of the village, the workers struggle to resist. The children look on helplessly as events spiral out of control when the logging company imposes its will on the workers.
But when the company sets its sights on moving beyond its own pine forests into the Green Wood, the stage is set for battle.
This is a fairy tale with teeth – a story that will make you laugh, cry and cheer in equal quantities. It’s good battling evil, heroes against villains in a conflict with high stakes, all beautifully crafted and populated with believable characters you root for.
This is a simple tale that warns us of the dangers of fighting nature and the environment. All living objects have a purpose and soul and we should learn to live in harmony with them or suffer the consequences.
My thanks to the author for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
When threatened by the increasing demands of the corporate giant, a logging company that employs most of the village, the workers struggle to resist. The children look on helplessly as events spiral out of control when the logging company imposes its will on the workers.
But when the company sets its sights on moving beyond its own pine forests into the Green Wood, the stage is set for battle.
This is a fairy tale with teeth – a story that will make you laugh, cry and cheer in equal quantities. It’s good battling evil, heroes against villains in a conflict with high stakes, all beautifully crafted and populated with believable characters you root for.
This is a simple tale that warns us of the dangers of fighting nature and the environment. All living objects have a purpose and soul and we should learn to live in harmony with them or suffer the consequences.
My thanks to the author for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2018
All her life, the grown-ups have told the children bad things happen in Green Wood, and for the main part they listen. Sylvie Hummel though was a spirited twelve-year-old who thought she knew better. After venturing in and discovering that the woods did hold a deep secret, but not one intended to hurt her, Sylvie’s life would never be the same again.
Not your typical crime story, more of a tale of dark consequences that come about due to man’s greed and abuse of the natural environment. With large elements told from the eye of a child and with a setting that has a distinct Scandi-feel to it, there is something of a Grimm fairy tale about it.
Although not strictly a children’s book, I would have loved to have had someone of younger years to read it to, as I think it’s a beautifully crafted way of illustrating the benefits of a kindness, compassion and respect for the natural environment.
Not your typical crime story, more of a tale of dark consequences that come about due to man’s greed and abuse of the natural environment. With large elements told from the eye of a child and with a setting that has a distinct Scandi-feel to it, there is something of a Grimm fairy tale about it.
Although not strictly a children’s book, I would have loved to have had someone of younger years to read it to, as I think it’s a beautifully crafted way of illustrating the benefits of a kindness, compassion and respect for the natural environment.
August 13, 2018
I really enjoyed this story. I read it on holidays, staying on the outskirts of part of Sherwood Forest. As I was walking through the woods, with forestry trees on one side and 'local' trees on the other, I was looking to see if I could see the guardians. I'm far too old, but I kept thinking of the story.
Probably my favourite of Kath's stories.
Probably my favourite of Kath's stories.
October 28, 2018
The Flesh of Trees by Kath Middleton.
“Don’t play in the Green Wood. Children disappear in there!”
All her life, twelve year-old Sylvie Hummel has heard these words, but still she disobeys her parents and enters the Green Wood. Now she knows what happened to the missing children.
Let in on the secret, her cousin Erik also falls under the spell of the forbidden wood. But soon a ruthless forest owner shatters the cousins’ lives, and when he threatens to fell the trees in the Green Wood, he discovers what Sylvie and Erik have long known: these trees have their own protection.
This took me a little while to get into but once I got into it I found it very good. It was different. 4*.
“Don’t play in the Green Wood. Children disappear in there!”
All her life, twelve year-old Sylvie Hummel has heard these words, but still she disobeys her parents and enters the Green Wood. Now she knows what happened to the missing children.
Let in on the secret, her cousin Erik also falls under the spell of the forbidden wood. But soon a ruthless forest owner shatters the cousins’ lives, and when he threatens to fell the trees in the Green Wood, he discovers what Sylvie and Erik have long known: these trees have their own protection.
This took me a little while to get into but once I got into it I found it very good. It was different. 4*.
June 7, 2018
I downloaded this following a recommendation from the author herself. I have to admit I was initially unsure whether I would enjoy it as I initially felt it was not within my favourite crime genre. As I entered part 2 I realised how much I had enjoyed it as it took me little time to finish. I guess you could say it is not crime as I know it but it has a really lovely feel to the book and it's story line. Thank you for the recommendation Kath. I very much did enjoy it and will be looking to read more books from this author.
April 5, 2018
I've long been a fan of kath Middletons writing but this story - this story raised the game it has everything in it that I love - fascinating deep characters, a hint of fantasy/paranormal happenings, a tinge of menace it's a masterclass in producing a cracking piece of writing - I'm going to be thinking about this one for days to come I might even have a reread just to experience the joy of it again.
March 30, 2018
This to my mind is the best book yet from versatile author Kath Middleton. While she is highly skilled at humour and at supernatural suspense, this is the first I’ve seen from her such rich descriptive writing in which the reader can simply submerge themselves. The plot is neat and relatively simple, combining the oft-told story of the little man against the greedy entrepreneur with the mystery of what happens to the village children who wander into the wrong part of the forest. As so often with Middleton, the characters are entirely natural, sympathetically drawn and real. A very fitting addition to the Middleton corpus.
June 24, 2018
A gorgeous fable and fairy tale with wonderful story-telling told through the innocent eyes of children, sight not yet jaded by adulthood that envisions a magical world. And as with all great fables, there is a moral to the story. Middleton is a new author to me and I'm glad to have discovered her, as this will not be the last of her books I read.
November 27, 2018
This is the first book of Kath's I have read, and will be looking out for more in the future.
The story is written like a good old fashioned fairy tale with a very serious message entwined in it about what we are doing to the environment.
The story is written in such a way that you are kept entranced throughout and it flows really well.
The story is written like a good old fashioned fairy tale with a very serious message entwined in it about what we are doing to the environment.
The story is written in such a way that you are kept entranced throughout and it flows really well.
November 7, 2018
A YA novel that is vivid and engaging. It tackles complex issues in a very approachable way. It feels like light reading at the start. Very thought-provoking.
July 14, 2020
Fascinating fantasy story of an ancient wood which children are warned to avoid. Other than just a couple of slightly grisly scenes the book has a fairytale feel to it that really draws you in with its talk of disappearing children and talking trees. I loved it, and didn't want to put it down.
May 5, 2018
Enchanting.
A serous message that we should care for our environment weaved into a story that spans a lifetime.
This is my first Kath Middleton novel and I will definitely read more.
A serous message that we should care for our environment weaved into a story that spans a lifetime.
This is my first Kath Middleton novel and I will definitely read more.
December 16, 2019
There aren't too many of these kinds of children's books around - you know the sort that are genuinely as entertaining for adults without the need to dial back one's mindset to childhood. The Flesh of Trees is (as one might glean from its title) rather more sinister than the sorts of stories I read as a child, but it still evoked the same sense of wonder and mystery and sustained my belief in the on-page events right through to the end.
I wholly recommend this to anyone over the age of ten.
I wholly recommend this to anyone over the age of ten.
April 10, 2022
What a beautiful story. I really didn't want it to end even though there would clearly be nothing more to say. It made me happy, angry and sad, sometimes all at once. I have enjoyed all of Kath Middleton's books but this is, without doubt my favourite.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews