The Family Tree

by Mal Peet, Emma Shoard (Illustrator)

When a man returns to his childhood home and visits the derelict tree house in which his father once chose to live, he recalls the past unravelling of his family, the unspoken strangeness of their lives, and the impact on his own adult life. Beautiful, sparse and insightful storytelling. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 14+.

Genres: Young Adult, Family, Novels, Picture Books, Childrens

104 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2018

About the author

Mal Peet grew up in North Norfolk, and studied English and American Studies at the University of Warwick. Later he moved to southwest England and worked at a variety of jobs before turning full-time to writing and illustrating in the early 1990s. With his wife, Elspeth Graham, he had written and illustrated many educational picture books for young children, and his cartoons have appeared in a number of magazines.

Reviews

[Ruby Granger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man returns to his childhood home and reflects on the treehouse (the "nest") that he and his father made when he was a boy. They spent all of their time up there, him oblivious to the fact that his parents were growing distant and his father was no longer living in the house. It is a heart-wrenching story of retrospective understanding, still enveloped by the narrative voice of the child (which is aided by the beautiful illustrations which present these observations from a child's perspective).

[Kate Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because it looks like a beautiful children's book but Suffolk Libraries have categorised it as an adult fiction book. To find out what was going on and work out where it should be shelved I read it over my lunch break. It would be best placed in the Teen section but not sure whether younger or older teens because of the angry language used on one particular page.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartbreaking and beautiful story made all the more unforgettable with masterful storytelling. The authors shows instead of tells, and says so much in so little.

Sometimes, it is the things that are unsaid which leave the biggest impact and sometimes we don't always see what's right in front of us.

Despite being a simple children's story, this book discusses several difficult themes such a divorce, escapism and letting go. It should be required reading.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are great, and if I hadn't got it out the library, I would probably keep it just for them. The story had a lot of potential but just goes absolutely nowhere! It could've been a really interesting in depth look at relationship breakdown following mental illness through the eyes of a child. Instead it's like a rushed, half-formed idea for an actual story that the author couldn't be bothered to write properly or put real thought and time into.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaah, to 4 star/really like this book is to make little of what this book is about ... it is a heart breaking story ... word perfect and beautifully illustrated ... funny how telling what isn't-said is ...

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the water colour illustrations and the story was simple but cute.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really unique story, even if it became obvious early on where it was going. Luscious illustrations and extra points for the Biggles reference. 4 stars.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

100% worth a read. You can sit down and read in about five minutes. This book was beautiful both in writing and illustration. The distinct art style and narrative voice were refreshing, and I highly recommend this to anyone in a reading slump. Also, dyslexia friendly!

[Drew Budds · Rating 3 out of 5]

i am unsure what to make of this one. i enjoyed reading it and i understood what was happening, but i feel it was too short. it needed something more

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book not really knowing what to expect from it, and now I've finished it I think that different people would take different interpretations from it. It's essentially about a grown man revisiting his childhood home and going over key memories of things that happened there. They aren't necessarily the happiest of memories but they are obviously still important to him. You finish the book still not really knowing what happened with his dad, but in a way it doesn't matter because you're more focussed on how the boy turned out and why he's ended up back here, even if it's only for a small amount of time. I do love the illustrations though and the style of them. They give you enough of an image of what is going on but they aren't so bold or detailed that they take away from the words that have been written.
I think some interesting discussions could be had about this book and I might get some of my friends to read it to find out what they think of it too.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully written, sensitive story for older readers just serves to make the reader feel the loss of Mal Peet, a consummate storyteller, all the more keenly. Told in first person, the narrator brings us into the heart of his family's breakdown, sparked by his father's mental illness, and his own return to the (tree) house where it all happened. The spare, perfectly crafted prose is very well complemented by Emma Shoard's wonderful illustrations that are touching and understated. Much can be inferred from the elegant prose and the tale certainly touched my empathetic heart. A quick but complex read suitable for older reluctant readers, and anyone else looking for a nostalgic, poignant read.

[Elysia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book when I attended a tree illustration workshop put on by Emma Shoard, The Family Tree`s illustrator. I found this to be a nice easy read with a total read time of 20 mins max.

Despite being a very short book, the breakdown of a parent's marriage seen from the eyes of a child is heartbreaking. It brings attention to how hard it may be for a child to predict the disintegration of the family unit despite seemingly obvious warning signs. This is a sad but sweet read and I would recommend this to anyone, especially as it is so quick to read.
A beautifully illustrated short story which is able to convey a magnitude of emotion in fewer words than your average newspaper article. Happy Reading!

Check out more of my reviews at: www.lightofthebookworm.com

[Mr Bramley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful short story for older children and Young Adults (contains some strong language), all about the breakdown of a family from the perspective of a grown up son reminiscing on the past.

The narrative is a nice change from the usual, and talks rawly about the father's declining mental health in a kind of child-like naivety that really hit me as an adult reader.

The story is very simple and leaves plenty of room for personal interpretation and imaginative continuation.

Perfect for empathetic and advanced young readers, or for older understanding children with a lower reading ability.

[Tomi Adenekan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but full of gentle but strong emotions. The dad who's going through something but alone in it (why did it take till the very end for his siblings to appear!). The boy who floats between mum and dad, quietly frightened in their poorly disguised sadness, his security disintegrating, torn between loyalities. Mum sad but defiant in her pursuit of this new chance. It's a realistic, sad and beautiful story.

[Andrea Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing. my school librarian recommended it to me, and i really, really enjoyed it. this book was super simple and super easy to read. (which i prefer)
this book covers the topic of divorce but almost in a kid friendly way. at least that's what i think.
i also really loved how it was so short paced and simple and was a quick read.
i really liked the illustrations, it gave the book colour and energy. IYKYK

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty short read which was brief in why the parents divorce.
through the kid's view, we saw how both his parents reacted and cope with the divorce, though the details weren't shared with the readers.
Nothing much on how the child over come it, but i interpreted it as a form of closure one would eventually get, needed and arrived at by oneself.

[Kate Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barrington Stoke - a very easy, simple read with complex themes interwoven with beautiful illustrations. Every sentence laden with meaning...and there's not many of them...so each counts. A story of family breakdown, a child's perspective, and the power of place.

[BrookesEducationLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would actually class this book as a young adult/teenage fiction, it is surprisingly haunting and encompasses a range of emotions and themes that can be difficult to read. Beautifully illustrated and quite haunting.

[Michael Earp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful and sad.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful illustration for a short Mal Peet story - excellent book

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was simple and sweet and paired beautifully with the illustrations.

[Brittany | BookRamblings]

The illustrations are just gorgeous! The family tree follows a son and father who build a tree house, but the father comes to move into it, causing problems with the mum.

[Lilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this wonderful book. How does Mal Peet do so much in such a short space? It’s engrossing, haunting l, beautifully written.

[eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit sad I guess... not that impactful.. what was the point

[sonataiscool · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very prettily illustrated and I really liked the symbolism for ‘the family tree’ displaying the actual family’s history and problems.

[Caterina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storia triste di una casa sull'albero, e della famiglia che la costruisce.

[Dianne]

I enjoyed reading this book. But beware if you are borrowing for primary school children. It should have a language warning alert. I thought the language that was used was very inappropriate and unnecessary.