The Boy in the Tree by Lisa Thompson, illustrated by Katie Kear

Noah used to have a best friend, Jim. He used to have parents who enjoyed spending time together. They would go to the playpark on Waterford Avenue. Dad would climb the ancient oak tree and lie back, pretending to be asleep on its broad branches to make Noah and his mum laugh.

Everything has changed.

Mum and Dad never stop arguing.

Noah keeps getting into trouble at school.

Jim doesn’t want to know him anymore.

Stuck in detention at school, Noah hears the ever-perfect Grace Whitlock ask the headmaster if the school will help to save the oak tree.

Eventually realising that no-one is going to help Grace with her campaign, Noah has a brilliant idea.

He will climb the oak tree and stay in it until the planning department changes their mind and saves the tree! Accompanied by a nesting pigeon and the other two thousand or so species of wildlife that an oak tree can support Noah’s campaign has begun.

As residents of Whatford Avenue come out to see what is going on and encourage him, the local news reporter arrives. In no time he becomes known as ‘The Boy in the Tree’ and is all over social media.

Unknown to everyone else, Noah has an ulterior motive. He wants to save the oak, but he also wants to help to save his parents’ marriage. His plan seems to be working too! His mum and dad are working together, talking with one another as they camp out below the tree to look after Noah.

Will Noah and Grace’s work to save the oak pay off?

Absolutely sure he has saved his parents’ marriage, Noah is overjoyed but will it last?

This is a very moving story about how difficult it is for everyone to deal with divorce. Sometimes we feel powerless, and it is only when we take control of one aspect of our life, that we can rationalise and understand why change happens.

Noah is the classic ‘bad boy’ of the school, but does he really deserve such a horrible label? At heart, he cares about his family, his friends and the pigeon with its nest in the oak tree.

A warning for us all to look beyond unruly behaviour to find out the reasons why and discover the person underneath.

With emotional and often humourous illustrations by Katie Kear, this book is suitable for readers of 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Thank you to Barrington Stoke for the review copy.

There are free activity sheets to accompany this book.