posted on 22 May 2025

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

There are always times in our lives when things are just going wrong and you feel you want to take it out on the world. Noah is going through one of those times – his parents are breaking up, still living together but constantly sniping at each other. Noah is lashing out at life by becoming an utter pain at school – the bad boy, constantly in detention and sent out of classes. And, just to add salt to the wounds, his bad behaviour has even led him to being ignored by his long-term friends.

Without really knowing it, what Noah needs is a cause – something positive to believe in – and along it comes from a totally unexpected direction. Grace Whitlock seems an unlikely inspiration: she is after all the “school prefect and all-round goodie-goodie” but she’s found her own cause – she wants to save a tree from being cut down by the Council. 

At first just curious, Noah follows her to find out what she’s up to and discovers that the tree she wants to save is also one that has some fond memories for him too – it’s a link to his happy times with his grandfather. This is it. Noah has found his vocation – he’ll save the tree!

But how to do it? Grace’s idea to pin protest notices to the tree trunk doesn’t seem likely to make much difference but Noah comes up with a much more daring plan: he’ll climb into the branches and stay there until the tree is reprieved. 

At first, he thinks this is just going to be a one-off day of protest but he soon gets caught-up in the whirl of the attention he gets. People pour out to applaud him, the media turn up and make him hero – social media is buzzing. Even his mom and dad turn up – together and not shouting at each other for a change – and talk about how proud of him they are.

As Noah sits in the tree, he starts to think that perhaps his protest might not just save the tree but also save his parents marriage. He has to stay where he is just in case….

You’re going to have to read the book for yourself to find out the fate of Noah, the tree and Noah’s parent’s marriage because I don’t want to spoil it for you.

A subtle and engaging book about family, growing up and the things that root us in our communities, the book is available now from Barrington Stoke – who specialise in books that appeal to reluctant readers of all kinds. You will be able to get a copy from your local independent bookshop – who will be happy to order it for you if they don’t have copies on their shelves.

 

Terry Potter

May 2025