Title: The Great Treehouse War
Author: Lisa Graff
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Philomel Books
Publication Date: May 16, 2017
Source: Publisher
First things first, let me just say that The Great Treehouse War was a lot of fun to read. I started reading it and before I knew it I was near the ending. Despite being way over the intended age group for this book, I still found myself able to read and appreciate it a lot.
The Great Treehouse War is about a young girl named Winnie. Winnie is your normal 10ish year old girl (she is in the fifth grade). She has friends, likes art, and has the worlds most amazing cat. She also has parents that decided that they were better off no longer married to each other.
When Winnie's parents decided to divorce, they split everything up so it would be equal for both of them. One parent had Winnie 3 days of the week and the other had her for the other 3 days. This only equals up to 6 days, however, they couldn't let one parent have 4 days and the other only get 3, so they came up with a plan. Between the two properties (they had found a place that they could live there was a treehouse. So for that odd day of the week, which happened to be Wednesdays, Winnie would be in the treehouse, not with either parent.
That way everything would remain totally equal and fair.
Of course, that was too hard for the parents. They started celebrated all the crazy holidays that happen. They each kept trying to one up the other. This was causing Winnie to fail the fifth grade. But neither parent was listening. As long as everything was fair that was all that mattered.
A lot of things went on that ended up with Winnie in the treehouse with her friends...and the great treehouse war began.
See? It really is quite the book!
Throughout the book there are tons of illustrations and little side notes from her classmates about the things that happened in the story. Each kid has their own little quirk, and the quirks pop up over and over again. It lightens up the seriousness of the book and makes it a lot more fun to read. At first I thought they took away a little bit from the story, but once I got used to them I enjoyed them.
Also, as you can tell, there is a serious note to this book. I am an adult, not a kid in the age range that this book is intended for....so to me it was quite obvious. The way the parents were behaving was really affecting Winnie. How this translates to a kid with the way this story was written? I am not 100% sure. Maybe they will relate to Winnie, maybe they wont. I can't tell you. Did I think it was fun? Yes. Do I think Winnie should have had to go to such an extreme measure to try to get her parents to listen to her? No. But this story wasn't meant for me - the adult. It was meant for the kids.
And I will definitely let a kid read this book. I think they will enjoy it and I hope that if they find themselves in a similar situation, that they will find a character that they can relate to. And that they can find some help from this book on how to speak up and be heard if they need to be.
My Rating
5 Stars
This review is based on a copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone. #PRHPartner
Giveaway!
Enter for a chance to win one (1) of five (5) copies of The Great Treehouse War by Lisa Graff (ARV: $16.99 each).
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on May 15, 2017 and 12:00 AM on May 29, 2017. Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about June 2, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
Follow the rest of tour!!
Week One:
May 15 – Books 4 Your Kids – Review
May 16 – Margie’s Must Reads
May 17 – Pirates n’ Pixie Dust
May 18 – We Are Word Nerds
May 19 – Mundie Kids
Week Two:
May 22 – The Reading Nook Reviews – The Coolest Treehouses Roundup
May 23 – Crafty Moms Share – Review + Craft
May 24 – Word Spelunker – Review + Dream Treehouse
May 25 – Reading is Better With Cupcakes – Review
May 26 – Mama Smiles
I can't wait to read this book. I love the idea of a treehouse and this plan of using one to help solve the selfish parent problems is so unique.
ReplyDeleteWe built many treehouses and tree forts when I was little. This would be fun to read with the little ones.
ReplyDeleteThis book looks great!!! I hadn't seen it before this. Thanks for posting about it.
ReplyDelete