Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Annelie Geissler
Categories
Children’s, Teenage & Educational

THE STRANGE WONDERS OF ROOTS

Evan Griffith

From the acclaimed author of Manatee Summer comes a poignant story about a girl who learns to lay down roots as she's drawn into a fight over a local grove of trees that's in danger of being torn down. Perfect for fans of Hoot and Operation Redwood.

Holly Foster knows that nothing lasts - not hometowns or schools, or even family. It's just safer to keep herself uninvolved. So when she's sent to spend part of the summer with her uncle, she knows better than to get attached to him... or any part of his small Vermont town of Arden. But when she arrives, she's drawn into the drama that's split the town: The local plastic factory is trying to tear down the trees in the center of Arden to build a visitor's center and museum. Holly shocks herself by stepping into the fray and taking on one of the most powerful families in the area. But as she learns more about the town - and makes a new friend or two - Holly is determined to protect the one place she thinks she could finally belong. But will she be able to convince the other townspeople that the trees deserve to stay? Evan Griffith is the author of the picture book Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist and Manatee Summer. He received his MFA in writing for children and young adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. He lives in Austin, TX. Visit Evan online at evangriffithbooks.com.

Available products
Book Published 2024-05-28 by Quill Tree Books

Comments

The town of Arden and its population of quirky townsfolk come alive through Griffith's vibrant prose ("colorful bungalows sprouted from the ground like strange beasts") and specific details (ancient Arden resident Beatrice walks her pet tortoise on a leash, and a boy named Lionel habitually runs into things on his roller skates)... This compelling story about the power of putting down roots will speak to anyone who has ever felt a little (or a lot) out of place

Evan Griffith's THE STRANGE WONDERS OF ROOTS is a delightful look at friendship, community, and self, and how we're all connected, no matter how apart we might feel. It's a perfect book for reading alone as well as within book clubs and classrooms aimed at fostering a loving ecosystem.

Readers seeking a title that touches on the environment, pollution, and the interconnectedness of life will find many educational moments woven into this gentle tale. A quiet story to spark conversation about conservation and community.

The story works on multiple levels; loner Holly must navigate new relationships and reexamine existing ones, all while learning about civic engagement and ecology... Hand this book to young readers who love realistic fiction and want to save the planet.