Family Tree (Yearling) [Paperback]

Katherine Ayres (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Yearling

Eleven-year-old Tyler Stoudt starts sixth grade off on the wrong foot. She has Ms. Custer, the toughest teacher in school, who has announced that the schoolwork for the year will revolve around one project: a family tree. Tyler doesn't have a family tree--she has only Papa. As Papa said, her family tree was "chop down and burnt up. " But Tyler decides to do her best on the family tree project. Does she have grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles? Tyler wants to know, but she is afraid of what she might find out.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Tyler cringes at a sixth-grade assignment to make a family tree and write about her ancestors. She has never known any relative except her widower father, Jakob, who rarely speaks of the mother killed in a car accident with Tyler still in her womb. But with encouragement from her teacher and her best friend Casey-and help from her initially reluctant father-Tyler uncovers her history: Jakob is Amish, and was officially "shunned" for marrying Sarah, an "English" woman. Sarah's parents, disapproving of the marriage, cut off all communication with them. First-novelist Ayres delivers an intriguing plot and deftly paints a self-reliant heroine on a mission to find the truth. Tyler's struggle to understand her father's and her grandparents' actions and beliefs are palpable. But while the issues raised by the classroom family-tree assignment (e.g., America as a nation of immigrants) are presented in a way that may stir readers' imaginations, Ayres's use of neat resolutions and borderline stereotypes unfortunately renders her work a little more pat than poignant. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-When sixth-grader Tyler learns that her family tree will be the basis for the entire school year's work, the closeness between her and her strict, taciturn father is tested. The girl's investigations take her back in time through her dead mother's books and journals. Her father reveals painful memories from the time that his wife was killed in a car accident and his daughter was saved as a premature baby. Tyler also learns that her father lied to her mother's family out of fear of losing his baby, and that he gave up his Amish faith and family in order to marry the woman he loved in the first place. This is a touching story of a child's discovery of the parent she never knew and her reestablishment of long-severed family ties. Unfortunately, the setup is pretty hard to buy-it's all a little too tender and implausible. However, much of interest about the Amish religion is incorporated into the story without glorifying or degrading the realistic characters portrayed. Similarly, Tyler's teacher, friends, and classmates interact convincingly. For Ayres, this is a promising debut in spite of the far-fetched bits. -Carol A. Edwards, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (November 10, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440411939
• ISBN-13: 978-0440411932
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,503,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real genealogy buff loves the history and family angle., November 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Family Tree (Hardcover)

I am a teacher, and I research my own family history. I loved this book. Children who feel cut off from their past will relate to Tyler's uncovering of her own past, and any child (or adult!) will love the well-woven story of Tyler's determination, courage, and eventual compassion.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A heartwarming story., October 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Family Tree (Yearling) (Paperback)

I liked this book because it kept my attention. I like to read about the Amish. This book is from the viewpoint of an outsider. It touched many different topics; it was not just a one-theme story. I recommend it to everyone who likes realistic fiction.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written -- heartwarming!, May 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Family Tree (Yearling) (Paperback)

Tyler's father has raised her with so much love and goodness that she has never pushed him for answers about her dead mother or his past. That changes with a school assignment about family trees. As Tyler uncovers her family history, readers are given many ideas regarding family values, immigration, what makes up America, tolerance, and the feelings people have about their heritage. The characters are very interesting and well-drawn; the plot moves quickly and pulls one along. A sequel would be delightful!