Regarding the Trees: A Splintered Saga Rooted in Secrets [Paperback]

Kate Klise (Author), M. Sarah Klise (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Regarding the . . .

Principal Walter Russ just wants a simple proposal to trim the overgrown trees outside Geyser Creek Middle School. So how does he end up with a wedding (rather than a weeding) proposal from designer Florence Waters? Meanwhile, a student camps out in a weeping willow tree behind the school; the sixth-grade class explores its roots; and a culinary rivalry develops in the cafeteria. A surprise event saves the day (and the trees, too)!

     Includes tips on planting a tree and creating a family tree.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6–Readers with patience, and perhaps a penchant for detail, may appreciate this latest offering from the author and illustrator of Regarding the Fountain (Avon, 1998) and Regarding the Sink (Harcourt, 2004). While the principal is simply looking for someone to trim some trees at Geyser Creek Middle School, a misunderstanding and clever rhetorical spin-offs take readers on a winding journey that includes every leafy pun imaginable. Add an Italian chef and a marriage proposal, and you have a one-of-a-kind plot waiting for that unique reader willing to take the time to unravel this clever book. Each page is painstakingly laid out in scrapbook form as the story unfolds with letters, newspaper columns, even packing envelopes. Some children may find the variety of wacky fonts and page styles difficult to navigate, and the quaint cover depicting a large party taking place under a tree does nothing to add to the book's appeal.–Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. Told through letters, newspaper articles, illustrations, and class projects, and filled with humor and whimsical characters, Klise's follow-up to Regarding the^BFountain (1998) and^B Regarding the Sink (2004) is both fun and informative.^B Geyser Creek Middle School's principal wants to trim or cut down the school's trees, but some students want to save them, especially after learning about their benefits and their importance to area history. In the meantime, romance blooms in unexpected places and a rivalry develops between local restaurateurs, dividing loyalties and inspiring contention between men and women, girls and boys. Fortunately, unexpected events and revelations heal rifts and save both friendships and the trees. Witty wordplay abounds--from characters' names (Justin Case) to tree puns ("Leaf the trees alone")--and Klise incorporates interesting facts about trees and researching genealogy and history. Kids will enjoy the peppy, multiformat read and like the diverse characters. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (August 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152060901
• ISBN-13: 978-0152060909
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #222,059 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

KATE KLISE is an author of many genres. She has written picture books, as well as middle-grade novels, all illustrated by her sister, Sarah. She has also written two young adult novels and is a freelance reporter for People magazine. Kate lives and writes in Norwood, Missouri. www.kateandsarahklise.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ingenious and hilarious, August 17, 2005

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Regarding the Trees: A Splintered Saga Rooted in Secrets (Hardcover)

Mr. Russ, the principal of Geyser Creek Middle School, is scheduled for an evaluation, which sets his nerves on edge. Hoping for a positive review so he can keep his job, Mr. Russ decides that the trees scattered across the school grounds desperately need a trimming to look their best. So he calls on Ms. Florence Waters, the multi-talented woman who recently had installed a new fountain for the school. Even though she lives all the way over in California, she feels delighted to help out her old friends again. While they work out the details of the job, a slight misunderstanding leads Ms. Waters to believe that Mr. Russ is proposing marriage, when in fact that's the last thing on his mind!

Meanwhile, the new middle school's Italian chef is causing quite a stir in town as well. He and the town's café owner, Angel Fisch, are bashing heads on who is the better cook. Their feud soon spreads to include the entire town, dividing the population down the gender line, boys versus girls. Ms. Fisch suggests the obvious solution of a cooking contest, and everyone agrees --- but then someone steals the favorite recipe from both! Who is the culprit?

Meanwhile, some of the students are very upset with Mr. Russ deciding not only to prune the giant willow on the school grounds, but also to remove it entirely. Minnie O. starts up a protest to save all the trees. During her campaign, she learns about an old Geyser Creek club who called themselves The Maids of May, dedicated to saving and planting trees all over the world. Through The Maids of May meeting minutes, Minnie O. discovers some very interesting facts about Geyser Creek and her inhabitants.

REGARDING THE TREES is an ingenious story filled with hilarious puns and misunderstandings. The entire book is a collection of newspaper articles, letters, phone messages, faxes, meeting minutes, and a video transcript. Also sprinkled in are tiny Italian lessons and helpful hints on how to plant trees, and how to explore and construct a family tree. The author and illustrator, Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise, have done an awesome job with this unusual series, and fans can look forward to REGARDING THE BATHROOMS: A Privy to the Past.

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Read, November 16, 2005

By 

Nancy Drew - See all my reviews

This review is from: Regarding the Trees: A Splintered Saga Rooted in Secrets (Hardcover)

Though I am well above the 9-12 age group written on the back, I still very much enjoyed this book. Walter Russ, Principal of Geyser Creek Middle School, has a problem. The society of principals are coming to his school to evaluate EVERYTHING! Including the trees. The trees are a wreck and are in dire need of trimming. Florence Waters, president of Flowing Waters inc. and intimate friend of everyone at the Middle School, is asked for a proposal. She mistakes it as a wedding proposal. The plot winds off in many directions at once from boys vs. girls to unexpected marraiges to the tree trimming. Somehow, though, you manage to keep everything straight while reading. One event which spurs the change of relationships between many people is the competition between the towns two restaruant owners - Chef Angelo and Angel Fisch. There will be a cookoff to see who is the better chef. The girls of the town form their own society and support Angel while the boys support Angelo. This gives the book a thicker plot and a flair. I highly reccomend this fun read. I gaurentee you'll smile!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read it!, July 2, 2006

By 

C. Hillman "beach girl" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Regarding the Trees: A Splintered Saga Rooted in Secrets (Hardcover)

I am a 9 year old girl and I think it is a really good book. Very surprising. In this book you have to figure out what is going to happen. It was really funny. I really liked Regarding the Fountain and Regarding the Sink too. Regarding the Trees was my favorite! Read it!