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Branches of Hope: The 9/11 Survivor Tree Hardcover – Picture Book, May 18, 2021
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—Carole Boston Weatherford, author of Newbery Honor book BOX
“Branches of Hope is a tribute to resilience and hope, a gentle way to talk with our youngest readers about the memory of 9/11.”
—Kate Messner, author of The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs
The branches of the 9/11 Survivor Tree poked through the rubble at Ground Zero. They were glimpses of hope in the weeks after September 11, 2001.
Remember and honor the events of 9/11 and celebrate how hope appears in the midst of hardship. The Survivor Tree found at Ground Zero was rescued, rehabilitated, and then replanted at the 9/11 Memorial site in 2011. This is its story.
In this moving tribute to a city and its people, a wordless story of a young child accompanies the tree's history. As the tree heals, the girl grows into an adult, and by the 20th anniversary of 9/11, she has become a firefighter like her first-responder uncle. A life-affirming introduction to how 9/11 affected the United States and how we recovered together.
- Reading age4 - 7 years
- Print length32 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelPreschool - 2
- Lexile measureAD790L
- Dimensions8.44 x 0.4 x 10.31 inches
- PublisherCharlesbridge
- Publication dateMay 18, 2021
- ISBN-101623541328
- ISBN-13978-1623541323
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Editorial Reviews
Review
A pear tree is discovered—scarred, burned, and buried—under mounds of rubble after the collapse of the Twin Towers and replanted in a nursery in the Bronx, where it eventually regrows and thrives. This deeply touching book equates the tree’s extraordinary renaissance with New Yorkers’ reawakened strength, spirit, and hope in the aftermath of the tragedy. One particular family—portrayed as an interracial couple (mom presents Black and dad, White) and their very young child—stand in for all New York’s and, indeed, America’s citizens and are depicted in opening scenes innocently enjoying daily life. Everything changes after they watch in bewildered horror as the awful events unfold on TV. Illustrations very ably accompany the simple, solemn text, using both double-page spreads and paneled insets; they highlight and interconnect the passing of time for tree and humans. The “Survivor Tree” is reborn, ultimately returned to its original site and replanted; first responders at ground zero work diligently; the child grows and gains a baby sibling; ordinary activities continue; seasons change; and a 9/11 memorial is built. At book’s end, the child has grown to adulthood and become a New York City firefighter. Several somber-colored illustrations capture the disaster, but the artwork doesn’t dwell on devastation, instead focusing on bright, uplifting images of hope and recovery. An author’s note and information about the tree conclude the book.
Moving and poignant, a tender tribute in this 20th-anniversary commemoration of 9/11.
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Season after season, the tree grew./ Each spring arrived with warm whispers and healing rain.” Commemorating 9/11 two decades after its occurrence, debut author Magee’s free verse narrative focuses on a city’s endurance as symbolized by New York City’s Survivor Tree, a Callery pear in the World Trade Center Plaza that survived the buildings’ collapse. Alongside the visual story of the attacks and their aftermath, Wong’s detailed digital illustrations present the wordless tale of a child, a toddler during the attacks, growing up and becoming a first responder. In a scrapbook-style layout, snapshots of the brown-skinned, biracial child’s family life appear alongside full-bleed illustrations of the tree’s recovery, new growth, and replanting at ground zero a decade later. The combination of picture and verse effectively delivers the message that comfort can be found in remembrance and the continuity of life. Back matter includes contextualizing information about the Survivor Tree, an author’s note, and a selected bibliography.
—Publishers Weekly
A young girl, who is biracial, and her family experience the tragedy of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in New York City, with the special lens of having a family member who is in the New York City Fire Department. Through juxtaposed wordless illustrated scenes and illustrations with text, readers experience the tragedy of the day, the aftermath, and the healing of the city and those who bravely came to the rescue. Also featured is a tree, a Callery pear tree that survived the destruction of the World Trade Center. The tree was excavated from the rubble and years later replanted near the South Pool at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Digital illustrations do not shy away from the destruction and tragedy of 9/11 but the focus on the helpers and the passage of time allow for hope to form the central essence of the book. Connections to the Survivor Tree in Oklahoma City (as detailed in Chris Barton’s All of a Sudden and Forever) speak to the resilience of nature and humankind in the face of tragedy. Back matter includes information regarding the Survivor Tree Seedling Program. VERDICT Highly recommended for a generation of elementary students looking for a hopeful entry point to a hard moment in American history.
—School Library Journal
This memoir-like story, told in spare, careful sentences that recall helping actions around 9/11, portrays the day and subsequent years by following the growth of a little girl and of a tree that survived the attack. The 9/11 Survivor Tree was found at Ground Zero and moved to a nursery, a move that, like some other events in the book, is shown only in the art, thoughtfully leaving adults to fill in children’s questions with the level of detail a child can handle. Seasons change, the years pass, and the tree eventually returns as part of the 9/11 memorial. Paralleling that story is that of thelittle girl, part of an FDNY family, who lives near the World Trade Center with her Black mom and white dad. Gentle text and bright, detailed images with lots of trees and plants show the best parts of life after tragedy. An afterword gives more advanced details on 9/11 and on the 9/11 Survivor Tree Seedling Program, which shares hope with cities that have experienced tragedy. A great addition to public and school library shelves.
—Booklist
A pear tree that survived the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City has become a symbol of hope in adversity. Magee's respectful, lyrical text follows the tree's story through the seasons from its discovery as "something green among the ashes," to its regrowth off-site, to its replanting at Ground Zero ten years later. Wong's softly textured illustrations incorporate a wordless fictional story, told via inset panels, featuring a mixed-race girl and her family (including an FDNY firefighting relative); their lives parallel the tree's resilience. Both text and art present events soberly but with a young audience in mind; the girl's reassuring story helps temper more scary aspects. "More About the Survivor Tree's Journey," an author's note, and selected bibliography are appended.
—The Horn Book
About the Author
Nicole Wong has illustrated many books for children, including Flying Deep; To the Stars!; No Monkeys, No Chocolate; Maxwell's Mountain; and Wild Rose's Weaving. www.nicole-wong.com
Product details
- Publisher : Charlesbridge (May 18, 2021)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 32 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1623541328
- ISBN-13 : 978-1623541323
- Reading age : 4 - 7 years
- Lexile measure : AD790L
- Grade level : Preschool - 2
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 8.44 x 0.4 x 10.31 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #746,311 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Ann Magee is an elementary school educator, children’s writer, and lifelong learner. She lives in New Jersey and is married with three grown children—her favorite people in the world. In her free time, you can find her volunteering for several community organizations or reading everything from picture books to poetry and mystery novels. She’s more of an ‘inside-girl’ and enjoys cooking, baking, and doing anything creative. One fun fact about her is that she has an identical twin sister named Donna, and her husband has an identical twin brother named Don. To find out more, please visit her website www.annmagee.net.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this book a gentle introduction to 9/11 for young readers. It teaches children about hope and how they can make the world a better place. The illustrations are beautiful and allow families to dive deeper into the text and illustrations on their own time.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book a great way to introduce children to 9/11. They say it's a must-read for all ages, from preschool on. The illustrations are described as a powerful combination for telling the story of 9/11 to young readers.
"...story told through the illustrations, is a powerful combination for telling the story of 9/11 to young readers...." Read more
"...It’s a must read for all ages, from preschool on. Amongst the ashes at ground zero was this little tree; still very much alive...." Read more
"...with the 20th Anniversary coming up, this book is a great book to help children learn about what happened on Sept. 11, 2001...." Read more
"...This was perfect to introduce the significance of 9/11 at a younger age" Read more
Customers find the book offers hope to children when learning about 9/11. They say it teaches them about hope in the face of tragedy and that they can make the world a better place. It is a lovely treatment of the 9/11 tragedy that allows children to process their thoughts and emotions as Americans.
"...BRANCHES OF HOPE is a deeply-moving book that gives children room to process their thoughts and emotions of an American tragedy, while finding hope..." Read more
"...But it does more than that. It teaches the children about hope in the face of tragedy and that they can make the world a better place...." Read more
"...It’s a good way to offer a morsel of hope when children learn about 911." Read more
"Resiliency and hope..." Read more
Customers enjoy the illustrations in this children's book. They find the prose and parallel story told through the illustrations a powerful combination that allows families to dive deeper into the illustrations and text on their own time and in their own words.
"This is a book that needs to be in every classroom or library. The gorgeous prose combined with the parallel story told through the illustrations,..." Read more
"This lovely illustrated and written picture book is a reminder how resilient we all are as individuals and as a nation...." Read more
"...I say lovely because it is a children’s book that is beautifully illustrated with a touching tale of the surviving tree...." Read more
Reviews with images
Resiliency and hope
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2021This is a book that needs to be in every classroom or library. The gorgeous prose combined with the parallel story told through the illustrations, is a powerful combination for telling the story of 9/11 to young readers. BRANCHES OF HOPE is a deeply-moving book that gives children room to process their thoughts and emotions of an American tragedy, while finding hope for the future. Congratulations to Ann Magee, debut author, and Nicole E. Wong on creating an important book for generations to come.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2022This lovely illustrated and written picture book is a reminder how resilient we all are as individuals and as a nation. It’s a must read for all ages, from preschool on.
Amongst the ashes at ground zero was this little tree; still very much alive.
This book is a gentle way to expose young readers to the tragedy that happened on September 11th. It allows families to dive deeper into the illustrations and text on their own time and in their own words.
This lovely illustrated and written picture book is a reminder how resilient we all are as individuals and as a nation. It’s a must read for all ages, from preschool on.
Amongst the ashes at ground zero was this little tree; still very much alive.
This book is a gentle way to expose young readers to the tragedy that happened on September 11th. It allows families to dive deeper into the illustrations and text on their own time and in their own words.
Images in this review - Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2021Especially with the 20th Anniversary coming up, this book is a great book to help children learn about what happened on Sept. 11, 2001. But it does more than that. It teaches the children about hope in the face of tragedy and that they can make the world a better place. I wish I had this book when my children were small to help them deal with this very difficult topic.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2022I knew I wanted to teach my kids about the importance of this day but they are too young for the whole truth. This was perfect to introduce the significance of 9/11 at a younger age
- Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2021Excellent book for our children.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2024My class loved hearing this story and hearing the message of resilience. As adults, all who have shared this book look back and remember a dark time in our past, but more importantly the hope, love and light that came out of it. Thanks for a beautifully, well written story. It will help us spread a little bit of our difficult history, to a new generation.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2021As a former elementary school teacher turned homeschool mom, I found this to be a heartwarming book about the little-known story of the 9/11 survivors' tree. With soft, peaceful illustrations and lyrical writing, the author of Branches of Hope, explains the story of how the tree became what it is today. The book does not explain what happened on 9/11, other than some tasteful illustrations, which I feel creates the perfect opportunity for teachers or parents to speak to their kids about 9/11 in a way that makes them comfortable. I had never heard of the survivor's tree before reading this book, but now I would like to take my kids to visit it someday.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2021I had not heard about the 9/11 Survivor Tree until I read this book. Ann Magee's almost poetic text conveys the story of 9/11 through the story of a pear tree that somehow, miraculously, survived the devastation of the terrorist attack. Nicole Wong's illustrations help inform the story of the tree while also sharing the story of a child whose parents wisely protected her from the brunt of the horrific attack. Tree and child grow and thrive, giving hope for the future. A beautiful book that provides parents and teachers with a positive way to tell children about 9/11.