FAR FROM THE TREE
By Robin Benway
Published by HarperTeen
Release Date: October 3, 2017
Summary from Goodreads: A contemporary novel about three adopted siblings who find each other at just the right moment.
Being the middle child has its ups and downs.
But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including—
Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs.
And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he’s learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can’t hurt anyone but him.
FAR FROM THE TREE is a book that will touch your heart in ways you never thought possible. This book is written in a way that every emotion possible can be experienced between its covers. There are times you want to jump up and shout for joy, sob for hours, scream your head off in anger, and times when you just want to sit and think.
I really thought Robin did a great job with the characters. Each is unique but somehow the same. It is uncanny the way they are connected because they are biologically related, but each has traits that are influenced by their adopted parents and environment. A classic study in nature vs. nurture. Grace, Maya and Joaquin are so well written. There are times when you will laugh and cry with them and other times when you will want to throw the book at the wall because you are so mad at them.
Family is what FAR FROM THE TREE is all about. Each family is different and each family member is unique, but together they make a home. Is family all about blood or is it about love? Just because you share blood with someone, does that mean they are family?
This book should be in all high school libraries. Its raw reality of teen pregnancy, life after the birth, and dynamics of family is something that today’s teens need be exposed to. Life isn’t always roses, smiles, and happiness. It will make a great book club read. The discussion before, during and after reading this book will be amazing. It might be the book that opens doors of understanding for adopted teens and teens thinking of putting a child up for adoption. There is some language, but it is very realistically written and to write it without the language would take away the believability of the characters and their feelings.
I’d like to add a few personal comments. Those of you that don’t know, I am adopted. I was given to my parents straight from the hospital. I have always known that I was adopted. It was never a secret. I also have a younger brother that was adopted too. No, we are not blood related, but we will always be brother and sister.
I have never ever wanted to find the couple that gave me away. I figure they had her reasons that I might never ever be able to understand. I do know that when I became a mother, I realized how difficult this decision must have been for them. I hope they are at peace with their decision because I am very happy and loved. I never refer to these people as Mom, Dad, biological mom or anything like that. In fact, I rarely refer to them at all. I think of them as heroes. They made a great sacrifice to ensure that I would have the best possible life but other than that, I have no feelings towards them.
Lots of people do not understand adoption. Some think that you can only love some one that is blood related. I think that is a very stupid idea. Love has nothing to do with blood. There is only one person that I know of that shares a drop of blood with me, and I have so much love in my life from people that are not “related” to me. Blood means nothing to me and how I define myself, my family and my love. It was a little scary when I was pregnant. I mean I knew nothing about by backgrounds. I tried not to stress about it because I figured God would take care of my baby! When people find out I am adopted, they always ask me if I know where my parents are. I confidently answer yes. My mom and dad are sitting in front of their big screen television. My mom is watching a western and my dad is playing with his handheld solitaire game. They are the only parents I have ever known and the only people I will call Mom and Dad. The always tell me I was a gift from God, but believe me, they are God’s gift to me. I am so blessed.
I do have some advice to parents of adopted children.
- NEVER keep the adoption a secret from them. They should know from the start. Don’t hide it like you are ashamed.
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