07 August 2012

Today's Read: The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford

What would you do if you discovered a note hidden in a tree in the woods? When 10-year-old Araminta (Minty) Mortimer unfolded the note she found, she read: "No one loves me except my goldfish." Because almost everyone she knew owned a fish, she put the paper in her treasure box to keep it safe.
The next day, my life was one sentence different than it had been the day before. I kept looking at people I was used to seeing every day, and I wondered whether they felt that nobody loved them except their goldfish. (p. 31)
—The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford (Scholastic Press, 2012)

Quick Facts
  • Setting: Woodlawn Road neighborhood, Catonsville, Maryland
  • Circumstances: Minty discovers that someone is hiding notes in a tree in the woods, her friends seem to be maturing faster than she is, her older sister is rebelling, and there's a mystery to be solved
  • Characters: Minty, her best friend, the new boy, Minty's family, various neighbors
  • Themes: friendship, growing up, people's secrets, privacy, family
  • Audience and genre: middle readers, contemporary fiction, a bit of a mystery
  • Awards: Indie Kids Next pick for summer 2012; Washington Post KidsPost Summer Book Club selection; Scholastic Mother-Daughter Book Club selection
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18 comments:

  1. Daryl8/7/12, 8:22 AM

    this one sounds like its perfect for my friend's daughter ... thanks!

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  2. Unknown8/7/12, 8:22 AM

    Thanks for sharing.

    You will find mine here:
    CarolynBrown-Books

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  3. Irish8/7/12, 8:27 AM

    This is both a really cute teaser and a sad one. Definitely interested in this book. Thanks for the teaser!

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  4. Jessica ( frellathon )8/7/12, 8:56 AM

    For young or not it sounds interesting so I will have to look it up

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  5. Preet8/7/12, 8:58 AM

    If this is a younger read, it sounds pretty deep. Great teaser.

    Preet @ A Written Rhapsody

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  6. Unknown8/7/12, 9:12 AM

    This book looks great. Never heard of it before. I need to check it out. Thanks for sharing
    Here is my TT

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  7. Laurel-Rain Snow8/7/12, 9:21 AM

    I like the sound of this one. Thanks for sharing. Here's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST

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  8. Nise' 8/7/12, 9:29 AM

    I've love How to say Goodbye in Robot so I will definitely pick this one up!

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  9. caite8/7/12, 9:36 AM

    I don't even have a goldfish.. {{sob}}

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  10. Zibilee8/7/12, 10:40 AM

    I think it would have been so sad to have found that note. I can't wait to hear your final verdict on this one.

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  11. Sandra Nachlinger8/7/12, 10:58 AM

    Great teaser. I like your "Quick Facts" too -- a good way to tell a lot about the book without a long paragraph.
    My teaser is from Hot Issues, Cool Choices.

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  12. Anonymous8/7/12, 11:08 AM

    Sounds a little sad.

    http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/08/teaser-tuesday.html

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  13. Beth Hoffman8/7/12, 12:20 PM

    I suspect I would love this book!

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  14. bermudaonion8/7/12, 1:41 PM

    This sounds good to me. I hope she figured out who left that note and let them know they are loved.

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  15. Sandy Nawrot8/7/12, 1:49 PM

    I know that this story will turn out sweet. I just know it.

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  16. Maryellen8/7/12, 1:58 PM

    very interesting and heartbreaking at the same time!

    MY TT:
    http://maryellenbrady.com/2012/08/06/tuesday-teaser-the-brahms-deception-by-louise-marley/

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  17. Julie P.8/7/12, 3:35 PM

    I bet I'd love this one!

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  18. Melissa O.8/7/12, 4:34 PM

    Interesting teaser... rather thought-provoking.

    Here is my teaser this week.

    ReplyDelete

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