Yes, lots of heavy stuff! Yet throughout there’s an underlying sense of hope and healing. Themes explored include teen pregnancy, racism, family dynamics, bullying, and behavioral health and substance abuse issues. The Story – There’s a lot going on here but it all blends seamlessly. Some of their baggage is shared and some is very specific to the character.

They’re all basically good kids carrying more baggage than most adults could bear. Here’s what I loved: The Characters – Grace, Maya, and Joaquin were well-developed characters to love. Perfect for readers of adult literary fiction.įar From the Tree took me far out of my comfort zone in the most excellent way! It’s only the second audiobook I’ve listen to till the very end and it’s YA. After 17 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.ĭon't miss this moving novel that addresses such important topics as adoption, teen pregnancy, and foster care. 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.Īnd Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. 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. Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including: Perfect for fans of NBC's This Is Us, Robin Benway’s beautiful interweaving story of three very different teenagers connected by blood explores the meaning of family in all its forms - how to find it, how to keep it, and how to love it.īeing the middle child has its ups and downs.īut for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. National Book Award Winner and New York Times best seller!

Far from the tree robin benway