YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Based on a true story, this novel tells the heartwrenching story of a girl in the midst of civil war in Guatemala. In her remote Guatemalan village, 14-year-old Gabriela is known as Tree Girl for her habit of fleeing to the forest and climbing high to escape the world. When guerrilla warfare comes to her area, her life is changed forever. Over dangerous miles and months of hunger and thirst, Gabriela’s search for her sister Alicia and for a safe haven becomes a search for self. Praise for TREE GIRL: “…an instructive and satisfying survival story.”—School Library Journal
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"Tree Girl - by Ben Mikaelsen -This is a true story of a 15 year old girl and her fight for survival during Guatemala's bloody civil war. This Anne Frank type story was written for 6 to 12th graders and told from a child eyes, giving it a purity and simplicity that makes the story easy to read despite the subject matter. This is a true story of Gabriela Flores who witnesses two massacres, first of her own village (and family) and then that of a neighboring village. She survives the second massacre by climbing into a lone tree in the plaza and has a close up view of days worth of atrocities. Gabi then tells of her solo flight to the Mexican border and life in a refugee camp."
— Shawn (4 out of 5 stars)
" One of the most powerful stories I have ever read, and one of the strongest characters I have ever met in a book. "
— Julie, 2/13/2014" A very unique and interesting book. I honestly love all of Ben Mikaelsen's writings. I started originally with his Touching Spirit Bear books and then read this. It did come up to par with the Touching Spirit Bear books but it was a nice and quick read. "
— Shadow, 2/11/2014" A very deep and tragic story about what some people have had to face in their lives. I first picked up this book because it said tree in the title. It was nothing what I predicted it would be. It's stories like these that make you rethink everything and everyone in your lives and appreciate things more. "
— Amanda, 2/6/2014" One of the books I put on the summer reading list for my students. At first the book felt too simple and cute, the problem with the majority of YA literature. However, after about the first 5 chapters things get really deep, really fast. The book centers on a young girl during the Guatemalan conflict in the 1980s. Based on the life of a real girl, Gabi witnesses the massacre of an entire village and the depressing conditions of the refugee camps. For a YA book, Tree Girl is very brutal and does very little to water down the details in this story, even attacking the United States policies of the time. "
— Poorfish, 1/28/2014" Such an amazing/depressing/eye opening story about an untold story of genocide and the survivors that made it through. Great read, but tissues aren't a horrible idea :) "
— Ashlee, 1/26/2014" I heard Ben Mikaelsen speak a few years ago and he has an amazing story. I have always liked his books, and this is no exception. I would not recommend it to anyone younger than high school. It is well-written and has a satisfying ending. But there is a fair amount of graphic violence in it. The setting is Guatemala. A powerful read. "
— Bobncon, 1/26/2014" heart-wrenching, fabulous story. just another story explaining why so many want to come to the U.S. I wouldn't teach it younger than 8th grade tho... "
— Kelly, 1/19/2014" Amazing book with lots of action and killing "
— Dylan, 12/30/2013" A great book about a girl fom an indian tribe that's separated from her family by soldiers. It was good but very depressing!!!!! "
— Bryson, 12/30/2013" Another great middle school novel. Moving, thought provoking, and a good look at tragic and horrible things that can happen in civil war in the 21st century. This book is really a good read but it mad me cry more than once. "
— Toby, 11/4/2013" Scary, but good! "
— Abigayle, 10/29/2013" Very simply written, but powerful! Read this book! "
— Chelsa, 5/4/2013" this book was amazing. everybody who is mature should read this. "
— Alexis, 3/2/2013" Wow; hopefully something none of us will experience "
— Mary, 12/26/2012" Who would ever think Gabriela could survive such terrible things. "
— Mr., 12/22/2012" It was really engaging and the end made me cry which doesn't happen a lot. It's a bit sad but it's a good story about a girl escaping a war and that makes it really interesting. "
— Ishathakor, 10/23/2012" so sad and moving! "
— Angie, 7/27/2012" I really liked book because it used like a true life setting, about people living in a war zone. And how they have to hide their own heritage, just so they can protect themselves from the gurillas. "
— Alexandria, 4/18/2012" What was a really easy book but super sad. i had to read it for social studies it made me cry like 10 times "
— Karissa, 3/16/2012" Well, there goes my faith in humanity again... "
— Emily, 9/25/2011" great! Guatamalen war. "
— Mrs., 8/26/2011" Think I'll wait until my daughter is in HS to have her read this book. I want her to be able to balance the tragic history of her country with pride in her heritage. "
— Deb, 7/7/2011" Not really knowing much about the genocide in Guatemala, this book was a real eye opener. Having sat in a course with this author, it had quite an impact to know he interviewed this girl and had to be secreted with her. Still today he cannot reveal her identity or she would be dead. "
— Donna, 6/29/2011" This book was so sad. I never knew about the genocide in Guatemala, and according to Ben Mikealsen, this book was based loosely on a true story. It was extremely moving. "
— Shelly, 6/15/2011" this book is unbelievable. The horrors that this little girl saw and what she went through. i cant imagine how painful that must have been for her. And her little sister! what a poor little girl. i was happy when they stayed at the camp at the end of the book "
— Justine, 6/8/2011" I love ittttt but it is very visual "
— Jessica, 3/25/2011" If you have never read this book before than you should!!! I never even knew this happened and our own government helped it happen!! Makes me so angry! "
— Staceynt, 2/23/2011" Wow; hopefully something none of us will experience <br/> "
— Mary, 1/13/2011" This book was written at a 4th grade level, but the content is not any that i would allow my 4th grader to read. It was based on a true story about horrific events in Guatemala in a civil war. I only finished reading because they were true events, but it is sad and very disturbing. "
— Nannette, 12/21/2010" This was pretty interesting, The whole Genocide and how much we get in the way of others lifes. It's kind of upsetting knowing about these kind of things, it just shows how much people don't care. But they're also good endings to bad beginnings for some people. "
— Heather, 11/18/2010" This book was alright. We had to read it in my english class. I think it was a good book because it let people know what was going on in the world today. I wish there was more of an ending though. "
— Shealyn, 11/17/2010" this book was okay it was sad too "
— Ashley, 10/4/2010" Very Good! A bit dapressing but enjoyed. "
— Delanie, 8/6/2010Ben Mikaelsen is the winner of the International Reading Association Award and the Western Writers of America Spur Award. His novels have been nominated for and won many state readers’ choice awards, including Red Midnight, Rescue Josh McGuire, Sparrow Hawk Red, Stranded, Countdown, Petey, and Tree Girl. His articles and photos appear in numerous magazines around the world. He lives near Bozeman, Montana.