The Strange Wonders of Roots by Evan Griffith (review)

Reviewed by: The Strange Wonders of Roots by Evan Griffith Cassidy Russell Griffith, Evan The Strange Wonders of Roots. Quill Tree, 2024 304p Trade ed. ISBN 9780063287969 19. 99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780063287983 9. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 4-6 Holly's divorced parents are busy for the summer, so the twelve-year-old girl is shipped off to stay with her Uncle Vincent, whom she barely knows, in the tiny town of Arden, Vermont. While she plans to avoid unpacking or making personal connections in Arden (she doesn't see the point since she's certain nothing really lasts), she is drawn to the verdant grove in the middle of town, spurred on by her recently developed tree obsession from a recent science fair project. When she discovers End Page 362 that the owner of the local factory plans to cut down the trees, she's forced to choose between remaining aloof for self-protection or joining her uncle and his Save the Grove Committee to stop the deforestation. As the folks of Arden slowly wiggle their way through Holly's defenses, she learns that trees (and people) are more resilient when they aren't alone. The town of Arden and its population of quirky townsfolk come alive through Griffith's vibrant prose ("colorful bungalows sprouted from the ground like strange beasts") and specific details (ancient Arden resident Beatrice walks her pet tortoise on a leash, and a boy named Lionel habitually runs into things on his roller skates). While the story at times falls into stark good versus evil, the characters are not so binary—like the factory owner, who wants to cut down the grove but who also funds town art projects, or Uncle Vincent, whose sentences normally trail away nervously but who is confident when speaking on behalf of the committee. The budding friendship between Holly and her uncle is particularly sweet, and her journey toward using her strengths and knowledge to plan a Midsummer festival for the town isn't idealized—it's hopeful. This compelling story about the power of putting down roots will speak to anyone who has ever felt a little (or a lot) out of place. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois