Far from the Tree
Ratings25
Average rating4.2
Three teenagers, biological siblings separated by adoption, explore the meaning of family in all its forms--how to find it, how to keep it, and how to love it.
"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. 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. Don't miss this moving novel that addresses such important topics as adoption, teen pregnancy, and foster care."
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This book is incredible - I cried my way through the last 25 or so pages, full of those happy-cathartic-relief tears that come when something is so good and satisfying and right. This deals with some heavy topics, but never in an exploitative or preachy way, and it certainly doesn't dwell on them for bleakness' sake. The characters felt authentic and realistic and their actions all made sense in the context of their backstories, which is refreshing - nothing felt like it was done just because the story needed for it to happen. This is basically a perfect book and I can't wait to read it again.
Two quick spoiler notes: 1) Oh my god, ADAM IS THE WORST and I wished for more bad stuff to happen to him, and 2) spoiler-slash-CW: this book is an absolute gut punch if child abuse, adoption, foster care, or loss of a child (to adoption) are difficult topics for you. Again, nothing's done exploitatively, but those are major topics in the book, so be advised. I cried through Grace's chapters several times, because I have a six-month-old and anything to do with kids makes me cry these days. Not a criticism of the book at all, and I think everything was handled very well, but definitely something to be aware of.
4.5 Really loved this book. Minus a half star for some plot conveniences and the over use of a phrase that drives me batty (character x let out a breath they didn't even realize they'd been holding) but those are quibbles. The characters seem to live outside the page, the story is so tender, and the resolutions had me teary, Joaq's storyline in particular. I had to pull over for that one because the audio got me hard.
Words could shatter harder than a glass breaking against a wall, hurt more than a fist plowing through teeth.
— A heartwarming read about the families we're born into and the families we find.
