The Worry Tree

March 1, 2009
Gr 3-5-Juliet is a worrier. She worries about her parents arguing, her irritating younger sister, her grandmother's health, her friends, and the school bully. After a fight with her sister, her parents decide that she needs her own room. Juliet's new bedroom, her father's former junk room, is revealed to have been her Nana's bedroom when she was about 10 years old. Behind the old wallpaper, Juliet finds her grandmother's "worry tree." Nana explains that each of the animals sitting in the tree can be trusted to take care of one of Juliet's various concerns while she is sleeping, just as they did for her when she was a girl. Each night, Juliet unburdens herself, and this helps for a while. Then the whole family becomes embroiled in an argument that brings up all of the issues that Juliet has been concerned about. She believes it is all her fault and decides to give up her room. Musgrove gives a realistic picture of an ordinary family dealing with a variety of common problems, such as sibling rivalry, incompatibility, and parental aging. The book's one flaw is the girl's solution to the school bully, which isn't very realistic. The author has, however, provided a unique solution for Juliet's worries. An additional purchase.Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

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