This Very Tree

April 1, 2021
The inspiring true story of a tree's regrowth literally from ashes. Dubbed the "Survivor Tree," a Callery pear tree that once stood in the plaza of the World Trade Center narrates, in first person, present tense, this moving tale of life before and after the horrors of 9/11. The tree was proud of its "job"--offering shade and a nesting spot for birds and serving as an early harbinger of spring. Then the unimaginable occurred. The tree was eventually discovered, seemingly lifeless, beneath mounds of rubble and removed to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx for rehabilitation. Miraculously, it flourished, and, after nine years, was returned to a newly rebuilt plaza, where it stands today, a beacon of renewed hope. The simple, quietly touching text focuses on the tree as a symbol of regeneration rather than devastation. The splendid illustrations include several spreads that depict, in a stark yet nonfrightening manner, scenes of chaotic destruction. Many also highlight vertical lines and aerial perspectives, prompting viewers to focus attention upward, aptly symbolizing soaring architecture and the tree's growth and also helping readers understand the rise of hope and spirits in the wake of tragedy. Additionally, the illustrations' delicate lines and muted palette have a freshness and airiness that suits the theme of life's rebirth, echoed in the tree's final reassurance that "spring will come." People are portrayed diverse in gender, race, ethnicity, and physical ability. A heartfelt author's note and historical material conclude the book. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 77.8% of actual size.) A resonant, beautifully rendered testament to life and renewal. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

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April 5, 2021
Twenty years after 9/11, Rubin revisits the tragedy through the eyes of a tree that survived the devastation, providing a poignant tribute to a city’s resilience and a powerful introduction to the topic for young readers. The Callery pear tree, planted at the World Trade Center Plaza in the 1970s, narrates the true story in personal prose: “It was an ordinary morning. Until it wasn’t.” After sunny, green-tinged spreads turn dark, black and gray frames depict the tree as it stands buried under tons of twisted rubble. Paneled illustrations aptly speed or slow the narrative, following the subject’s wounding, rescue, and rehabilitation—in an uplifting spread, the growing tree is shown in parallel with the construction of One World Trade Center—to its eventual replanting at the ground zero memorial, where its blossoming branches symbolize hope. Back matter includes more details on 9/11 and the tree, noting that many of its seedlings have been gifted to other communities that have experienced a tragedy. Ages 4–8.

April 15, 2021
Grades K-3 Rubin's inspiring tale uses a displaced--and eventually reinstated--tree to symbolically reflect on the destruction of the World Trade Center on 9/11 and the rebuilding of New York City over time. The poetic text is told from the perspective of the tree, but the illustrations are the star of this book. Flanked by comforting bucolic scenes, Rubin's depiction of the 9/11 attacks is jarring and scary. Its traditional picture-book format gives way to graphic novel conventions as the attack unfolds through darkly colored panels that resemble broken shards of glass. Some readers may grow confused here because the accompanying descriptive passages do not explicitly refer to 9/11, but the atmosphere and drama will be easily felt. As the tree is cleared of debris, light and order are likewise restored to the book's pages. Particularly striking is the growth of the tree and the new tower at the site of the World Trade Center, shown in a series of parallel illustrations. Although the circumstances are different, this story of urban resilience and rebuilding remains relevant today.

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