Assessment:

Plot/Idea: Set in Egypt, Illinois during the Great Depression, The Willa Tree is a polished, richly realized story about the Rose family. When a school assignment about researching families leads 15-year-old Lettie to ask questions,  a generation of sinister secrets come out to the detriment of all.

Prose: Farrell's prose is lovely and vivid, even when describing unpleasant scenes, while her writing also powerfully captures Lettie's determination, spirit, and inquisitiveness.

Originality: A distinctive historical setting, winning characters, explosive secrets, and an astonishing twist ending, allow this coming-of-age story to shine.

Character/Execution: Lettie is a wonderfully complex young woman determined to rise above her family's plans and be more than "just a maid." A school project that requires interviewing family members brings everyone's fears and prejudices to light, but rather than shy away as her parents demand, she is determined to find out the truth about herself, her mother, and her true father. Lettie's best friend, Stan, and her worst enemy, school bully Mabel Mae, are also terrific characters, and the three of them work together to expose a generation of secrets.

Date Submitted: June 17, 2024