Shaking the Money Tree

by Mary Pat Mullaney

When Kate Gormley and her family have to leave their farm and move to Cincinnati, Kate has trouble adjusting to her new life and getting along with Freddie and Juanita Wolcott, the neighborhood bullies, until she finds the special message her grandfatherhad packed with her whittling knife.When Kate Gormley has to move to Cincinnati, she has trouble adjusting to her new life and getting along with the neighborhood bullies, until she finds a special message from her grandfather and her whittling knife

Genres: Young Adult

134 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1991

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

So lately I remembered a book that I read as a child. Well, sorta remembered. Thanks to some particularly researchy type people on the internet, with just a few things I remembered they were able to help me find the book. Those things I remembered from my childhood; a girl moving to a new city, she whittled birds, and a new friend wanting the birds. I was maybe a little off on that last one, but they still found it.

This is definitely the book I remembered, although its much different than what I thought it was going to be. I remembered the girl older, the whittling more pronounced, and the bullying different. But even with all that, this is still a very good book for children, especially when they are navigating those trying times of school and bullying. Is it applicable for everyone? No, not all bullies can be handled the way they are in this book, but maybe some can.

This is for grade school to middle school aged children (or adults having a bit of nostalgia). It has simplified language but is great for developing reading skills. There's not too heavy of themes and while bullying is the main one, it's not done in a scary way. Although be warned, I'm sure every kid who has read this has suddenly thought they could become the next whittler and demanded a pocket knife. I think I tried myself after reading the book and gave up midway first project.

A blast from the past and a welcome read, great for young school children.

Review by M. Reynard 2019

[Amber Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sitting at my work desk trying to write crossheds for a feature about money, and the phrase "shaking the money tree" came into my head, and then the hazy bronzed memory of this book. I loved it as a preteen. It may still be somewhere in my childhood bedroom. I recall that the main character in it, Kate? had learned to whittle (from her grandfather?), and that made me want to learn. I didn't, but that's still the standout memory of this book. That, and early literary exposure to the hard realities (however softened for a young audience) of the effects of poverty and shitty job markets on families.

[Emily]

This was my VERY FAVORITE book in the 6th grade. I have been dying to find it and read it again! :)

[Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books.... as far as I remember. I haven't read it as an adult but loved it as a kid. Glad I found it on here.