The Linden Tree

by Ellie Mathews, Marguerite Gavin (Reading)

When eleven-year-old Katy Sue loses her mother to meningitis, she and her family must adjust to life without her. The rural farm in the 1940s provides a natural backdrop that is rhythmic and routine but unforgiving, even when a family member dies. The house's emptiness is filled only when her Aunt Katherine comes to the family's aid, as does Jake, a family friend. Katy Sue, the youngest of the three children, struggles to understand what the loss of her mother means for her now. With the guidance of her teacher, she begins to imagine her future through drawing, a process that allows her to accept her father's soon-to-be wife, the farm life without her mother, and, eventually, her own role within the family.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Young Adult

Audio CD

First published June 4, 2007

About the author

Ellie Mathews is an author of fiction and nonfiction works including The Linden Tree (winner of the 2007 Milkweed Editions Prize for Children’s Literature). Her recipe for Salsa Couscous Chicken was the Grand Prize Winner of the 1998 Pillsbury Bake-Off.
Mathews holds a degree in geography from the University of Washington, 1976 with emphasis on cartography and graphic arts.

Reviews

[Cricket Muse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quiet story set in the 1940’s of a family adjusting to the sudden loss of the mother to meningitis. Told in first person through eleven year old Katy Sue, the plot focuses on the emotions of this close knit Iowa farming family. Genuine and warming. Middle readers who enjoy historical fiction or family drama should consider this as a title to try.

[Jennifer Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story of a young girl and her family coming to terms with the sudden loss of their mother from illness. From the first lines, you are pulled into the world of rural farm life in 1940s America and the sobering reality that life can indeed be very fleeting. It's a serious novel but there are moments of levity. Some would call this a "quiet novel" in that there aren't huge plot points and sweeping changes. But there don't need to be. I recommend giving this book a read.

[Monica Fletcher]

I absolutely loved this book, a balm in a pandemic. I loved the veracity of the girl’s voice, her attention to her surroundings, the little gestures like touching the elastic cuff on a nightgown, the importance of these things in reading her world. I loved the moment that Aunt Katherine touches her own neck and conveys a self-sense of being superior in her former life. The birth of the calf was so fresh. Just great.

It really is a piece of gratitude. I loved the lack of conflict; loss is enough of a life challenge. Everybody did their best and were allowed to be human.

I also really appreciated the thoroughness of so many facets of grief. Katy Sue’s grief informed me. I actually thought about the loss of my mother in new ways. My mother had been lost to me after a massive stroke, she couldn’t speak or walk, and yet she lived for thirteen more years. Katy Sue’s more compressed grief period was something I never had, I could never completely process the million little losses as we adjusted to her diminished presence in the family. When she did die, I had a new kid and I had forgotten so much, and the main feeling was that she was released. I so appreciate what this book brought back of my youthful relationship with my own mother.

I also loved looking up Stanchions, Cambric Tea, and the Fox and Geese game.

It is worthy of its awards, what a beautiful classic.

[Casle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very well written story about a family who has just buried their Mama under the linden tree. Not really YA, no major complications, somewhat mundane.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's 1940 and eleven year-old Katy Sue just lost her mother. Katie Sue and her family learn to go on with life. A sweet book .

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little story of love and loss from a farm girl's perspective. Reminded me of my grandmother's upbringing.

[Chris Webber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Touching story, easy read. I like the authors descriptive way she pulls you into the story. Almost like a soft bounce.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story takes place in the 40's or 50's on a farm. Though I did not grow up on a farm, my mother did & we would visit the farm every summer when we were small. The author's words made me FEEL the physical place of the farm - she was descriptive without being overdone. I could see in my mind what she wrote. The book took me back to my youth. When she described making jelly & skimmming the foam off the top & putting it on a pie plate - my Mom did that. The main part of the story deals with the death of the mother & the changes her death made in the family & how they coped. It brought tears to my eyes a couple of times.
That being said, I am not sure that it would be a book that children would enjoy. An older child might or a child who (unfortunately) might've lost someone they loved. There is a lot of feeling in the book & a lot of children would understand the words, but not register the depth of feeling behind the words.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, prominently displayed at my local library, seemed to call me. So different from my last read The Prince of Frogtown, that at first it was hard to adjust to the different writing styles.

This is a story told in lyrical writing, filled with soft images. Unlike Bragg who packs a wallop in his writing, this author quietly, introspectively, portrays the effects of grief on three young children and their widowed father when the mother/wife unexpectedly, suddenly dies from meningitis.

This is a snapshot of four seasons after the loss and how the family is working through the process of grief. It is accurate in the depiction of of pain and of moving forward, placing one foot in front of the other after a severe loss. I admired the characters and the writing.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like historical fiction you've probably read this one before: mother dies, family, especially one of the girls, has a hard time adjusting especially as father prepares to remarry, etc. Don't get me wrong, I am not belittling this kind of sadness and tragedy, but this book doesn't add anything new to this time-worn path. Still, I liked it and enjoyed Katy Sue's voice as well as her gentle and (for the most part) loving family.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Sarah Plain and Tall for the slightly older reader, say 5th to 7th grade instead of 3rd or 4th. The plot is common, but the characters and the setting are so real that even though I'm too young to have been there, I feel I truly know those people.
This is a book for readers who like mood pieces.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read several of these books---how a family tries to survive after the mother dies, etc. It's pretty good, but nothing special. It was a good quick read, though and the characters were likable. It wasn't a waste of time, but I have read better. How's that? Not quite a professional review, but that's why they don't pay me the big bucks.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's about a farm family in the 1940s, who is struggling after the mother dies. Not a book that will sell like Harry Potter but I think it will definitely appeal to those into the American Girl books and the Dear America series.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A "book for intermediate readers" by a friend and ex-student of mine. It...is...WONDERFUL. Such a warm, wise exploration of grief. Great period details.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle read of a farm family in 1940's Iowa rooted in love who learn to cope with the sudden death of their mother. Winner of the Milkweed Prize and reminiscent of Sara Plain and Tall.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very remarkable book!
I hope that everyone enjoys this book and much as I did.

[Rshelite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a little girl who looses her mother to meningitis and how the family copes without their mother. It is very good.

[Magda · Rating 2 out of 5]

How a family pulls together after the mother-and-wife dies.

[Irene :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so sad but so good. I crieed really hard after I fineshed this book.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a book-o-week pick that interested me because of the dead-mother aspect. it was a nice, if unnoticeable YA.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very sweet, simplistic book. Too simple, and too predictable.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio. I loved this sweet and heartwarming story!