The Crystal Tree

Golden Name Day #3

by Jennie D. Lindquist

Nancy has her tenth birthday and begins to learn the history of the little house she will live in when she rejoins her mother and father.

A "Harpercrest" selection for outstanding juvenile literature. Intriguing plot, vocabulary, font size & arrangement with illustrations is especially geared for the 9-12 year-old reader.

Genres: Childrens, Historical, Fiction, Middle Grade, Juvenile

297 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Jennie D. Lindquist was a children's book author, as well as an editor for The Horn Book from 1951-1958.

Reviews

[Gretchen Rubin]

A re-read. What a wonderful, wonderful book. So cozy. It's the third in a series that's included in my list of 81 Favorite Works of Children's and Young Adult Literature.

[Jodie Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the Golden Name Day trilogy. I adore these books. If you can find them, get them. They are lovely and transport the reader to simpler times.

[carrietracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished a re-read of this with the kids. I absolutely love this out of print series and it's one of my favorite historicals.

It's the third in the trilogy and Nancy Bruce has been happy in her time with Grandma and Grandpa but is eager to see her parents again. She's torn though, because she wants to stay with the Bensons and Carlsons.

When the Benson's old friends Uncle George and Aunt Hanna visit, they take everyone to see a little house George remembers - a house which ends up being the center of their lives.

The children become enraptured with the house and its history and Nancy and her family arrange to rent it once her mother is well enough to move.

Things I love about this book: The friendships are great- there isn't really any strife/resolution which is sort of typical of historicals, but I like how kids valuable their older neighbors and visit with them.

The disability portrayal for Alex isn't perfect - again I've never seen a disabled person's take on it - there's definitely a bit of pity/poor Alex at times, but the girls include him because he is their friend NOT out of pity. This book in particular addresses his disability - he has to undergo a serious surgery - the goal of which is NOT to make him walk, just strengthen his spine enough that he would be able to manage transfers independently as he ages. It's always good to show that people who are disabled have chronic medical needs and that there are no "miracle" fixes - or that a "miracle" fix doesn't result in the person becoming able-bodied, it just results in more freedom. In this book his mother discusses how their current home won't be sustainable, because as he ages, people won't be able to carry all the time - and she arranges to have a house built on a single level so that he can have more appropriate accommodations as he ages. While it's never outright stated, it is VERY clear in the book that Alex and his mother are rich - and if you're doing this as a read-aloud with your kids, it's definitely an opportunity to discuss how much Alex is able to have accommodations because of his family's wealth.

One of the plots to the book involves the daughter of the house's owner who died very young. She was substantially weakened by a bout of diphtheria, which left her blind and with a heart condition. The book delves into this a bit - again with her family being able to provide her with some comfort due to wealth and then choosing to use this wealth to donate to hospitals to assist other children.

In writing this it sounds like this book is boring or preachy but it's really wholesome and sweet. It has less in it about Swedish traditions than the first book, but it's still lovely.

[Dail Sams · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third and final book in Jennie Lindquist's series about a young girl named Nancy who goes to live with her Grandparents while her mother recovers from and illness in the hospital. Nancy and her friends spend the winter learning all they can about the little silver house and the Crane family who own it. When they discover that the house has been bought by their good friend, Uncle George, who is going to rent it to Nancy's parents, all the children are overjoyed because Nancy will not have to go back to the city, but can stay in the country which she has come to love so much.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third and final book in the series completes Nancy's year with Grandpa and Grandma, as she is away from her parents. The mystery of the little silver house continues, and the children ask everyone they meet for clues of the house's past. Winter is ending and spring is bringing the bulbs and flowers to life that Nancy helped to plant. The adults provide simple entertainment for the children with baking, visiting, reading, gardening, and sewing. The descriptions of home life in these books is ever so charming.

Such a sweet, sweet series. I loved these books so very much.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as sweet as the first two! There were many little mysteries in this book. It took a great deal of self discipline not to peek ahead. There are lots of fun adventures, descriptions of the world awakening to spring, talk of pretty flowers, endearing pets and all their antics, and more revelations about the dear little silver house.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

review and rating to come.