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The Strange Wonders of Roots: A Middle Grade Novel of Activism, Friendship, and Belonging for Kids
Perfect for fans of Operation Redwood comes Evan Griffith’s heartfelt and poignant sophomore middle grade contemporary novel about a girl who knows better than to get attached to people and places and yet learns to lay down her own roots as she’s drawn into a fight for a grove of trees in danger of being torn down.
Holly Foster knows that nothing lasts—not hometowns, not schools, and certainly not her dad’s girlfriends. Even visits to her mom and stepdad are fleeting. Caring is dangerous, and it’s safer to keep herself uninvolved. So when she’s sent to spend part of the summer with her uncle Vincent, she knows better than to get attached to anyone or anything in his small Vermont town.
But when she arrives, she’s immediately drawn in by the drama that’s split the town of Arden in two: the local plastic factory is trying to tear down a central tree grove to build a visitor’s center and museum. Holly shocks herself by stepping into the fight to protect the trees, thus taking on one of the most powerful families in the area. But, as she learns more about Arden and its history, she finds that this is one fight that she doesn’t want to back down from.
With a potential new friend by her side, Holly is determined to protect the one place she thinks she could finally belong, the one place where she might actually want to put down roots. But, when the chips are down, will she be able to convince the other townspeople that the trees deserve to stay?
Holly Foster knows that nothing lasts—not hometowns, not schools, and certainly not her dad’s girlfriends. Even visits to her mom and stepdad are fleeting. Caring is dangerous, and it’s safer to keep herself uninvolved. So when she’s sent to spend part of the summer with her uncle Vincent, she knows better than to get attached to anyone or anything in his small Vermont town.
But when she arrives, she’s immediately drawn in by the drama that’s split the town of Arden in two: the local plastic factory is trying to tear down a central tree grove to build a visitor’s center and museum. Holly shocks herself by stepping into the fight to protect the trees, thus taking on one of the most powerful families in the area. But, as she learns more about Arden and its history, she finds that this is one fight that she doesn’t want to back down from.
With a potential new friend by her side, Holly is determined to protect the one place she thinks she could finally belong, the one place where she might actually want to put down roots. But, when the chips are down, will she be able to convince the other townspeople that the trees deserve to stay?
304 pages, Hardcover
Published May 28, 2024
2 people are currently reading
2604 people want to read
About the author
Evan Griffith
4 books13 followersEvan Griffith is the author of the middle-grade novels MANATEE SUMMER and THE STRANGE WONDERS OF ROOTS (both Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections) and the picture book biographies SECRETS OF THE SEA: THE STORY OF JEANNE POWER, REVOLUTIONARY MARINE SCIENTIST and WILD AT HEART: THE STORY OF OLAUS AND MARDY MURIE, DEFENDERS OF NATURE. His books have received multiple starred reviews, appeared on several state award lists for children's literature, and been recognized as Bank Street’s Best Children’s Books of the Year, National Science Teachers Association Best Stem Books, and Chicago Public Library’s Best Informational Books for Younger Readers. Evan received his MFA in Writing for Children at the Vermont College of Fine Arts where he now serves as faculty. He lives in Austin, Texas with a mischievous tuxedo cat and several overflowing bookshelves.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 22, 2024
Immersive read with a stubbornly independent girl at its heart - independent so she won't be disappointed when yet again nothing lasts. Holly's mom's remarried and busy with her new family, her dad never gives a place, a job, or a girlfriend time to stick, and she's spending the beginning of summer with an uncle she's never met in the pokey little town of Arden. But in a short time Arden captures her interest and affections and she's immersed in a campaign to save the grove of trees at Arden's center, the grove that gave Arden its name, a grove that's dying. Observant in the way of children and their relationships, tender in the loosening of Holly's defenses, and lyrical in scenes of nature and its impact, this is a sweet novel for the young reader who is concerned about the environment and has clear opinions about how life works. Much charm.
December 20, 2024
Fungal networks in middle grade fiction…for the win!
January 31, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Holly's father is an actor who will travel wherever he needs to go for a part, and her mother and stepfather are taking a cruise. Since there is nowhere else for Holly to go, she is sent to live with her Uncle Vincent for the summer in his small town of Arden Vermont. Uncle Vincent is gay, and has created a strong community for himself in the town, where he runs a bookstore. Holly is a voracious reader who has recently become obsessed with trees, so when she sees that the local Arden grove is supposed to be torn down to make room for the expansion of the local plastic factory that employs most of the residents, she is ready to support her Uncle with his efforts to save it. In her journeys, she meets Lionel, a boy her age is is willing to help out, and the two spend a lot of time meeting with the quirky residents of the town, which include a pet massage business owner. They do a lot of research in the newspaper archives, and find out that the Madisons, who own the plastics factory, destroyed a large part of an Arden forest to build the first factory, which is why there are so few remaining trees. The trees are not doing well, and when Holly contacts scientists, she manages to convince some to come and study what might be killing the trees. She and Lionel also find that there was as Arden festival, last held in 1958, and plan to resurrect it. It's a lot of work, and when Holly finds out secrets about one of her collaborators, and a local newspaper attacks her for causing trouble even though she is not from Arden, she's ready to go back home to her mother. Will she be able to put down her own roots as well as save the grove?
Strengths: As someone who owned a copy of a tree identification book until the glue petrified and all the pages fell out, I'm a big fan of students who want to study and identify trees. Holly's life has been full of moves and separation, so it is understandable that she would enjoy becoming part of the life of a small, quirky town, especially since her uncle is a constant and reassuring presence. I'm also a fan of Kids Doing Things, so Holly's attempts to save the grove, and her measured and sensible approach to research and organizing, definitely appealed to me. There is a good amount of scientific information about trees, and the environmental message is strong. Lionel is a good foil for Holly's activities, and his presence also adds an element of surprise to the plot. Secondary characters are well developed and engaging, and add some fun and quirkiness to the Arden setting.
Weaknesses: This was a bit on the slow side, and I got distracted by Holly's prescription toothpaste that her mother had sent to her. I felt like I was missing more backstory about that small element.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Guillory's Nowhere Better Than Here, Helget's The End of the Wild, or McDunn's When Sea Becomes Sky.
Holly's father is an actor who will travel wherever he needs to go for a part, and her mother and stepfather are taking a cruise. Since there is nowhere else for Holly to go, she is sent to live with her Uncle Vincent for the summer in his small town of Arden Vermont. Uncle Vincent is gay, and has created a strong community for himself in the town, where he runs a bookstore. Holly is a voracious reader who has recently become obsessed with trees, so when she sees that the local Arden grove is supposed to be torn down to make room for the expansion of the local plastic factory that employs most of the residents, she is ready to support her Uncle with his efforts to save it. In her journeys, she meets Lionel, a boy her age is is willing to help out, and the two spend a lot of time meeting with the quirky residents of the town, which include a pet massage business owner. They do a lot of research in the newspaper archives, and find out that the Madisons, who own the plastics factory, destroyed a large part of an Arden forest to build the first factory, which is why there are so few remaining trees. The trees are not doing well, and when Holly contacts scientists, she manages to convince some to come and study what might be killing the trees. She and Lionel also find that there was as Arden festival, last held in 1958, and plan to resurrect it. It's a lot of work, and when Holly finds out secrets about one of her collaborators, and a local newspaper attacks her for causing trouble even though she is not from Arden, she's ready to go back home to her mother. Will she be able to put down her own roots as well as save the grove?
Strengths: As someone who owned a copy of a tree identification book until the glue petrified and all the pages fell out, I'm a big fan of students who want to study and identify trees. Holly's life has been full of moves and separation, so it is understandable that she would enjoy becoming part of the life of a small, quirky town, especially since her uncle is a constant and reassuring presence. I'm also a fan of Kids Doing Things, so Holly's attempts to save the grove, and her measured and sensible approach to research and organizing, definitely appealed to me. There is a good amount of scientific information about trees, and the environmental message is strong. Lionel is a good foil for Holly's activities, and his presence also adds an element of surprise to the plot. Secondary characters are well developed and engaging, and add some fun and quirkiness to the Arden setting.
Weaknesses: This was a bit on the slow side, and I got distracted by Holly's prescription toothpaste that her mother had sent to her. I felt like I was missing more backstory about that small element.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Guillory's Nowhere Better Than Here, Helget's The End of the Wild, or McDunn's When Sea Becomes Sky.
January 25, 2025
Evan Griffith’s novel THE STRANGE WONDER OF ROOTS introduces readers to Holly who lives with her father, her mother having remarried and started another family. With her father, an aspiring actor, she has moved from place to place and knows better than to make friends. One of her three Fundamental Truths of Life is “Nothing lasts.”
But this summer she is to stay with her uncle in Arden, “Home of the Famous Madison Plastics Factory.” Holly is not planning to get to know the locals, become part of the community, or even unpack, but, as an avid reader about trees since her sixth grade science project on tree root systems, Holly is interested in the grove of arden trees, trees found nowhere else but in Arden. In examining the grove, she notices that the leaves are turning brown even though it is Spring.
Against her will, Holly becomes involved with her uncle and a few other residents, including 11-year-old Lionel who won’t give up on befriending her, in the Save the Grove Committee when she finds out that the Mr. Madison, who owns the Plastics Factory—and much of the town—and employs most of the residents, plans to tear down the grove. She tells the committee that there might be an environmental case for saving the trees, and they contact local foresters. “She might not be an official Save the Grove Committee member, and she might have to leave in a month—less than a month now—but as long as she was here…” (84)
As Holly becomes more involved with saving the trees and becomes part of the community—putting down her own roots, Holly also discovers that Lionel has a secret and there is a coverup involving the trees. She plans the resurgence of the town Midsummer’s Eve festival to raise awareness. “…for the first time in her life, Holly had the sneaking feeling that she might belong somewhere.” (187)
But this summer she is to stay with her uncle in Arden, “Home of the Famous Madison Plastics Factory.” Holly is not planning to get to know the locals, become part of the community, or even unpack, but, as an avid reader about trees since her sixth grade science project on tree root systems, Holly is interested in the grove of arden trees, trees found nowhere else but in Arden. In examining the grove, she notices that the leaves are turning brown even though it is Spring.
Against her will, Holly becomes involved with her uncle and a few other residents, including 11-year-old Lionel who won’t give up on befriending her, in the Save the Grove Committee when she finds out that the Mr. Madison, who owns the Plastics Factory—and much of the town—and employs most of the residents, plans to tear down the grove. She tells the committee that there might be an environmental case for saving the trees, and they contact local foresters. “She might not be an official Save the Grove Committee member, and she might have to leave in a month—less than a month now—but as long as she was here…” (84)
As Holly becomes more involved with saving the trees and becomes part of the community—putting down her own roots, Holly also discovers that Lionel has a secret and there is a coverup involving the trees. She plans the resurgence of the town Midsummer’s Eve festival to raise awareness. “…for the first time in her life, Holly had the sneaking feeling that she might belong somewhere.” (187)
May 24, 2024
I read an ARC ebook from Netgalley, here is my honest review.
If you described Holly Foster to someone, they might not initially see themselves in her, but if you read The Strange Wonders of Roots, I think that most people will find themselves relating to her. Who hasn’t felt grumpy about something they had to do at times? Who hasn’t felt lonely at some point in their life? Who hasn’t been hesitant to make friends at some point? And who hasn’t run into something that they discover they are completely passionate about?
I loved reading The Strange Wonders of Roots and seeing Holly learn about and process things that she feels strongly about and also seeing her grow and develop a little in new thoughts and relationships. Seeing her trying to decide if she wants to change her view about something. I found it all very relatable and even emotional at times. Even if you don’t see yourself in Holly, I really think there is something you can enjoy about her story. I love all the characters that she meets and interacts with, how they each have their own individual quirks and strong personalities that add to the story. I love that you get Holly in all her raw realness. There is nothing fake about her struggles. You get to see and feel what it is like for a girl going through something that is very real kid life.
If you described Holly Foster to someone, they might not initially see themselves in her, but if you read The Strange Wonders of Roots, I think that most people will find themselves relating to her. Who hasn’t felt grumpy about something they had to do at times? Who hasn’t felt lonely at some point in their life? Who hasn’t been hesitant to make friends at some point? And who hasn’t run into something that they discover they are completely passionate about?
I loved reading The Strange Wonders of Roots and seeing Holly learn about and process things that she feels strongly about and also seeing her grow and develop a little in new thoughts and relationships. Seeing her trying to decide if she wants to change her view about something. I found it all very relatable and even emotional at times. Even if you don’t see yourself in Holly, I really think there is something you can enjoy about her story. I love all the characters that she meets and interacts with, how they each have their own individual quirks and strong personalities that add to the story. I love that you get Holly in all her raw realness. There is nothing fake about her struggles. You get to see and feel what it is like for a girl going through something that is very real kid life.
October 4, 2024
The Strange Wonders of Roots by Evan Griffith is elevated realistic fiction.
Holly’s parents are divorced, and her father has primary custody. Her mother has remarried, and her father has dragged Holly everywhere as he pursues fame and fortune as an actor. When Holly lands in Arden, Vermont to spend summer vacation with her uncle Vincent, Holly is determined not to get attached to any place or anyone! At the heart of the narrative is a rare grove of trees that the local industrialist wants to cut down to expand his factory. Holly actively and passionately resists connections to Arden and all the people she meets, but a sixth grade science report about trees awakened her interest in trees and their roots. Ultimately, her connection to the trees and their roots is transformative.
I recommend the novel for girls in grades three through eight who are activists interested in science and the environment.
C.S.
Retired Teacher
Holly’s parents are divorced, and her father has primary custody. Her mother has remarried, and her father has dragged Holly everywhere as he pursues fame and fortune as an actor. When Holly lands in Arden, Vermont to spend summer vacation with her uncle Vincent, Holly is determined not to get attached to any place or anyone! At the heart of the narrative is a rare grove of trees that the local industrialist wants to cut down to expand his factory. Holly actively and passionately resists connections to Arden and all the people she meets, but a sixth grade science report about trees awakened her interest in trees and their roots. Ultimately, her connection to the trees and their roots is transformative.
I recommend the novel for girls in grades three through eight who are activists interested in science and the environment.
C.S.
Retired Teacher
June 22, 2024
Such a heartwarming and inspiring story
Griffith writes with such warmth and such love for all his characters that it’s hard to put this book down, and I didn’t!
Holly, who appears to be more on the introverted side of life, starts off pretty closed off to family, to people, and wants nothing but to be left alone when she spends some time with her Uncle in Arden, Vermont. But with the love of the small town and their fight to save a wonderful grove, Holly opens up to those around her.
There’s so much to celebrate in this book, the lovely prose, the realistic character development, the call to nurture our own mycelial connection to nature, The Strange Wonder of Roots is a story that will warm even the coldest and most isolated of hearts.
Griffith writes with such warmth and such love for all his characters that it’s hard to put this book down, and I didn’t!
Holly, who appears to be more on the introverted side of life, starts off pretty closed off to family, to people, and wants nothing but to be left alone when she spends some time with her Uncle in Arden, Vermont. But with the love of the small town and their fight to save a wonderful grove, Holly opens up to those around her.
There’s so much to celebrate in this book, the lovely prose, the realistic character development, the call to nurture our own mycelial connection to nature, The Strange Wonder of Roots is a story that will warm even the coldest and most isolated of hearts.
June 28, 2024
Evan Griffin (Manatee Summer) has written a lovely story about a girl and a grove of trees that need each other badly. He handles the metaphor of tree roots and human's need to connect beautifully. And Holly seems a believably damaged kid yearning for community by denying its truth. Set in Vermont and about a grove of trees right near a plastic factory, this story will stay with you.
November 27, 2024
"The town of Arden and its population of quirky townsfolk come alive through Griffith's vibrant prose and specific details. This compelling story about the power of putting down roots will speak to anyone who has ever felt a little (or a lot) out of place." [Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books]
February 1, 2025
It’s CF and a finalist for the Green Earth Book Award. We’ll see what the committee decides, but it meets the criteria: stewardship and environmental issues. It was very well written with multiple stories within the main theme.
Winners and honors the Green Earth Book Awards are announced on Earth Day. (Nature Generation nonprofit organization is the sponsor of the GEBAs.)
Winners and honors the Green Earth Book Awards are announced on Earth Day. (Nature Generation nonprofit organization is the sponsor of the GEBAs.)
February 27, 2025
I love trees and I really loved this sort of environmental fiction story of a girl and a town coming together to save their beloved trees. There are so many layers in here, of friendship, family, taking care of our environment, divorce, misunderstandings, feeling/being different etc. Just an all around fun, engaging and intriguing read.
June 11, 2024
This is a young adult book and I found it peaceful and satisfying after some of the tense and unhappy reads I've done in the recent past. A delightful story with wisdom and beauty. Loved the characters.
Why not a 5? Because I want to read more about this story, it finished too soon.
Why not a 5? Because I want to read more about this story, it finished too soon.
December 10, 2024
A cute story but not super enthralling or interesting.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews