What do you think?
Rate this book
Teo and the Banyan Tree
A Ghibli-esque cozy fantasy about a boy’s trip to the afterlife.
Ten-year-old Koda has no possessions except for his father’s urn. When his train derails, he loses even that and is knocked unconscious. He later wakes in a strange land of talking animals and enchanted rivers—the spirit world. While exploring, he encounters a feral boy named Teo, who convinces Koda to follow him to the mythical Banyan tree.
But the spirit world is sick. A demon named Mahuut has corrupted the Banyan, the ancient guardians have all been petrified, and lonely spirits have forgotten their names. Most troubling of all, the wild boy named Teo is not who he seems. Now, Koda must uncover uncomfortable truths about the lost spirits, the ravening demon, and the mysterious boy. To do that, he will have to come to terms with his father’s death—and perhaps his own.
An enchanting story, Teo and the Banyan Tree is about the humanity of a failed father and an abandoned son, who find one another again in death.
Ten-year-old Koda has no possessions except for his father’s urn. When his train derails, he loses even that and is knocked unconscious. He later wakes in a strange land of talking animals and enchanted rivers—the spirit world. While exploring, he encounters a feral boy named Teo, who convinces Koda to follow him to the mythical Banyan tree.
But the spirit world is sick. A demon named Mahuut has corrupted the Banyan, the ancient guardians have all been petrified, and lonely spirits have forgotten their names. Most troubling of all, the wild boy named Teo is not who he seems. Now, Koda must uncover uncomfortable truths about the lost spirits, the ravening demon, and the mysterious boy. To do that, he will have to come to terms with his father’s death—and perhaps his own.
An enchanting story, Teo and the Banyan Tree is about the humanity of a failed father and an abandoned son, who find one another again in death.
159 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2026
2 people are currently reading
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 21, 2026
A big thank you to Netgalley and the author.
This story was sweet and simple.
Kado is the main character, who's his father died. Before the book even started. (And here I thought children's fiction wasn't dark). He's now going to move in with his mom...who he never even met, but while on the train to meet his mom, he ends up in the spirit world. He meets a teenager called Teo and both of them try finding their way out of the spirit world.
The story was fun, fast-paced, and short. The book was written surprisingly well and it gave me Christmas Pig vibes, I don't know why. I was thinking of giving this book a three stars before the ending, which was bittersweet and made me want to read this book all over again. Kado's character development is beautiful and makes the whole book worth it. The author did a great job.
This story was sweet and simple.
Kado is the main character, who's his father died. Before the book even started. (And here I thought children's fiction wasn't dark). He's now going to move in with his mom...who he never even met, but while on the train to meet his mom, he ends up in the spirit world. He meets a teenager called Teo and both of them try finding their way out of the spirit world.
The story was fun, fast-paced, and short. The book was written surprisingly well and it gave me Christmas Pig vibes, I don't know why. I was thinking of giving this book a three stars before the ending, which was bittersweet and made me want to read this book all over again. Kado's character development is beautiful and makes the whole book worth it. The author did a great job.
February 19, 2026
Fabulous adventure, with heart and depth and imagination in spades. The last line gave me goosebumps!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews