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The Hollow under the Tree
When a circus train derails in Toronto in 1925, a lion escapes and finds shelter in High Park, a four-hundred-acre park in the west end of the city. No one knows about the creature except for Sadie Menken, the feisty daughter of a pie-maker. As various squirrels, dogs and an expensive peacock meet unfortunate ends, and the park “beast” is spotted by visitors, the lion’s presence draws the attention of the authorities.
Can Sadie save the lion? Can she resist the temptation to try to make a pet of a creature that is wild at heart?
That will take the help of some unlikely allies, including her busy pie-making father, Miss Clemons the retired librarian, and a polite but lonely rich boy named Theodore, as Sadie discovers that an “all-right” ending can sometimes be just happy enough.
A story about a child who follows her heart, set at a time when kids were not always under a grownup’s watchful eye, when wild and urban spaces intertwined, and adventure could be found in a city’s back alley, or just past the picnic tables of the local park.
Can Sadie save the lion? Can she resist the temptation to try to make a pet of a creature that is wild at heart?
That will take the help of some unlikely allies, including her busy pie-making father, Miss Clemons the retired librarian, and a polite but lonely rich boy named Theodore, as Sadie discovers that an “all-right” ending can sometimes be just happy enough.
A story about a child who follows her heart, set at a time when kids were not always under a grownup’s watchful eye, when wild and urban spaces intertwined, and adventure could be found in a city’s back alley, or just past the picnic tables of the local park.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2018
About the author
Cary Fagan
75 books72 followersCary Fagan has written numerous books for children, including What Are You Doing, Benny?, Little Blue Chair and Mr. Zinger's Hat, which was awarded the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award and the IODE Jean Throop Award. He has also won the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People for his body of work. Cary was born and raised in Toronto, where he continues to live with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 21, 2019
Cary Fagan çok özel bir adam. Toronto âşığı. Neredeyse tüm kitapları da orada geçiyor. Tam bir deli. Orada doğmuş, büyümüş; birkaç kez ayrılmış ama hemen geri dönmüş. Saplantılı sanırım biraz. Deli işte.
Romanları öyle. Onun gibi. Biraz deli, biraz saplantılı, biraz âşık, biraz dostane.
Bir kere, her şeyden önce, özünde hepsi aynı: uzak bir geçmişe uzanan, sepya anlatılar. Ve aynı zamanda hepsi de birbirinden farklı, çünkü... eh, farklı işte. Kimisinde tuhaf ve gizemli bir koleksiyoner, kimisinde tarihin tozu altında ezilmiş bir komedyen, kimisinde banço çalmaya çalışan bir ufaklık... Ama hepsinde, gerçek karakterler ve hikâyeler var.
Gerçek demişken... Yani. Hemen hemen. Zira bu kitapta, koca bir aslan ve onuna arkadaş olan küçük bir kız var.
Fakat boş verin hikâyesini. Hikâye hep aynı: giriş, gelişme, sonuç, vesaire.
Fagan'ın hep yaptığı şey ise çok daha zor bir şey: kısacık bir metinle, yaşayan karakterler yaratmak ve anlatması zor bir duyguyu, okura tümüyle yansıtmak.
Bir Fagan kitabı okuduğunuzda, üstüne uzun uzun düşünüyorsunuz; kitabı, karakterleri, kendinizi, geçmiş ve bugünkü hayatınızı. Ve bir Fagan kitabı okuduğunuzda, istemsizce mutlu oluyorsunuz.
Çocuk kitabı denip geçilemeyecek çocuk kitaplarının yazarıdır Cary Fagan; ve belki de yıllar sonra, unutulmayan klasiklerden biri olacaktır.
Romanları öyle. Onun gibi. Biraz deli, biraz saplantılı, biraz âşık, biraz dostane.
Bir kere, her şeyden önce, özünde hepsi aynı: uzak bir geçmişe uzanan, sepya anlatılar. Ve aynı zamanda hepsi de birbirinden farklı, çünkü... eh, farklı işte. Kimisinde tuhaf ve gizemli bir koleksiyoner, kimisinde tarihin tozu altında ezilmiş bir komedyen, kimisinde banço çalmaya çalışan bir ufaklık... Ama hepsinde, gerçek karakterler ve hikâyeler var.
Gerçek demişken... Yani. Hemen hemen. Zira bu kitapta, koca bir aslan ve onuna arkadaş olan küçük bir kız var.
Fakat boş verin hikâyesini. Hikâye hep aynı: giriş, gelişme, sonuç, vesaire.
Fagan'ın hep yaptığı şey ise çok daha zor bir şey: kısacık bir metinle, yaşayan karakterler yaratmak ve anlatması zor bir duyguyu, okura tümüyle yansıtmak.
Bir Fagan kitabı okuduğunuzda, üstüne uzun uzun düşünüyorsunuz; kitabı, karakterleri, kendinizi, geçmiş ve bugünkü hayatınızı. Ve bir Fagan kitabı okuduğunuzda, istemsizce mutlu oluyorsunuz.
Çocuk kitabı denip geçilemeyecek çocuk kitaplarının yazarıdır Cary Fagan; ve belki de yıllar sonra, unutulmayan klasiklerden biri olacaktır.
January 19, 2019
Cary faganin okudugum 4. Kitabi, hâlâ en iyisinin Bay Karp oldugunu dusunuyorum
Neden okudum diye uzulmeyeceginiz okumasaniz da cok eksiklik hissetmeyeceginiz bir hikaye :) cary fagan okumayi yine de seviyorum ben. Kanada cocuk edebiyati cok sik karsilasmiyoruz :) aslan firarda isminin tek sebebi de sanirim satisi yukseltmek..
Neden okudum diye uzulmeyeceginiz okumasaniz da cok eksiklik hissetmeyeceginiz bir hikaye :) cary fagan okumayi yine de seviyorum ben. Kanada cocuk edebiyati cok sik karsilasmiyoruz :) aslan firarda isminin tek sebebi de sanirim satisi yukseltmek..
June 24, 2018
Sweet story about a Toronto girl, Sadie, in 1925 and her attempt to hide (and then rescue) an escaped circus lion living in High Park.
Whimsical and touching, I particularly liked the final chapter in which Cary Fagan tells us this is a story his grandmother always told him as a boy. Real? Not real? I found myself wondering (and wishing) it was true!
Kids ages 7-10 will love this gentle tale.
Whimsical and touching, I particularly liked the final chapter in which Cary Fagan tells us this is a story his grandmother always told him as a boy. Real? Not real? I found myself wondering (and wishing) it was true!
Kids ages 7-10 will love this gentle tale.
February 20, 2018
Set in 1925 in Toronto, this story follows a young girl who is determined to save the life of a lion living in the nearby park. Sunny, the lion, had escaped from the circus after a car derailed, leaving him to fend for himself. He is used to be fed by his trainer, but he eventually starts preying on the local cats, dogs, and birds, drawing the attention of authorities and citizens who are sure there is some murderous beast in the park. The daughter of a local pie-maker, Sadie Menken is not afraid of much of anything, and when she meets Sunny, she befriends the lion. She even sets up a deal with the local butcher to trade some pieces for cuts of meat, and when that arrangement comes to an end, she persuades Theodore Kendrick Junior, the son of a wealthy couple who are often away from home, to help her keep the lion fed. Readers will be charmed by the story and caught up in Sadie's efforts to help this story have a happy ending. Fortunately for her and for Sunny, a retired librarian named Miss Clemons, who lives with her, collects news stories about strange events, and she is able to help locate the circus and reunite Sunny with his beloved trainer, Sam Hibbins. Although the circus was never a happy place for the lion, this story does end just as it should end with all parties satisfied. Readers will be quick to realize that none of this could happen today as most children are kept under the watchful eyes of their parents or other adults, and Sadie never would have had the chance to get to tame Sunny and help him grow accustomed to her presence and her gifts of food. As I finished the book, I thought a lot about how our world has changed and what has been lost and what has been gained in a society in which it is hard to trust those around us.
October 13, 2020
“Biliyor musun,” dedi Teo Junior, “aslında gece vakti bir aslanla yürüyüşe çıkmak oldukça keyifli. Bunu daha çok insanın yapmasını beklerdim.”
Yaaaa sıramı bekliyorum:))
Sorumluluk alan, fikrini söyleyen, yürüyerek okuluna gidebilen Sara’nın fikriydi babasının pantolon kemeriyle aslanı gezdirmek. Şanslı kız 💜
Yaaaa sıramı bekliyorum:))
Sorumluluk alan, fikrini söyleyen, yürüyerek okuluna gidebilen Sara’nın fikriydi babasının pantolon kemeriyle aslanı gezdirmek. Şanslı kız 💜
September 4, 2018
If you are looking for a good children's early chapter book with the feel of a classic then I recommend the Hollow Under the Tree. Sadie is a plucky young character that many readers will love. The story is predictable but many find that reassuring in early chapter books.
November 4, 2020
Kitabı okuyan yetişkinlerin de üzerine düşünmelerini umut ettiğim çok değerli, önemli bir sorusu var Sara'nın: "Ama neden? Neden bir insan, bir hayvandan daha önemli olsun?"
June 28, 2018
The Hollow Under the Tree by Cary Fagan, 105 pages. CHAPTER BOOK. Groundwood Books (House of Anansi Press). 2018. $13.
Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.
EL (K-3), EL – OPTIONAL
There’s a monster in High Park!
Well, that’s what 1925 Toronto newspapers report, as an assortment of squirrels, dogs, and even a peacock go missing. But Sadie Menken, daughter of a local pie-maker, knows differently. The “monster” is really a young, timid, and hungry lion that has escaped from a circus train. Sadie, with the help of a rich but lonely boy named Theodore, bring food to the lion and try to keep him a secret. But soon the authorities are on the hunt, and Sadie knows she needs help. Can she find a happy ending for the wild animal she has come to love?
I found this book to be an enchanting little story—once you get past the first chapter, which is a ponderous and rather old-fashioned beginning. The writing is succinct and understated. The characters in the book are nicely defined and very likeable, and the fact that these are real people (this story is based on a true event which happened to the author’s grandmother) makes them all the more enjoyable. Overall, this book would make a lovely read-aloud to elementary students. There will be some children who will plod through the first chapter on their own to discover the sweet story that follows, but the slow opening will be a deterrent to many readers.
Chris, K-8 Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.
EL (K-3), EL – OPTIONAL
There’s a monster in High Park!
Well, that’s what 1925 Toronto newspapers report, as an assortment of squirrels, dogs, and even a peacock go missing. But Sadie Menken, daughter of a local pie-maker, knows differently. The “monster” is really a young, timid, and hungry lion that has escaped from a circus train. Sadie, with the help of a rich but lonely boy named Theodore, bring food to the lion and try to keep him a secret. But soon the authorities are on the hunt, and Sadie knows she needs help. Can she find a happy ending for the wild animal she has come to love?
I found this book to be an enchanting little story—once you get past the first chapter, which is a ponderous and rather old-fashioned beginning. The writing is succinct and understated. The characters in the book are nicely defined and very likeable, and the fact that these are real people (this story is based on a true event which happened to the author’s grandmother) makes them all the more enjoyable. Overall, this book would make a lovely read-aloud to elementary students. There will be some children who will plod through the first chapter on their own to discover the sweet story that follows, but the slow opening will be a deterrent to many readers.
Chris, K-8 Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
December 5, 2019
Read for book club at work... Could have skipped this one. Not my favorite read.
The story opens with a circus train derailing in Toronto in the 1920s and a lion escaping into a nearby park (hiding in the hollow under the tree). Sadie, young girl (10-12ish), finds the lion and starts feeding it. They become close and she is determined to keep it safe from the police who are looking for it. She befriends (kind of) a rich kid who helps her by giving her meat and hiding the lion in the garage.
Some problems I have with this book- the fact that it seems like she is using Theo. She isn’t very nice to him. He is desperate for a friend, and she takes advantage of that. She manipulates him and gets him to do things that he didn’t really seem comfortable with. Their relationship improves towards the end, but still feels one-sided and fake.
The ending! It definitely felt like a rushed attempt to close the book. Like the author didn’t know how to end it and turned it into a “that was all in the past” recollection of an unknown narrator. Considering the book did not start out with this narrator, it felt forced and weak. Since I don’t think this is a true story, to me, this was unsuccessful and disappointing.
The story opens with a circus train derailing in Toronto in the 1920s and a lion escaping into a nearby park (hiding in the hollow under the tree). Sadie, young girl (10-12ish), finds the lion and starts feeding it. They become close and she is determined to keep it safe from the police who are looking for it. She befriends (kind of) a rich kid who helps her by giving her meat and hiding the lion in the garage.
Some problems I have with this book- the fact that it seems like she is using Theo. She isn’t very nice to him. He is desperate for a friend, and she takes advantage of that. She manipulates him and gets him to do things that he didn’t really seem comfortable with. Their relationship improves towards the end, but still feels one-sided and fake.
The ending! It definitely felt like a rushed attempt to close the book. Like the author didn’t know how to end it and turned it into a “that was all in the past” recollection of an unknown narrator. Considering the book did not start out with this narrator, it felt forced and weak. Since I don’t think this is a true story, to me, this was unsuccessful and disappointing.
July 15, 2018
It is Toronto, 1925, and Sunny, a young lion completely unsuited for circus life, is tossed onto his own devices by a railway accident. Sadie, the daughter of a pie maker, discovers the frightened, lonely animal and begins secretly feeding him. As if it were not complicated enough to find sufficient meat for a wild creature, Sadie is faced with the very real danger of others discovering her secret friend. She finds an ally in Theodore Kendrick, Junior, the son of one of her father's pie customers, but ultimately she needs adult help to find a safe home for Sunny.
Any child who has savored a deep connection with a non-human friend will likely relate to this gentle story of compassion and adventure. Sadie is a plucky lion rescuer up to the challenges that entails. The details take readers back to an earlier time, with a story that is timeless. And Fagan's last chapter delivers a surprise that is absolutely delightful. A grand book for reading aloud.
Any child who has savored a deep connection with a non-human friend will likely relate to this gentle story of compassion and adventure. Sadie is a plucky lion rescuer up to the challenges that entails. The details take readers back to an earlier time, with a story that is timeless. And Fagan's last chapter delivers a surprise that is absolutely delightful. A grand book for reading aloud.
April 12, 2019
A short breezy lower middle grade novel. A sweet premise, made all the more enjoyable by the familiar Toronto setting. One of 10 nominees for the OLA’s Silver Birch Express award.
I loved Sadie Menken as a character and I liked watching her friendship with Theo Junior take root. They’re a spunky pair.
The book was almost too quick. Felt very much like a short story. On one hand, I wanted more out of the story and on the other hand, it was just right.
I loved Sadie Menken as a character and I liked watching her friendship with Theo Junior take root. They’re a spunky pair.
The book was almost too quick. Felt very much like a short story. On one hand, I wanted more out of the story and on the other hand, it was just right.
September 26, 2018
Wow! What an ending to such a fascinating book! It makes me wonder if it was all real or if it’s the narrator trying to trick us? Doesn’t matter because I’ll still recommend this book to anyone!
December 11, 2018
Loved this story - perfect for young readers
In Little Falls P.S. Library
Main character - Sadie Menken - brave, intelligent with a great sense of humour.
In Little Falls P.S. Library
Main character - Sadie Menken - brave, intelligent with a great sense of humour.
January 5, 2020
Quick read... Mentions a lot of Toronto landmarks
April 22, 2024
İçimi ısıtan bir romandı. Yazar çok başarılı
February 6, 2019
For a middle grade fiction, it's a short book. It's really more of a novella than a full on novel. It's 128 pages and the book's dimensions are tiny. There are no wasted words on excess description, filler, or even adverbs. It's the sort of book that could be read aloud by a teacher to a class in a couple after recess sessions. Although short, it is entertaining and memorable.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews