Tree Dreams

by Kristin Kaye

When seventeen-year-old Jade Reynolds witnesses a violent clash between a protesting tree sitter and a local logger, she is forced to flee the California town she grew up in. Jade runs as far as she can from the battles that plague her home and from the mysteries of the redwood forest, but the ancient redwoods are embedded in her psyche—she feels their call even in the dark and forgotten back alleys of Portland, Oregon where she’s hiding out. She soon becomes entangled with a lovable misfit and a band of radical slackers, environmentalists, and anarchists, and finds herself living 100 feet high in the canopy of a redwood grove, trying to decide whose side she’s on: the logging community she’s known her entire life or the environmentalists who are risking their lives for the future of the forest. When choosing sides only makes matters worse, Jade turns to the ancient trees themselves—and the thread-thin web that connects us all.

208 pages, Paperback

Published April 10, 2018

Reviews

[Audrey (Warped Shelves) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is based on an ARC of Tree Dreams which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Spark Press).

Tree Dreams is a very nice story which evokes very powerful feelings. I loved the main character, Jade; she felt very real (and very weird, but still real). There isn't really much that I can think to say for the story itself. The storyline was very interesting and moving, and the flow and the timing were excellent. This whole story felt very realistic and believable.

This being said, although I do think that many people will find this story enjoyable, I also believe that many more people will have a hard time with the execution--the writing itself. Kristin Kaye writes in a very choppy sort of flow-of-conscious style. Reading this--not only because of the style, but also the content--felt like being in a fever dream. The sentences were slipping, sliding, one to the next. I often found myself skimming, as I felt that if I tried to slow down and read at the pace that I normally do I would get confused trying to decipher meaning or intention. Though I didn't necessarily love this writing style, I still managed to read it fairly easily and quickly. I just know that it's not for everyone. However, I also think that this flow-of-conscious storytelling suits the story very well.

Tree Dreams is by no means a bad book, but it isn't for everyone, so keep that in mind if you don't like unique writing styles.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tree Dreams is an enchanting and pleasant read. Kristin Kaye has a distinctive writing style that had me hooked from the very beginning and left me wanting to know more. Personally, I would have wanted more world-building, but it did not ruin the overall feel of the story.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are a fan of New Adult contemporary books, as you will very much enjoy this story.

I look forward to reading many more of Kristin Kaye's work.

[Candice Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't even know how I could accurately categorize this book - its a bit like dream fiction. It is a story that is wonderfully unique and beautifully written, and like nothing else I've read this year (or possibly ever).

I absolutely LOVED the connection between the characters and the trees in this story, and I really enjoyed Jade as a character. There is something satisfying about characters who are a little broken and confused - it let's you connect with them.

I will say, that I wish the story was just SLIGHTLY less ambiguous in some ways, and that the end brought a bit more evident closure to some of the storylines. It definitely finishes on an open ended space, which leaves it to your interpretation, but I think I would have liked a little more wrap up on some aspects of the story.

Overall, it was wildly interesting, and certainly one I would recommend if you are looking for something that is not your standard fiction read!

[Lone Morch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this thrilling journey deep into the redwoods and into the sensitive heart and mind of a young woman faced with the choice between loyalty to her family and her love of the trees. In lyrical prose, Tree Dreams takes us up close with the world of trees and dreams, roots and rebellion, as we follow a young girl finding her footing amidst the battle between tree-huggers and loggers in the Pacific North.

Highly timely, as humanity is faced with climate changes and cultural wars, Kristin Kaye asks poignant questions about our values and relationship to nature, and shows us how we might listen to (and learn from) the ancient wisdom and ways of trees and dreams. A rite of passage novel relevant for all ages, as we must all find our way to belong to this world, beyond conditioning and culture.

[Beth Filar Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a free copy of this book from the author who was attending a workshop at a library conference with me.( she was very rad!) I really love the book - it was beautiful to read, dreamlike style writing having a hard time describing the writing style not being an English major :)

I had to get into the writing style in order to get into the book, so some people might not like that style. But the style went with a book theme : tree dreams. I felt like the book was the stream of consciousness, or subconscious dream of the main character Jade, who I really dug. I wanted more but like many books that sparked something in me I always want more ...

[Sibylle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has some good ideas, but also a ton of Chekov‘s guns being shown without then ever going off! It’s so frustrating, because it could be a really satisfying read, if only it didn’t play so fast and loose with its own plot - or lack of it. This definitely needed some tightening, and a much better resolution. The ending is particularly unsatisfactory.