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Tree of Dreams
A beating heart. A talking tree. The rain forest. Love. Mysticism. Harvest. And above all, chocolate.
Dear Coco and Leo,I miss you! We all miss you! The whole forest misses you! I hear their thanks and wishes in my dreams. I hope you do, too. Prepare for a journey into a world filled with what so many crave -- the sweet savoring of a chocolate drop. A drop that can melt even the most troubled realities. But in this nuanced, heartrending story, before good can emerge, there is destruction, the bombarding of a people, their culture, heritage, sacred beliefs, and the very soul that drives their traditions. This urgent, beautiful novel takes readers into the ugly realities that surround the destruction of the Amazon rain forest and its people. Acclaimed author Laura Resau shows us that love is more powerful than hatred, and that by working together, hope can be magically restored, root and branch.
Dear Coco and Leo,I miss you! We all miss you! The whole forest misses you! I hear their thanks and wishes in my dreams. I hope you do, too. Prepare for a journey into a world filled with what so many crave -- the sweet savoring of a chocolate drop. A drop that can melt even the most troubled realities. But in this nuanced, heartrending story, before good can emerge, there is destruction, the bombarding of a people, their culture, heritage, sacred beliefs, and the very soul that drives their traditions. This urgent, beautiful novel takes readers into the ugly realities that surround the destruction of the Amazon rain forest and its people. Acclaimed author Laura Resau shows us that love is more powerful than hatred, and that by working together, hope can be magically restored, root and branch.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 26, 2019
16 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
About the author
Laura Resau
16 books428 followersLaura Resau is the author of The Alchemy of Flowers, The River Muse (May 2026), and eleven acclaimed books for children and teens. Her books have garnered nineteen starred trade reviews, five Colorado Book Awards, and spots on “best-of” book lists from Oprah, School Library Journal, and the American Library Association. Trilingual, she’s lived in Provence and Oaxaca, and has a background in cultural anthropology, languages, and ESL. She teaches graduate creative writing at Western Colorado University. You might find her writing in her cozy vintage trailer in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she lives with her rock-hound husband, musician son, wild husky, and a hundred house plants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 31, 2020
This book blew my mind.
I feel like when most people hear about oil drilling destroying rain forests, they think, that's too bad. They feel sad for a few minutes--at most. And then they move on.
This book made it personal.
Tree of Dreams is a high quality novel unlike any other I've read--and as of now, I've read 661 books. It is a book about forgiveness, and courage, and standing up for what's right. It's a novel that made me step outside my comfort zone, and confront what a catastrophe it is that our rain forests are being razed.
More than that, Tree of Dreams served as a reminder that everyone can make a difference. Even if it seems small, together we can work miracles.
And not only does Tree of Dreams have incredible social value, but it is also a fun book. I read it in a day, and there were times I laughed out loud, and others where I teared up. The characters are developed and leap off the page, and Coco is a relatable main character with both virtues and flaws. The plot is gripping and the pacing is perfect, and the writing is gorgeous. It's a true masterpiece.
I highly recommend this book, to people of all ages and backgrounds. I quite honestly think it changed my life.
I feel like when most people hear about oil drilling destroying rain forests, they think, that's too bad. They feel sad for a few minutes--at most. And then they move on.
This book made it personal.
Tree of Dreams is a high quality novel unlike any other I've read--and as of now, I've read 661 books. It is a book about forgiveness, and courage, and standing up for what's right. It's a novel that made me step outside my comfort zone, and confront what a catastrophe it is that our rain forests are being razed.
More than that, Tree of Dreams served as a reminder that everyone can make a difference. Even if it seems small, together we can work miracles.
And not only does Tree of Dreams have incredible social value, but it is also a fun book. I read it in a day, and there were times I laughed out loud, and others where I teared up. The characters are developed and leap off the page, and Coco is a relatable main character with both virtues and flaws. The plot is gripping and the pacing is perfect, and the writing is gorgeous. It's a true masterpiece.
I highly recommend this book, to people of all ages and backgrounds. I quite honestly think it changed my life.
February 7, 2022
خیلی خوشم اومد از این کتاب.نشر پرتقال با اسم شکلات وحشی این کتاب رو چاپ کرده.جدیدا از کتابهای نوجوانخیلی خوشم میاد و برام تنوع خوبیه.
December 14, 2018
Great book! Chocolate, the rain forest, environmental activism, and accessible for adults + kids! What's not to love?
March 25, 2021
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!
this book has been sitting there in my room for the past year and i tried reading it once but i stopped at page 2, but then a few days ago i was bored and had nothing else to read so i thought why not give it another try.... AND I AM SO GLAD I DID! in the beginning it was a bit confusing, the author used a unique way of writing which i found interesting, for about 50 pages the story seemed nothing more than a normal life with some struggles. But when the story started it got very interesting, but before i go on i just wanna also add, the friendship between Leo and Coco was so sweet as the chocolate they enjoy (Coco and her mother own a Chocolate shop called El Corazon, and in the story the descriptions of the chocolate and variety of chocolate made me crave for some chocolate to) and it felt really natural and experienceable i really enjoyed reading about Leo and Coco.
As i was saying , Laura Resau did an amazing job writing about the concerns and issues that is happening in the Amazon forests, while reading this i learnt some new information about the amazon forests. They are getting polluted. The tree's are getting cut down and logged. The people living in or around the Amazon rainforests are getting hurt and very sick by the oil, logging and pollution.
In the story Leo and Coco become friends again and make a new friend on their trip to the Amazon, Isa who is the daughter of a brave man who died standing up to the loggers, but Isa is really kind and smart she knows the Rainforest very well and has great survival skills which came in handy she lives near/in the forest kind of but lives there along with some more people they done have a lot of money and they fear that their home will be polluted like what happened to Antonio and Susy's home. Isa, Leo, and Coco become best friends and together they work to save the beautiful Amazon rainforests.
even though I was surprised to read the ending of the book, i wasn't expecting the book to end that way but i like it even though it seemed a little sad, it still felt right :).
I enjoyed and love this book very much :D!!!!!!!!!
this book has been sitting there in my room for the past year and i tried reading it once but i stopped at page 2, but then a few days ago i was bored and had nothing else to read so i thought why not give it another try.... AND I AM SO GLAD I DID! in the beginning it was a bit confusing, the author used a unique way of writing which i found interesting, for about 50 pages the story seemed nothing more than a normal life with some struggles. But when the story started it got very interesting, but before i go on i just wanna also add, the friendship between Leo and Coco was so sweet as the chocolate they enjoy (Coco and her mother own a Chocolate shop called El Corazon, and in the story the descriptions of the chocolate and variety of chocolate made me crave for some chocolate to) and it felt really natural and experienceable i really enjoyed reading about Leo and Coco.
As i was saying , Laura Resau did an amazing job writing about the concerns and issues that is happening in the Amazon forests, while reading this i learnt some new information about the amazon forests. They are getting polluted. The tree's are getting cut down and logged. The people living in or around the Amazon rainforests are getting hurt and very sick by the oil, logging and pollution.
In the story Leo and Coco become friends again and make a new friend on their trip to the Amazon, Isa who is the daughter of a brave man who died standing up to the loggers, but Isa is really kind and smart she knows the Rainforest very well and has great survival skills which came in handy she lives near/in the forest kind of but lives there along with some more people they done have a lot of money and they fear that their home will be polluted like what happened to Antonio and Susy's home. Isa, Leo, and Coco become best friends and together they work to save the beautiful Amazon rainforests.
even though I was surprised to read the ending of the book, i wasn't expecting the book to end that way but i like it even though it seemed a little sad, it still felt right :).
I enjoyed and love this book very much :D!!!!!!!!!
June 29, 2019
You absolutely can't read (or listen to as I did) this book without eating chocolate. The story is interesting for this age group. The chocolate flavors are enticing, and the reader will come away with a heightened sense of how good chocolate is made from the growing of the beans by indigenous peoples in the rain forest to the processing of the beans and the chocolate making process itself. The storyline includes the angst of friendship as a middle school student for both boys and girls, discovering cultures, adventure, and a bit of the mystical.
On the author's website she lists her favorite 50 bean to chocolate shops in the United States and Maverick Chocolate (Findlay Market and Rookwood) is on that list. Of course, I had to go, and truly their chocolate is sublime! Just the aroma of one square of their lemon lavender white chocolate makes me swoon! There are free tours of the chocolate factory at the store, and the owner will gladly talk about the process and the design of the chocolate bar covers. This book and this shop are not to be missed!
If gifting this book (I highly recommend that you do) pair it with Sandra Boynton's Chocolate: The Consuming Passion. Give it to the student after they have read Tree of Dreams and you have taken them to a bean to bar chocolate shop!
On the author's website she lists her favorite 50 bean to chocolate shops in the United States and Maverick Chocolate (Findlay Market and Rookwood) is on that list. Of course, I had to go, and truly their chocolate is sublime! Just the aroma of one square of their lemon lavender white chocolate makes me swoon! There are free tours of the chocolate factory at the store, and the owner will gladly talk about the process and the design of the chocolate bar covers. This book and this shop are not to be missed!
If gifting this book (I highly recommend that you do) pair it with Sandra Boynton's Chocolate: The Consuming Passion. Give it to the student after they have read Tree of Dreams and you have taken them to a bean to bar chocolate shop!
August 20, 2021
“Tree of Dreams” is one of my favorite books!! This is a beautiful and deep book. I loved the characters, message, strength of this book. It made me aware of problems that I hadn’t known about but are very important. 🌷
July 23, 2025
⭐4.5
از متن کتاب:
فکر میکنی کسی را میشناسی و بعد، مثل جادوگر شهر اوز، پردهها میافتد و خود واقعیاش را میبینی. میبینی تمام مدت زخمش چقدر تازه و دردناک بوده است. و بعد، وقتی نگاهی به اطراف میاندازی، میبینی همهی آدمهای اطرافت به دلایل مختلف زخم حساس خودشان را دارند. شاید فقط کافی است ببینی. بپرسی.
از متن کتاب:
فکر میکنی کسی را میشناسی و بعد، مثل جادوگر شهر اوز، پردهها میافتد و خود واقعیاش را میبینی. میبینی تمام مدت زخمش چقدر تازه و دردناک بوده است. و بعد، وقتی نگاهی به اطراف میاندازی، میبینی همهی آدمهای اطرافت به دلایل مختلف زخم حساس خودشان را دارند. شاید فقط کافی است ببینی. بپرسی.
November 7, 2019
Tree of Dreams by Laura Resau, 316 pages. Scholastic, 2019. $13.
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Coco and her mom live in Heartbeat Springs, Colorado. They run a chocolate shop. Coco is involved with the whole process of making the chocolate, and she loves to come up with new recipes to entice the customers. Coco loves chocolate and she thinks a little (or a lot) of chocolate can make everything better. Coco is worried, because her mom says they will have to sell the shop. They are no longer selling enough chocolate to pay their bills. Coco keeps having dreams about an old ceiba tree. She believes the answers to all their problems is hidden in the roots of on particular ceiba tree. Coco enters a chocolate making contest and hopes to win. The grand prize is a trip to the Amazon, where the ceiba trees grow.
I loved the story of Coco and the chocolate. Coco is a believable and thoughtful character. I learned a lot about the process of making chocolate from growing cacao beans to ending up with the finished product. I learned about the Amazon, ceiba trees, and indigenous people. I will use this book in my library and in my book talks. In the story Coco comes face to face with the destruction of the rainforest, the people who live there and their way of life. I could not put the book down. I had to keep reading to see what would happen to Coco and her friends. The books teaches several good lessons for life, including the fact that we will all meet with struggles and hardships, but with the love and support from loved ones and people close to us we can overcome the difficulties.
Ellen-Anita, Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Coco and her mom live in Heartbeat Springs, Colorado. They run a chocolate shop. Coco is involved with the whole process of making the chocolate, and she loves to come up with new recipes to entice the customers. Coco loves chocolate and she thinks a little (or a lot) of chocolate can make everything better. Coco is worried, because her mom says they will have to sell the shop. They are no longer selling enough chocolate to pay their bills. Coco keeps having dreams about an old ceiba tree. She believes the answers to all their problems is hidden in the roots of on particular ceiba tree. Coco enters a chocolate making contest and hopes to win. The grand prize is a trip to the Amazon, where the ceiba trees grow.
I loved the story of Coco and the chocolate. Coco is a believable and thoughtful character. I learned a lot about the process of making chocolate from growing cacao beans to ending up with the finished product. I learned about the Amazon, ceiba trees, and indigenous people. I will use this book in my library and in my book talks. In the story Coco comes face to face with the destruction of the rainforest, the people who live there and their way of life. I could not put the book down. I had to keep reading to see what would happen to Coco and her friends. The books teaches several good lessons for life, including the fact that we will all meet with struggles and hardships, but with the love and support from loved ones and people close to us we can overcome the difficulties.
Ellen-Anita, Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
August 18, 2019
Laura Resau did her capstone anthropology project on the subject of cultural and environmental issues of the Amazon RainForest. She spoke to people in the area about their issues. She wanted to bring these issues to the attention of the world. The Tree of Dreams, a work of fiction, was born.
Coco is a young girl living in Heartbreak Springs, Colorado, and helps her mother run El Corazon Chocolate Shop. The shop is losing business to the donut shop across the street. Coco has had a dream that there is a treasure to be found under a Ceiba Tree in Ecuador. An opportunity presents itself for her to visit Ecuador. She hopes to find the treasure and save El Corazon.
This book is described as 'middle grade'. Maybe Coco is in middle school, but the story is compelling to adults too. I listened to the audio and the descriptions of chocolate truffles and the different types of chocolate from South America were MOUTH Watering.
A librarian, Penny, from the local branch of my county library said she enjoyed the book and that I probably would too. Right on Penny and thank you.
4.25 stars
Coco is a young girl living in Heartbreak Springs, Colorado, and helps her mother run El Corazon Chocolate Shop. The shop is losing business to the donut shop across the street. Coco has had a dream that there is a treasure to be found under a Ceiba Tree in Ecuador. An opportunity presents itself for her to visit Ecuador. She hopes to find the treasure and save El Corazon.
This book is described as 'middle grade'. Maybe Coco is in middle school, but the story is compelling to adults too. I listened to the audio and the descriptions of chocolate truffles and the different types of chocolate from South America were MOUTH Watering.
A librarian, Penny, from the local branch of my county library said she enjoyed the book and that I probably would too. Right on Penny and thank you.
4.25 stars
May 9, 2019
When El Corozon, the chocolate shop Coco's mom owns is failing, Coco enters a contest that may keep the business afloat. Coco has dreams of finding a treasure hidden in a ceiba tree's roots and this tree is in the Amazon rain forest--the location where the winners of the contest will be sent. Coco and her former best friend Leo tie for the grand prize, so they, their mom's, and the elderly friend who funded the contest, all embark on an Amazon adventure.
However, the adventure soon points out the reality of the environmental and cultural destruction of the rain forest which gives Coco and a larger community a new dream and direction.
Since my husband and I had to cancel a trip to the Peruvian rain forest four years ago, I was delighted to travel to this rain forest with Coco. Together, we experienced the trip of a lifetime, thanks to the author's vivid words.
However, the adventure soon points out the reality of the environmental and cultural destruction of the rain forest which gives Coco and a larger community a new dream and direction.
Since my husband and I had to cancel a trip to the Peruvian rain forest four years ago, I was delighted to travel to this rain forest with Coco. Together, we experienced the trip of a lifetime, thanks to the author's vivid words.
June 14, 2019
Find my full review here: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfic...
TREE OF DREAMS is a story about facing yourself, healing, standing up for/with others, and environmental activism. Coco is a 13-year-old who knows and loves chocolates. She helps her mother run an upscale chocolate shop called El Corazon, which buys fair trade beans. However, business has been decreasing in the expensive resort town where they live and work. Coco would do anything to help keep the shop afloat, and so, when she has a dream about a tree in the Amazon rainforest which has a treasure below, she knows she wants to go.
When a dessert making contest appears with the prize of a trip to the Amazon, Coco knows it is fate and creates the perfect chocolate masterpiece to enter. She is surprised at the contest to compete against her former BFF, Leo, who had rejected her months before, choosing to hang out with the popular crowd instead. When they are both announced as the winners, they embark on a journey to somewhere they never could have imagined.
When they arrive in the Amazon, they witness the realities of logging and oil extraction as well as the problems the indigenous peoples are facing. The forest is being destroyed. With a little luck and magic, maybe Coco and Leo might be able to find a way to help- and find Coco’s tree with the hopeful treasure to save the shop.
What I loved: This book really brings the current problems facing the Amazon rainforest to the forefront with a narrative exploration and description that shows the devastation they face. It is easy to connect with the characters- including the tree whose perspective we get in small sections throughout. This is a great book to introduce the concepts to a younger audience and help them to understand these issues.
Beyond the environmental issues, the book also raises concepts about regret and anger in terms of what they do to an individual and how to make amends/move on. These can also be valuable lessons for a younger audience who can empathize with the characters. Coco is a great and insightful main character that will appeal to the middle grade audience well.
There is also a bit of magical realism with the dreams and a couple other things (that I won’t say to avoid spoilers) that add a unique air to the book. It’s really a lovely middle grade read.
Final verdict: Overall, this is a fascinating story that will appeal to the middle grade audience with lessons about regret, anger, and the devastation facing the Amazon rainforest and its inhabitants. Great for chocolate lovers and people who are looking for a touching read, this book has broad appeal and important themes.
TREE OF DREAMS is a story about facing yourself, healing, standing up for/with others, and environmental activism. Coco is a 13-year-old who knows and loves chocolates. She helps her mother run an upscale chocolate shop called El Corazon, which buys fair trade beans. However, business has been decreasing in the expensive resort town where they live and work. Coco would do anything to help keep the shop afloat, and so, when she has a dream about a tree in the Amazon rainforest which has a treasure below, she knows she wants to go.
When a dessert making contest appears with the prize of a trip to the Amazon, Coco knows it is fate and creates the perfect chocolate masterpiece to enter. She is surprised at the contest to compete against her former BFF, Leo, who had rejected her months before, choosing to hang out with the popular crowd instead. When they are both announced as the winners, they embark on a journey to somewhere they never could have imagined.
When they arrive in the Amazon, they witness the realities of logging and oil extraction as well as the problems the indigenous peoples are facing. The forest is being destroyed. With a little luck and magic, maybe Coco and Leo might be able to find a way to help- and find Coco’s tree with the hopeful treasure to save the shop.
What I loved: This book really brings the current problems facing the Amazon rainforest to the forefront with a narrative exploration and description that shows the devastation they face. It is easy to connect with the characters- including the tree whose perspective we get in small sections throughout. This is a great book to introduce the concepts to a younger audience and help them to understand these issues.
Beyond the environmental issues, the book also raises concepts about regret and anger in terms of what they do to an individual and how to make amends/move on. These can also be valuable lessons for a younger audience who can empathize with the characters. Coco is a great and insightful main character that will appeal to the middle grade audience well.
There is also a bit of magical realism with the dreams and a couple other things (that I won’t say to avoid spoilers) that add a unique air to the book. It’s really a lovely middle grade read.
Final verdict: Overall, this is a fascinating story that will appeal to the middle grade audience with lessons about regret, anger, and the devastation facing the Amazon rainforest and its inhabitants. Great for chocolate lovers and people who are looking for a touching read, this book has broad appeal and important themes.
March 20, 2019
Tree of Dreams, by Laura Resau, is a middle-grade novel that will satisfy your stomach, mind and heart. The story of Coco, a 7th-grader living in the Colorado mountain town of Heartbeat Springs; it is a tale of fierce love, mouth-watering chocolate, changing friendships, magical dreams, and ultimately - forgiveness. It also shines a light on environmental issues in the Amazon rainforests, including the dangerous effects of deforestation, oil exploration and drilling.
Coco and her mother run a chocolate shop in Heartbeat Springs, and the detailed descriptions of the chocolate making process are fascinating and poetic. They will also have you longing for a heart-shaped sample from the shop, El Corazon. But Coco's mother's bills are piling up, and unless Coco can find a way to make money fast, El Corazon is in danger of closing its doors. At night, Coco begins to dream of a tree, one that speaks to her, telling her it has a treasure within. Convinced that her dream tree will help solve their financial troubles and help her save El Corazon, Coco enters a contest to win a trip to the place where she believes her dream tree is - the Amazon rainforest.
What follows is an unexpected outcome, followed by a trip to the rainforests of Ecaudor with Leo, the boy who, up until the 7th grade, was Coco's best friend. Coco soon finds herself aboard a tiny plane with her Mom, Leo, and Leo's Mom - and then in the heart of the jungle, next to the paws of panthers and bunking at a Co-op with the Huarani, the indigenous people who live there. She's looking for her dream tree, a ceiba - but suspects that Leo is looking for it too. But she wants to make sure that she gets to it, and its treasure first, and soon makes a rash decision that will change her life - and the lives of her new friends, the Huarani - forever.
A story that will inspire the dreamer in every reader, Tree of Dreams is bright with hope and alive with magic. It is also a tale that reminds us how important cultivating and caring for friendships is, because the friends we love are also part of our family. Coco's family expands as her heart does, taking in a whole rainforest of trees, creatures, and the Huarani people. This is a novel to put in the hands of students readers and hope that they, too, will feel the beating hearts of the trees and people of the Amazon, and want to help similarly devastated communities and join in environmental conservation efforts in the future. They'll also want to grab a healthy dose of chocolate to enjoy by the book's delicious and heartwarming end.
*Thank you to Kidlit Exchange & Scholastic Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Coco and her mother run a chocolate shop in Heartbeat Springs, and the detailed descriptions of the chocolate making process are fascinating and poetic. They will also have you longing for a heart-shaped sample from the shop, El Corazon. But Coco's mother's bills are piling up, and unless Coco can find a way to make money fast, El Corazon is in danger of closing its doors. At night, Coco begins to dream of a tree, one that speaks to her, telling her it has a treasure within. Convinced that her dream tree will help solve their financial troubles and help her save El Corazon, Coco enters a contest to win a trip to the place where she believes her dream tree is - the Amazon rainforest.
What follows is an unexpected outcome, followed by a trip to the rainforests of Ecaudor with Leo, the boy who, up until the 7th grade, was Coco's best friend. Coco soon finds herself aboard a tiny plane with her Mom, Leo, and Leo's Mom - and then in the heart of the jungle, next to the paws of panthers and bunking at a Co-op with the Huarani, the indigenous people who live there. She's looking for her dream tree, a ceiba - but suspects that Leo is looking for it too. But she wants to make sure that she gets to it, and its treasure first, and soon makes a rash decision that will change her life - and the lives of her new friends, the Huarani - forever.
A story that will inspire the dreamer in every reader, Tree of Dreams is bright with hope and alive with magic. It is also a tale that reminds us how important cultivating and caring for friendships is, because the friends we love are also part of our family. Coco's family expands as her heart does, taking in a whole rainforest of trees, creatures, and the Huarani people. This is a novel to put in the hands of students readers and hope that they, too, will feel the beating hearts of the trees and people of the Amazon, and want to help similarly devastated communities and join in environmental conservation efforts in the future. They'll also want to grab a healthy dose of chocolate to enjoy by the book's delicious and heartwarming end.
*Thank you to Kidlit Exchange & Scholastic Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2018
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network and the publisher for the review copy of this book – all opinions are my own.
Tree of Dreams by Laura Resau (set to release March 26, 2019) is a deliciously sweet middle grades novel about friendship, forgiveness, doing the right thing, environmental conservation, and chocolate. Coco, a 7th grader, helps her mother run their chocolate shop, El Corazón. They’re a small bean to bar factory located in a tiny resort town called Heartbeat Springs in Colorado. A new donut shop has opened up across the street and business is dwindling for El Corazón. Coco’s mom announces that they may have to close the shop and it begins to rip at Coco’s already damaged heart. Her heart is already partially damaged because her best friend since birth, Leo, started ignoring her at the start of the school year. Coco beings having mysterious dreams about a cieba tree. In the dreams, the tree seems to be beckoning her to find it and the treasure that lies beneath its roots. Coco is hopeful that this treasure will be what saves El Corazón. Coco and Leo both end up entering and winning a dessert competition that allows them to travel to the Amazon. While in the Amazon, they mend their friendship while searching for the cieba tree. During their quest, they come face-to-face with the deforestation, death, and disease that is occurring in the rainforest due to oil drilling, and they vow to do something to stop it.
This was a beautifully written middle grade novel. The book is full of amazing and detailed imagery and figurative language. The characters are so sweet and relatable. Coco and Leo are both going through normal middle school issues of peer pressure and changing friendships which readers can totally relate to. I love how Resau included chapters from the perspective of the cieba tree. In these chapters, wisdom is doled out and the reader is able to see how everything is connected. I feel that that is larger message of this novel; in some, we are all connected to everything (to each other, to plants, animals, etc.) and we are responsible for each other. I think that this is a very timely novel as well since our environment is rapidly changing due to so many factors (including deforestation). This novel introduces younger readers to deforestation and pollution and the effects it has on the environment and animals, plants, and humans who live in the area.
I truly enjoyed this book and hope to share it with my students when it’s released. I feel that students who enjoy books about environmental issues (like Hoot or Flush), friendship, and adventure like this book.
Tree of Dreams by Laura Resau (set to release March 26, 2019) is a deliciously sweet middle grades novel about friendship, forgiveness, doing the right thing, environmental conservation, and chocolate. Coco, a 7th grader, helps her mother run their chocolate shop, El Corazón. They’re a small bean to bar factory located in a tiny resort town called Heartbeat Springs in Colorado. A new donut shop has opened up across the street and business is dwindling for El Corazón. Coco’s mom announces that they may have to close the shop and it begins to rip at Coco’s already damaged heart. Her heart is already partially damaged because her best friend since birth, Leo, started ignoring her at the start of the school year. Coco beings having mysterious dreams about a cieba tree. In the dreams, the tree seems to be beckoning her to find it and the treasure that lies beneath its roots. Coco is hopeful that this treasure will be what saves El Corazón. Coco and Leo both end up entering and winning a dessert competition that allows them to travel to the Amazon. While in the Amazon, they mend their friendship while searching for the cieba tree. During their quest, they come face-to-face with the deforestation, death, and disease that is occurring in the rainforest due to oil drilling, and they vow to do something to stop it.
This was a beautifully written middle grade novel. The book is full of amazing and detailed imagery and figurative language. The characters are so sweet and relatable. Coco and Leo are both going through normal middle school issues of peer pressure and changing friendships which readers can totally relate to. I love how Resau included chapters from the perspective of the cieba tree. In these chapters, wisdom is doled out and the reader is able to see how everything is connected. I feel that that is larger message of this novel; in some, we are all connected to everything (to each other, to plants, animals, etc.) and we are responsible for each other. I think that this is a very timely novel as well since our environment is rapidly changing due to so many factors (including deforestation). This novel introduces younger readers to deforestation and pollution and the effects it has on the environment and animals, plants, and humans who live in the area.
I truly enjoyed this book and hope to share it with my students when it’s released. I feel that students who enjoy books about environmental issues (like Hoot or Flush), friendship, and adventure like this book.
June 23, 2019
I am a big fan of Resau and this is the fourth book I have read by her. In terms of subject matter, I think this is her most ambitious book yet and I am glad she chose to write it. The world needs more books like this! This story is about the power of the individual and the power of the collective, dealing with big issues like climate change and deforestation and intimate issues like navigating friendships. At first I was a little nervous when she sent her characters into the Amazon because it seemed like it was turning into a story where the western character "teaches" the indigenous, but I was SO happy when she flipped the narrative and Coco realizes that she is the one who has so much to learn.
When it comes to books about the environment I tend to have a hard time reading them because they are often very depressing and are tinged with an inescapable sense of hopelessness, but Resau injects hope into the conversation, illuminating the possibilities for our collective future, and in the end that's what this book is really about: hope and possibilities. Our capacity to "create our own magic."
On a personal note, I love this book even more because it takes place in Ecuador, a place that is very special to me (and Baños in particular! I was very excited when she mentioned the town's name!) Many of the descriptions and attention to detail were so accurate and really brought the book to life; the environment, the weather, the feel of Ecuador, and of course, chocolate!
I'm definitely not the target audience for this book but regardless I enjoyed it so much. I wish this book had been around when I was a "young adult" because I would have seen myself in the literature. I was the awkward kid who had trouble making friends, who liked things no one else liked (in my case my passion was for Latin America and learning different languages). Most importantly, I would have seen that being young is not an impediment to being passionate about something, that age has nothing to do with one's ability to create change. I hope this book is widely read and inspires others just as it inspired me.
When it comes to books about the environment I tend to have a hard time reading them because they are often very depressing and are tinged with an inescapable sense of hopelessness, but Resau injects hope into the conversation, illuminating the possibilities for our collective future, and in the end that's what this book is really about: hope and possibilities. Our capacity to "create our own magic."
On a personal note, I love this book even more because it takes place in Ecuador, a place that is very special to me (and Baños in particular! I was very excited when she mentioned the town's name!) Many of the descriptions and attention to detail were so accurate and really brought the book to life; the environment, the weather, the feel of Ecuador, and of course, chocolate!
I'm definitely not the target audience for this book but regardless I enjoyed it so much. I wish this book had been around when I was a "young adult" because I would have seen myself in the literature. I was the awkward kid who had trouble making friends, who liked things no one else liked (in my case my passion was for Latin America and learning different languages). Most importantly, I would have seen that being young is not an impediment to being passionate about something, that age has nothing to do with one's ability to create change. I hope this book is widely read and inspires others just as it inspired me.
October 15, 2019
I appreciated so much about this book. There is a lot going on. It begins with a story of betrayal between two best friends. Our protagonist, Coco, and her mother own El Corazón, a chocolate shop that is losing money and will soon have to close. She enters a contest to win a trip to the Amazon where she plans to track down a special mother tree and find a treasure. Leo de la Cueva, her former best friend, also enters the contest. Both end up with their mothers and their elderly landlord on a journey into Ecuador to a remote Huaorani village in the heart of the Amazon. There Coco discovers that there are many different kinds of treasures.
Young readers will appreciate this story of redemption and forgiveness while they learn what the environmental devastation of the rainforest means to indigenous people. They will also learn a lot about chocolate making and how it makes everything better! I especially loved the magical realism aspects to the story that integrates science and wonder.
Young readers will appreciate this story of redemption and forgiveness while they learn what the environmental devastation of the rainforest means to indigenous people. They will also learn a lot about chocolate making and how it makes everything better! I especially loved the magical realism aspects to the story that integrates science and wonder.
September 10, 2019
TREE OF DREAMS by Laura Resau weaves many important and relevant issues throughout its story. The destruction of trees in The Amazon, the dangers for the people living within it, the broken bonds of friendship, the healing power of chocolate, coming-of-age, seeking redemption, the competition between small business and corporate franchise all appear and develop as the adventures in this magical story rooted in realism unfolds. Aimed at ages 9-12, the novel will be sure to entrance and inspire middle grade readers with its sincere concerns and its passionate descriptions.
full review: http://vegbooks.org/index.php/2019/09...
full review: http://vegbooks.org/index.php/2019/09...
October 5, 2019
I actually really enjoyed this book. Towards the beginning I thought Coco was just selfish and greedy, trying to make sure Isa didn’t know about the treasure and endangering others lives wanting to go downstream “just a little more” But I was glad to see that she grew towards the end and I loved the way everything worked out at the end
June 5, 2022
this was a really good children's book in my opinion! i really thing the author captured the majestic beauty of the amazon rainforest in a unique way and used the most amazing characters to do so. coco seems like such an amazing person and she and leo fit perfectly together and i can't imagine anyone else being her best friend!
April 20, 2019
Gorgeous and totally unique! Friendship, bravery, and embracing change are themes in this novel, but it is incredibly different than other middle grade novels because of the cultural and environmental focus. I also long to taste the delicious treats mentioned, and a trip to the rain forest may be in my near future! Gorgeous story.
January 12, 2019
Can I just say how much I love this book? I love this book. Chocolate, friendship, rainforests, family--and taking care of it all while having adventures galore. Adult readers as well as the kiddos will find this book delish. No joke. One of my favorite reads of late.
April 20, 2020
The secret to happiness: chocolate always makes everything better…or at least that is what 13-year old Coco thinks. Coco and her mother live in Heartbeat springs, Colorado and they own and run their own chocolate shop named El Corazón, where they only use the best fair trade beans to create scrumptious chocolates. When business starts decreasing and they start struggling to stay afloat, Coco hatches a plan to win a local contest that will send her to the Amazon where she believes she can get to the best cocoa beans from the Cebia tree she has been seeing her her dreams and save El Corazón. Once the contest winners are announced, she finds out that she and her ex-best friend Leo both get to go with their mothers, and they then get to embark on a journey that will change their outlooks forever.
This book shows the importance of embracing change and the importance of working together, as well as bringing up very important environmental issues that are very real and very relevant to life as we know it in a way for readers to get a grasp of how it is going on.
This book shows the importance of embracing change and the importance of working together, as well as bringing up very important environmental issues that are very real and very relevant to life as we know it in a way for readers to get a grasp of how it is going on.
April 25, 2019
Wow! I loved this book! It's like the Lorax meets Chocolate; saving trees and a chocalatier!
February 21, 2020
I thought this was a great book and it's very relevant for today because of the struggles the Amazon is facing. This is a good book for middle grade readers, it's not too difficult to understand and has a plot that will connect with younger readers.
Coco lives in Heartsprings, Colorado with her mom and works in their struggling chocolate shop El Corazon. It hasn't been easy for Coco, her mom is debating closing El Corazon for good and her once-best friend Leo left her to hang out with the popular kids. So when she starts having dreams about a ceiba (baobab) tree telling her that there is treasure buried under its roots, Coco begins to search for a miracle. Her miracle comes in the form of a dessert bake off, and Coco with her vast knowledge of chocolate thinks she is a shoe-in to win the grand prize -- a week long paid trip to a cacao cooperative in the middle of the Amazon jungle. But Leo also joins the competition, and his chocolate knowledge is just as good as Coco's, and stands between her, the prize, and the future of the chocolate shop.
When I first picked this up, I didn't think much of it. It was just a middle-grade reader I thought sounded interesting enough to spend time on. But as I read I found myself invested in Coco, she wants to save her family business and deep down wants to reconnect with Leo. The book has beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking descriptions of the Amazon which is under attack from oil drillers who are clear cutting the forest. Resau paints a word picture of how just one tree impacts an entire ecosystem and how that ecosystem can affect the world. It also teaches kids that they aren't too young to do their part in helping make the world a better place. If you are someone who loved Fern Gully, know a kid learning about the jungle, or just someone who likes chocolate you will love this book.
Coco lives in Heartsprings, Colorado with her mom and works in their struggling chocolate shop El Corazon. It hasn't been easy for Coco, her mom is debating closing El Corazon for good and her once-best friend Leo left her to hang out with the popular kids. So when she starts having dreams about a ceiba (baobab) tree telling her that there is treasure buried under its roots, Coco begins to search for a miracle. Her miracle comes in the form of a dessert bake off, and Coco with her vast knowledge of chocolate thinks she is a shoe-in to win the grand prize -- a week long paid trip to a cacao cooperative in the middle of the Amazon jungle. But Leo also joins the competition, and his chocolate knowledge is just as good as Coco's, and stands between her, the prize, and the future of the chocolate shop.
When I first picked this up, I didn't think much of it. It was just a middle-grade reader I thought sounded interesting enough to spend time on. But as I read I found myself invested in Coco, she wants to save her family business and deep down wants to reconnect with Leo. The book has beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking descriptions of the Amazon which is under attack from oil drillers who are clear cutting the forest. Resau paints a word picture of how just one tree impacts an entire ecosystem and how that ecosystem can affect the world. It also teaches kids that they aren't too young to do their part in helping make the world a better place. If you are someone who loved Fern Gully, know a kid learning about the jungle, or just someone who likes chocolate you will love this book.
April 24, 2019
OMG... .awesome on Audiobook. Great for STEM and pleasure reading. #savetherainforest
January 25, 2019
I read this book because I am writing a profile of this writer for a local magazine (we live in the same city, and our kids go to the same school). I really enjoyed the book and enjoyed interviewing the writer, who is passionate about her work and passionate about her experiences and friends in Latin America. It's middle-grade fiction written from the perspective of a young girl, but this middle-aged man was captivated, and I even managed to learn a few things — about the Amazon and about chocolate-making. Highly recommended for kids and adults alike. Also, she has a deal with our great local bookstore, Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins, and they sell signed copies of all her books.
May 24, 2019
A beautiful book for MG readers and adults that deals with global issues like the destruction of the rain forest and big kid issues like friendships in flux.
August 7, 2019
Great book for late elementary and middle school kids. It deals with family issues, friendship, and taking care of the environment. Overall, a very good story.
February 27, 2020
What we all need to learn and do.....
“Understand the forest music”
Plus chocolate make everything better, especially with flowers.....
A wonderful YA book about the mystical wonders of the Amazon and how important it is for us to save it. If anyone can save it, it is the dreamers of the world, the young and the young at heart. WAPONI (thanks)
“Understand the forest music”
Plus chocolate make everything better, especially with flowers.....
A wonderful YA book about the mystical wonders of the Amazon and how important it is for us to save it. If anyone can save it, it is the dreamers of the world, the young and the young at heart. WAPONI (thanks)
August 4, 2019
I have read and loved all of Laura‘s books, and Tree of Dreams is no exception. Among the many things that I like about this book (like all of the chocolate!) is how Laura showcases the interdependent development, or linked lives, of people across the lifespan. I love that in Laura’s books for youth, it is not just the youth who are facing developmental tasks, but also those in middle and late adulthood.
February 21, 2019
@kidlitexchange #partner (Thank you to the #klenetwork for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.)
TREE OF DREAMS by Laura Resau
Young chocolatier Coco’s four chambered heart loves four things: her mom, her former best friend Leo, her grandfatherly friend Gali, and her chocolate shop, El Corazón.
It’s getting difficult to compete with the new, cheap donut shop across the street, and Coco’s mom has to start thinking about closing their beloved shop.
Coco begins having vivid dreams of a wise ceiba tree, telling her about a treasure that is hidden within its’ roots. If she can win a dessert making contest, the grand prize is a trip to the Amazonian rainforest. Could her dreams (and her chocolate) lead her to the tree and to treasure? To salvation for El Corazón? And what about her friendship with Leo? Can that be salvaged too?
Coco comes face to face with destruction-of her own heart, and of the rainforest. She learns how humans and machines are destroying carefully balanced ecosystems. She learns how to heal a poisoned heart, a broken friendship, and a struggling community.
@lauraresau’s lovely novel, published by @scholasticinc would fit well in 4th-7th grade classrooms, especially those studying ecology or Rainforest biomes. Look for it on March 26, 2019.
Swipe to see the gorgeous inside of this novel. Chapters narrated by the ceiba tree are printed white-on-black, giving an ethereal quality to Coco’s dream tree.
#kidlitexchange #bookstagram #bookreview #kidlit #middlegradebooks
TREE OF DREAMS by Laura Resau
Young chocolatier Coco’s four chambered heart loves four things: her mom, her former best friend Leo, her grandfatherly friend Gali, and her chocolate shop, El Corazón.
It’s getting difficult to compete with the new, cheap donut shop across the street, and Coco’s mom has to start thinking about closing their beloved shop.
Coco begins having vivid dreams of a wise ceiba tree, telling her about a treasure that is hidden within its’ roots. If she can win a dessert making contest, the grand prize is a trip to the Amazonian rainforest. Could her dreams (and her chocolate) lead her to the tree and to treasure? To salvation for El Corazón? And what about her friendship with Leo? Can that be salvaged too?
Coco comes face to face with destruction-of her own heart, and of the rainforest. She learns how humans and machines are destroying carefully balanced ecosystems. She learns how to heal a poisoned heart, a broken friendship, and a struggling community.
@lauraresau’s lovely novel, published by @scholasticinc would fit well in 4th-7th grade classrooms, especially those studying ecology or Rainforest biomes. Look for it on March 26, 2019.
Swipe to see the gorgeous inside of this novel. Chapters narrated by the ceiba tree are printed white-on-black, giving an ethereal quality to Coco’s dream tree.
#kidlitexchange #bookstagram #bookreview #kidlit #middlegradebooks
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