Tree of Freedom

by Rebecca Caudill

When the Venable family moves from Carolina to Kentucky in 1780, they meet with rival claims to their new land as well as harsh demands for their sons to be Revolutionary War recruits.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Juvenile, American Revolution

279 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

American's children writer, as well as teacher and editor, known for her Appalachian fiction. Caudill graduated from Wesleyan College and, in 1922, received her master's degree from Vanderbilt University. She taught English in high school and college, and worked briefly as an editor. She moved to Urbana, Illinois, when she married James Ayars in 1931.

Caudill's book, Tree of Freedom, was a Newbery Honor Book in 1950. A Pocketful of Cricket was a Caldecott Honor Book.

The schoolchildren of her adopted state of Illinois vote each year on their favorite book. The winning book is given the Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award (RCYRBA) named in honor of Caudill and her contributions to Appalachian literature.

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I'm not a Caudill fan across the board. It wasn't like this was terrible; it just wasn't terribly good either. The family relationships weren't sweet like I assumed they would be since several of her other books score nicely on that point. And it was just kind of boring ...

In 1780, Stephanie and her family set out from Carolina for Kentucky to live on the land their father claimed two years ago. Life is not easy on the frontier and the family sees many challenges. Some of them have to do with the work, with land grabbers and Indians. But the real challenge is among themselves and the different views they have on education and particularly on the war with the British for American Independence. Will this split the family apart or can the family hold together despite their different opinions?

The Swamp Fox, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington are side characters in the story.

Cleanliness: A father and son have a strained relationship, not seeing eye to eye on education or the war for American independence from the British. A few times children are disobedient, talk back to, or have bad attitudes towards their parents or each other. Lord a mercy and Lord are said.

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[Laura Floyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never could figure out why she only took one apple seed. But then, I know I have bad luck with plants. (And it works better for the symbolism.)

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

American children's literature has more books set during the Revolutionary War than anyone can enumerate. Rebecca Caudill's Tree of Freedom isn't always remembered, but deserves a place beside such classics as Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier, and Laurie Halse Anderson's Seeds of America trilogy. Thirteen-year-old Stephanie Venable's family is on the verge of change. The year is 1780, and the American Revolution has raged for nigh upon five years. Stephanie's father, Jonathan, has decided to move from North Carolina to frontier Kentucky where the Venables won't be in the line of fire. Stephanie is nervous about leaving home, and her teen brother Noel has designs on joining George Washington's American army. The future is anything but clear.

"Wherever people are chained, there'll come a chance some day to break the chains, I reckon."

—Noel, P. 84

Tensions flare between Jonathan and his eldest son. The time Noel spent in the past year with Uncle Lucien from his mother's side of the family stirred an appetite for book learning and culture, which Jonathan regards with contempt. Jonathan left home as a child and never had the luxury of art or recreation; he had to earn a living or starve. Stephanie's other siblings—ten-year-old Rob, and youngsters Willie and Cassie— go on the trek to Kentucky without complaint. Their mother, Bertha, cautiously picks her battles with Jonathan. Once in Kentucky, Stephanie is amazed: the colony is much more than just fertile ground as Jonathan described it. The land overflows with beauty and resources, a treasure trove to those with foresight to stake a claim. Stephanie feels optimistic her family can prove up their claim, if all goes to plan.

No one would accuse any Venable of shirking hard work. The kids, Jonathan, and Bertha plant corn and construct a cabin to live in. Willie fears their nearest neighbor, a mute old man named Lonesome Tilly Balance, but the properties are far apart; they may not even meet him. Anxiety worsens when a well-dressed man identified as Adam Frohawk shows up with a written decree that a wealthy man from Europe owns a thousand acres in this area...including every bit of the Venable claim. Will they be left homeless? As Jonathan frets how to earn enough money to purchase backup land, Noel considers defying his father to enlist in the Continental Army, and threat of a murderous raid by mercenary Indians looms large, Stephanie has her hands full holding the family together. Can the Venables make good in this land of plenty?

"A Tree of Freedom's apt to grow bitter fruit...Sometimes mighty costly fruit."

—Noel, P. 87

Tree of Freedom comes from a golden age in American children's lit. Jonathan and Noel behave as though they share no common values, but that isn't true. Jonathan was a young boy when he first had to make a living for himself, no parents or siblings to help him. He worked all day long for decades to be capable of providing for a family, and the war threatens that. His life was built on the practical; why would he bother with the philosophical issues at the heart of General Washington's war? Jonathan wants to be left alone to care for his family. Noel, by contrast, is coming of age only now. He has no wife and kids, but is passionate about the United States as a nation conceived in liberty and justice, not beholden to a distant king. Father and son are at odds because they're at different stages of life; neither is wrong, but if they don't tread carefully, a rift could open that may never heal.

"Sometimes freedom's like a light you have to keep a-tendin', day in, day out...Nobody tries specially to blow it out. But it gets dimmer and dimmer if somebody ain't always tendin' the oil."

—Noel, P. 90

Jonathan categorizes academia and art as indulgences that take one's eyes off the practical matters of life. Had he pursued them he wouldn't have his family today. Under Uncle Lucien's mentorship Noel formed a counter-view, seeing arts and philosophy as vital to forming the values you live by. We observe what education is worth when the Venables arrive in Kentucky and are awed by its natural majesty. Jonathan's descriptions were dry and uninspiring because he never cultivated a facility for evocative language. As a result, his family had viewed the move from North Carolina with little excitement. It's also notable that only Noel can read the letter presented by Adam Frohawk and challenge any lies he’s telling. Noel's education safeguards the family against fraud; book learning isn't the flight of fancy Jonathan believed it to be.

"A body couldn't kill freedom any more than he could kill a tree if it had good, strong roots growing...No matter what passed over the land and possessed the people, you couldn't kill freedom if somebody gave it uncommon good care."

—Tree of Freedom, P. 263

Distant from the war action as Tree of Freedom is, the American fighting spirit is evident. The Venables can't know whether George Washington or the king of England will win the war, but they control their own decision to work hard today and prove up the claim. They'll worry about interlopers tomorrow. The family is defined by mutual love and respect, even as they fight over ideas they fervently hold. That's America: we tolerate differences and rally around shared values like freedom and individual rights, so together we can grow a future worth every sacrifice. I rate Tree of Freedom three and a half stars; I could easily see it as worthy of the 1950 Newbery Medal, and I hope young readers remember this book as time goes by.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars edging towards 4.5 stars. Is this a book for every reader? No, probably not. Many will have trouble with the dialect (although these same readers would enjoy a Scots/Irish dialect in a movie), others won't bother to check word definitions (frow, creel, piggin, puncheon - words which more fully immerse the reader into the story), more won't understand the homesteading or wilderness lore. But for those with an interest, it's a fantastic read. Things that amaze me about reading about the pioneers (whether Appalachian, plains, or Oregon Trail): the children are barefoot most of the year, people ate what today would be considered an unhealthy diet (so few vegetables and greens, lots of salt), and people didn't blink at travelling distances by foot. The Venable family leaves the Carolina back country in early spring and walks through the Appalachian wilderness to the new lands in Kentucky by May: father, mother, 15-16 yr old boy, 13 yr old girl, 10 yr old boy, 5 yr old boy, and 3 yr old girl, all with their assorted sheep, pigs, cow, and horse (which carries the rooster and chickens). This ability constantly amazes my modern mind even though I know people used to walk 50 mile distances as a normal weekly thing. Jonathan Venable has the same itchy feet as Pa Ingalls and hauls his family out of more settled lands in search of elbow room. There is conflict between the father who is self taught and made (frontiersman) and eldest son who is interested in education not the wilderness, but is also interested in joining the patriots and fighting the British. The POV character is the elder girl, Stephanie, who seems to be the father's favorite. The story isn't greatly involved and focuses on what it took to settle in the wilderness and the worries the family faces from British backed Indians, land speculators, and the need to harvest enough food for the approaching winter. I read this for my 2020 Reading Challenge and my Newbery Challenge (Honor 1952)

[Story Revolution]

We homeschool, so perhaps our children have higher standards than the first reviewer, but my girls all enjoyed this book when they were around ten years old. It's a delightful story of another time, an important time in our nation's history. The characters are lively, courageous, and fun. The book is old fashioned in a sweet way. Highly recommended.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book isn't the awesomest I've ever read about the Revolutionary War time period, but it's the best portrayal of pioneers in Kentucky in that period, that I've read. I really liked the details of life on the frontier, making salt seasoning from plants, building homes, the importance of being able to read official documents, working together as a community.

[Michelle Fournier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as part of the 2019 Back to the Classics challenge as a regional read as we are new to the North Carolina area, and it was also a suggested reading book for my daughter's homeschool curriculum that I had been hoping to read with her. She finished it long before I did:) This book began in North Carolina back country during the time of the revolution, but the family quickly began their journey to a new settlement in Kentucky County. The setting was interesting and new to me and I think i liked the dialect of this book. Still undecided on that, but it added to the setting and feel of "uneducated" (and yet still highly Capable and So Resourceful) wilderness living at the time. The contrasts between the value of 'book learnin' and the practical needs of living in the wilderness and learning how to survive seemed very real; though i will always be on the side of education. Spoilers: my heart just about broke when one of the little boys had to leave behind his collection of mounted and labelled butterflies. The father seemed so cruel at first, but then I realized they had 1 horse, No wagon, and were walking with all their children, to include a baby, all the way to Kentucky through the mountains! I suppose he knew what he was doing in letting each child only bring 1 small thing along. They had to carry All the food and the necessities to just stay alive that entire way. This brings up so many questions about what i would do in a situation like that and i dont imagine it would include acting with half as much courage or grace as their mother Bertha did. Definitely a thought provoking book.

[Shella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had this Newbery honor on my TBR pile for years. Even though it had a bit of a slow start, it is an excellent historical fiction. One cannot help be in awe of the hardship and dedication these pioneers forged in the wilderness. This book gives a good window into the Revolutionary War out west- this is often never taught in schools.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were several things that dragged this one down.

First, huge portions are conversations written in dialect. It may be authentic; it may be evocative of the people, the period, and the locale, but it's not easy to read. I had to think quite a bit to grasp that "h'ist" was "hoist".

Second, there were three instances of untranslated French. These were not just a single word or a short phrase; they were not fairly equivalent to English; and they were not common expressions that a young reader could reasonably be expected to have encountered previously (c'est la vie; quel dommage; etc.). They were quotes from the Bible - here's one:

Pourquoi sortirez-vous pour vous ranger en bataille? Ne suis-je point Philistin, et vous, n'êtes pas serviteurs de Saül? Choisissez l'un d'entre vous, et qu'il descende vers moi.

I mean, I speak French. I understand it. But how many young readers will? And I'm not really sure what the point is - why not just make the Biblical reference as an English paraphrase?

Lastly and most importantly, the plot is not strong. Most of the story is somewhat in the vein of Little House on the Prairie, about a family out on the Kentucky frontier in 1780, during the time of the American Revolution - they deal with clearing the land, building a home, planting crops. There are, however, three or four significant subplots and none of them is handled well. One major point of conflict could really have been dramatic and exciting, but its resolution is quick and almost casual. Soon after that we get another subplot wrapped up nice and neat. Then another one: the titular tree is discovered to be damaged and in less than a page, never mind, it'll be fine. Then in the last chapter, one more subplot is taken care of. I don't mind happy endings with loose ends tied up, but it's how they end up getting tied that makes things interesting.

There are a couple of historical characters: George Rogers Clark, Joseph Bowman, Francis Marion (unseen), Thomas Jefferson (unseen), and a little bit of philosophy to explain the position of the Kentucky settlers in the question of revolution, but it could have been done much better. An author's note about the history and a map would have been very welcome.

[Stef · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book in a little free library. it was a great read overall!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This, set in 1780, is interesting. Apparently all the dialect, customs, and cultural references are accurate, because Caudill herself grew up in that culture. Lots and lots of non-standard spellings, vocabulary, etc. Hit for it, ballet for song, I'm guessing via ballad, the idea that book-larnin' ruints a boy, stuff like that.

There's a good bit about how wrong slavery is. And the women are strong, brave, and intelligent.

Otoh, there's nothing redeeming about how the "red men" are portrayed. At first we're led to think they're just vicious, and then it's revealed that the British are bribing them to raid the new white settlements, as another strategy to wear down the colonists besides the battles up North.

Neither Washington nor the activists in Philadelphia are revered, or even universally respected. Most ordinary people just want to be left alone to live their own lives, and so a major theme of the book is that it's not possible to do so. To simplify, Caudill claims that either a citizen does his civic duty, and makes some sacrifices, or he gets trampled by a tyrant.

Of course these brave pioneers work hard etc., and do get their happy ending. Some threads are left unanswered, but nothing major. And the cover is silly. Steffy is most always barefoot, and in a simple dress rather than a skirt and blouse. The only teen boy sulking around is her brother, who is fair (or at least tanned not much more than she is).

And I'm not so sure about the title tree, either. I'm pretty sure one seed is not going to grow enough in one summer to be strong enough for a winter (though maybe Kentucky is warm enough), and I'm even more sure that, without a scion, there's going to be fruit. Even Eric Sloane mentions grafts in his writings about the earliest years of the colonies.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I didn’t take well to the constant underlying uncertainty and anxiety. Then it was pronounced fear and just kept going. I suppose you need books that tell the whole part of real settling in wild country when a budding nation is in an uproar. Everything is in its ugly stage like an orphan about to go through puberty in a group home they hate.
Displaced and wronged people of all colors and shapes and my emotions are in turmoil the more and longer I read about the multifaceted stories.
I don’t like the world I live in, but that world has its own major struggles also. Simpler? Harder? Which struggle is the more desirable?

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a family that moves from Carolina to Kentucky in 1780. The father cannot read or write. The mother can only read French. The children range in age from toddler (age 3) to teenage--the narrator, Stephanie, and Noel, her older brother, is probably 14 or 15. Rob and Willie come in between Cassie and Steffy.

I was confused about two things. First, the blurb, both inside and on the back cover says, "...her family moved to Carolina from Kentucky..." and my first thought, was: that's the wrong direction! Pioneering families went west, and last time I checked, Kentucky was west of the Carolinas. That proved to be the case. The family was on its way to lay a claim to the rich soil of Kentucky.

Second, I could have used a little help with historical orientation. I had forgotten exactly how long the American Revolution lasted. If you count from the Stamp Act, it is 1765 to 1783 when the Treaty of Paris was signed. If you count from the beginning and end of hostilities, it is 1775 to 1781. So the Revolution is still being fought during this story. It helps to know that.

The major theme of the story is not war, but the ability to read. The father is illiterate and sees no need to learn to read when the skills called for on the frontier are the ability to build a house, clear land, plant crops, hunt game, and otherwise provide for the security of the family. And then he finds it would be a major help to be able to read a law. And a deed. Otherwise, he is prey to the schemes of land developers and other swindlers. Although he derides his son Noel, it is Noel's ability to read that saves the day. The father eventually comes round and sees the need to allow his children the time to be educated. And he wishes to also learn to read.

[Mona Ammon · Rating 3 out of 5]

TITLE: Tree of Freedom
WHY I CHOSE THIS BOOK: It is a Newbery Honor Book.
REVIEW: Whenever I read stories set in 19th century and earlier I always get thrown by them referring to places like Kentucky and Ohio as the West. But everything is relative. It was also amazing to read about people walking months from one place to another. They walked from North Carolina to Kentucky. Can you imagine anyone doing that now. Not only is it not necessary but we have grown too soft to even try. The brother and sister were likable. They had a sense of responsibility to their family but also cared about the wider world. The dad was a standard libertarian - wanting to get away from civilization and the imposition of taxes. He was not particularly likable to me. When I read historical books, fiction or non-fiction, I am always amazed at how much things have changed and yet how much they have stayed the same. The way in which wealthy land speculators try to buy up land on the frontier and driving up prices for the purpose of making a profit, clashing with those who just want a place of their own.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not going to finish this one. It's fine, and a unique historical perspective. Steffy and her family are pioneers in the Kentucky frontier during the American Revolution. I hadn't read a book before where the Revolution was almost a side story, and I really appreciated that realistic perspective on what life was actually like. The historical details were really interesting. Their frontier experience was enough difference from the stories I've read of covered wagons to intrigue me, and the anti-literacy attitude of the father would make many middle grade readers think about what they called and why. I think if I had been able to just sit down and read this, I would have been interested enough to finish, but that's not the way my time is right now, and I'm bored with trying to chip away at it. Also, opposition to slavery was clearly connected to the desire to be free from government rule, and the perspective toward Native Americans is atrocious. I know it's a fine line in historical fiction to present characters accurately without supporting their racism, but this book doesn't even try.

[Leto · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story takes plave in the Carolinas. The main characters are Rob, Noel, Stephanie, and Jonathan. Rob is a nice butterfly catcher. Noel is a young soldier. Stephanie is a worrisome, but caring girl. Jonathan is the father of the family. Willie is a young, willing boy.

Noel meets Colonel Clark and wants to build him an army. He almost puts his family in danger. "Red men" eventually come by in the forests. Then Jonathan leaves to Williamsburg. Before they know it, Rob disappears.

I noticed the characters thought, spoke, and wrote strangely. That made the book confusing. I had to learn old English. Sometimes, the events were funny. Somethings they were also daring.

I would recommend this book to a friend because they could learn a thing or two about history.

[Linda Russo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this was a Newbery Honor book from the 1940's, I don't think it has stood the test of time. I often found the dialect to be annoying (but perhaps accurate?), so I can't imagine kids responding to it. The main character, young Stephanie, was smart and spunky, and her brothers showed backbone, but the father was particularly unlikable, although a bit redeemed at the end. The info on land grants was somewhat interesting , but not much else really added to my knowledge of homesteading in Kentucky during the revolutionary war period, that I hadn't read before. It could have used a description of the terminology for tools at the back of the book! Kids are supposed to know what a piggin and a creel are? I don't.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a little bit to truly get into this one, but once I began to understand the essence of the written local dialect, it moved from distracting to adding character to the story. Caudill's details gave great insight into early frontier life during the latter 18th century, the hours of exhausting labor required to simply provide for the day's essentials. I liked how each character was tested to his/her limits, but remained able to endure and even succeed. There was so much unknown for these courageous settlers, but their desire for land and additional freedoms won over any fears or misgivings.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It does have a plot (unlike some of the older Newbery books) and I felt invested in knowing what happened with (some of) the characters. However, the plot rested on Manifest Destiny and, despite nodding to some of the politics behind the Native-American-British alliance, it is only a nod and racism runs throughout the book. There is some interesting history here (forting, land grants, who was settling where) but it represents that as the only history, eliding a lot that is valuable for even middle grade readers.

[Ruthe Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a marvelous novel about a family who settles in Kentucky during the Revolutionary War. The author's creative and descriptive style helps the reader experience the dangers of the American frontier and the hard work it takes to eke out a life in the wilderness. The plot will keep the reader turning pages, as the family faces the possible loss of the land and even their lives. Meant for children, this is an ideal read-along for the family to enjoy together and discuss.

[Lanny · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a quite a few of antiquated or countrified spellings of words that made it a little hard to read aloud. Sometimes my kids would ask me what a word meant and I honestly couldn't tell them. I think it would be a better read aloud for upper elementary-middle school students. My children were a little on the young side for the story and it didn't captivate them as much as many of our other read-alouds from this year.

[KerryT · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read other books by this same author that were better but I found myself thinking it was boring. But saying that, it was an informative book. The story was a good one but I had to plow my way through it. I think it would be a great read aloud for history class, whether classroom or homeschool.

[Kristy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually didn’t finish the book. I’m having a really hard time getting into it with the dialect and the characters personalities. I just am not finding it engaging at all. Maybe I’ll come back to it later - maybe not.

[Gratefuldeb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love,love, love this book. History, adventure, family and deep insights into relationships and finding courage to face difficulties- this book is an excellent read for both boys and girls and I loved it as an adult.

[Tiffany]

I liked books about pioneers a lot more when I was little and didn't realize they were all thieves. I spent this entire book going, "Somebody scalp him, for the love of god" every time Jonathan Venable opened his mouth.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. The way they talked made it hard to follow and overall the book was just "okay".

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars

[Gacoca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really awesome.

[Jennifer Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but the hard-to-read dialogue and the overall dragging of the story made it not quite the classic I was expecting.