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Tree Street Kids #1
Jack vs. the Tornado
Adventures, friendships, and faith-testers . . . all under the watchful eye of a great big God.
The Tree Street Kids live on Cherry, Oak, Maple, and Pine, but their 1990s suburban neighborhood is more than just quiet, tree-lined streets. Jack, Ellison, Roger, and Ruthie face challenges and find adventures in every creek and cul-de-sac—as well as God’s great love in one small neighborhood.
In the first book of the Tree Street Kids series, 10-year-old Jack is shocked to discover his parents are moving from their rural homestead to the boring suburbs of Chicago. Full of energy and determination, Jack devises a plan to get himself back to his beloved farmhouse forever. Only three things stand in his way: a neighbor in need, a shocking discovery, and tornado season. Will Jack find a solution? Or is God up to something bigger than Jack can possibly imagine?
The Tree Street Kids live on Cherry, Oak, Maple, and Pine, but their 1990s suburban neighborhood is more than just quiet, tree-lined streets. Jack, Ellison, Roger, and Ruthie face challenges and find adventures in every creek and cul-de-sac—as well as God’s great love in one small neighborhood.
In the first book of the Tree Street Kids series, 10-year-old Jack is shocked to discover his parents are moving from their rural homestead to the boring suburbs of Chicago. Full of energy and determination, Jack devises a plan to get himself back to his beloved farmhouse forever. Only three things stand in his way: a neighbor in need, a shocking discovery, and tornado season. Will Jack find a solution? Or is God up to something bigger than Jack can possibly imagine?
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2021
11 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Cleary Eastep
10 books37 followersAmanda Cleary Eastep is not related to Beverly Cleary but wishes she were. She is, however, a children's writer, and the Tree Street Kids is her debut series. Amanda knows kids because she's still one at heart. When she is forced to act like an adult, she edits nonfiction books by grownup authors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
April 22, 2024
3.5 stars, personally.
About this book:
“Adventures, friendships, and faith-testers . . . all under the watchful eye of a great big God.
The Tree Street Kids live on Cherry, Oak, Maple, and Pine, but their 1990s suburban neighborhood is more than just quiet, tree-lined streets. Jack, Ellison, Roger, and Ruthie face challenges and find adventures in every creek and cul-de-sac—as well as God’s great love in one small neighborhood.
In the first book of the Tree Street Kids series, 10-year-old Jack is shocked to discover his parents are moving from their rural homestead to the boring suburbs of Chicago. Full of energy and determination, Jack devises a plan to get himself back to his beloved farmhouse forever. Only three things stand in his way: a neighbor in need, a shocking discovery, and tornado season. Will Jack find a solution? Or is God up to something bigger than Jack can possibly imagine?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Tree Street Kids” series.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures read, mentioned, quoted, remembered, & prayed; Prayers & Blessings over food; A couple talks about God always being with us; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Jack prays that nothing changes at the farm while he’s gone, but figures “praying that nothing changes is like praying your little sister goes a whole week without bugging you.”; *Spoiler* ; Jack’s sister Midge gets the nick-name “Praying Mantis” because she loves Jesus and bugs (“in that order”); Jack recalls memorizing Scriptures in Sunday school and would typically pick short ones; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers, praying, blessings over food, & Thanking God; Mentions of churches, church going, services, youth groups, & meetings; Mentions of WWJD bracelets and shirts (& the meaning); A few mentions of memorizing Scriptures; A few mentions of those & events in the Bible; A few mentions of Christmas & Easter; A mention of a nativity;
*Note: Jack isn’t excited about living next to a cemetery, but his sister teases him by saying “Yippee, ghosts!” and make a silly face at them; A boy calls his mother “Mothership” as her name over walk-talkies (thrice); Mentions of aliens, spaceships, Mars, & finding “evidence” of it (proved not to be related to aliens despite some of the kids’ excitement); A mention of Greek mythology (regarding to a constellation of stars); A mention of ghost stories; A mention of Jack’s grandmother saying that tornadoes can “hypnotize” you.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘gah!’, and a ‘what the heck’; Some eye rolling; Some sibling teasing, bickering, & name-calling (such as bratty and dork; one comment by Jack towards his sister makes his parents send him to his room and he later apologizes to her); Three tornado warnings (one: Jack and his family have to go into a storm shelter during a tornado warning which he isn’t scared of it, but is concerned about his pet chicken; two: with a neighbor when their parents are gone (Jack is concerned for their safety); three: Jack goes out in bad weather (green skies) to help a neighbor (he is concerned that his elderly neighbor could be confused or reliving the war; Jack’s sister and friend follow him with the friend saying that his sister “doesn’t listen to authority!”) & sees a tornado off in the distance); Jack is upset about moving & tries not to cry about potentially losing the farm (he acts out a couple times and snaps at his sister, which his parents comment on and disapprove of); Jack’s family is having to move to the suburbs due to the work on the farm, the cost of up-keep, & his grandparents’ ages so he plans to earn money to keep the farm; When Jack first wakes up in the new house, he thinks he’s been kidnapped; Jack isn’t happy about moving & wants to focus on making money to save the farmhouse instead of making friends *Spoiler*; Jack has to let his little sister play in his hayloft, but is glad she doesn’t like dolls and that when he tells her not to touch his stuff, she doesn’t (we see this mentioned a couple times); *Spoilers* ; *Spoiler* ; Mentions of World War II, the Nazis, bombs, & bomb shelters; Mentions of tornadoes, damages, & losing something in the storms (buildings); A few mentions of an older man crying due to missing family & hard financial news; A few mentions of “murdering” insects; A few mentions of stinky smells (some diaper related); A few mentions of throwing up (‘barf’ is also used); A couple mentions of Jack’s grandmother thinking about frying his pet chicken (which he reminds her that Henrietta the chick is not breakfast or dinner, but more like a pet); A couple mentions of people concerned about nuclear wars (in the 1960s); A mention of bloody wounds (no details); A mention of a fire; A mention of something sounding like a lie (but Jack really means it);
*Note: Jack’s father only comes home on weekends due to his work & it’s implied that money is tight for the family (which Jack is aware of and there’s a couple comments on possibly being poor); Jack plays video games (Super Mario); The Tree Streets Kids call themselves the “Tree Street Gang” but Jack is told they’re not “like a bad gang”, but are “better than a club”; There are a few book recommendations throughout the book & mentioned (‘A Wrinkle in Time’ by Madeleine L’Engle, ‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar, ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’ by Jules Verne, and ‘Farmer Boy’ by Laura Ingalls Wilder; Other books that are quoted from and mentioned but not given as a recommended are ‘War of the Worlds’ by H. G. Wells, ‘The Invisible Man’ by Ralph Ellison, and ‘The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream’); Mentions of brand names & items (Beanie Babies, Game Boy, LEGO, Squeezit drinks, Green River Sodas, & Mountain Dew); Mentions of fictional characters (Mega Man, Ninja Turtles, Batman, Super Mario, & Star Wars); Mentions of a car brand; A couple mentions of Disney movies (including a broad mention of the movies & also 101 Dalmatians); A mention of Jack’s grandfather complaining about politicians with his friends; A mention of a baseball player (Satchel Paige); A dark skinned boy comments on Jack being easy to see in the dark (the boy’s brother tells him not to be rude).
Sexual Content- A teasing joke about Henrietta being Jack’s girlfriend (he makes a face at this tease and the other boy apologizes).
-Jack Finch, age 10
P.O.V. of Jack
Set in 1995
192 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Four Stars
New Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but it was pretty cute! I thought it had the childhood charm well with the neighborhood adventures and I especially liked the illustrations (and map!) throughout the book. I’m looking forward to continuing the series.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“Adventures, friendships, and faith-testers . . . all under the watchful eye of a great big God.
The Tree Street Kids live on Cherry, Oak, Maple, and Pine, but their 1990s suburban neighborhood is more than just quiet, tree-lined streets. Jack, Ellison, Roger, and Ruthie face challenges and find adventures in every creek and cul-de-sac—as well as God’s great love in one small neighborhood.
In the first book of the Tree Street Kids series, 10-year-old Jack is shocked to discover his parents are moving from their rural homestead to the boring suburbs of Chicago. Full of energy and determination, Jack devises a plan to get himself back to his beloved farmhouse forever. Only three things stand in his way: a neighbor in need, a shocking discovery, and tornado season. Will Jack find a solution? Or is God up to something bigger than Jack can possibly imagine?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Tree Street Kids” series.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures read, mentioned, quoted, remembered, & prayed; Prayers & Blessings over food; A couple talks about God always being with us; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Jack prays that nothing changes at the farm while he’s gone, but figures “praying that nothing changes is like praying your little sister goes a whole week without bugging you.”; *Spoiler* ; Jack’s sister Midge gets the nick-name “Praying Mantis” because she loves Jesus and bugs (“in that order”); Jack recalls memorizing Scriptures in Sunday school and would typically pick short ones; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers, praying, blessings over food, & Thanking God; Mentions of churches, church going, services, youth groups, & meetings; Mentions of WWJD bracelets and shirts (& the meaning); A few mentions of memorizing Scriptures; A few mentions of those & events in the Bible; A few mentions of Christmas & Easter; A mention of a nativity;
*Note: Jack isn’t excited about living next to a cemetery, but his sister teases him by saying “Yippee, ghosts!” and make a silly face at them; A boy calls his mother “Mothership” as her name over walk-talkies (thrice); Mentions of aliens, spaceships, Mars, & finding “evidence” of it (proved not to be related to aliens despite some of the kids’ excitement); A mention of Greek mythology (regarding to a constellation of stars); A mention of ghost stories; A mention of Jack’s grandmother saying that tornadoes can “hypnotize” you.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘gah!’, and a ‘what the heck’; Some eye rolling; Some sibling teasing, bickering, & name-calling (such as bratty and dork; one comment by Jack towards his sister makes his parents send him to his room and he later apologizes to her); Three tornado warnings (one: Jack and his family have to go into a storm shelter during a tornado warning which he isn’t scared of it, but is concerned about his pet chicken; two: with a neighbor when their parents are gone (Jack is concerned for their safety); three: Jack goes out in bad weather (green skies) to help a neighbor (he is concerned that his elderly neighbor could be confused or reliving the war; Jack’s sister and friend follow him with the friend saying that his sister “doesn’t listen to authority!”) & sees a tornado off in the distance); Jack is upset about moving & tries not to cry about potentially losing the farm (he acts out a couple times and snaps at his sister, which his parents comment on and disapprove of); Jack’s family is having to move to the suburbs due to the work on the farm, the cost of up-keep, & his grandparents’ ages so he plans to earn money to keep the farm; When Jack first wakes up in the new house, he thinks he’s been kidnapped; Jack isn’t happy about moving & wants to focus on making money to save the farmhouse instead of making friends *Spoiler*; Jack has to let his little sister play in his hayloft, but is glad she doesn’t like dolls and that when he tells her not to touch his stuff, she doesn’t (we see this mentioned a couple times); *Spoilers* ; *Spoiler* ; Mentions of World War II, the Nazis, bombs, & bomb shelters; Mentions of tornadoes, damages, & losing something in the storms (buildings); A few mentions of an older man crying due to missing family & hard financial news; A few mentions of “murdering” insects; A few mentions of stinky smells (some diaper related); A few mentions of throwing up (‘barf’ is also used); A couple mentions of Jack’s grandmother thinking about frying his pet chicken (which he reminds her that Henrietta the chick is not breakfast or dinner, but more like a pet); A couple mentions of people concerned about nuclear wars (in the 1960s); A mention of bloody wounds (no details); A mention of a fire; A mention of something sounding like a lie (but Jack really means it);
*Note: Jack’s father only comes home on weekends due to his work & it’s implied that money is tight for the family (which Jack is aware of and there’s a couple comments on possibly being poor); Jack plays video games (Super Mario); The Tree Streets Kids call themselves the “Tree Street Gang” but Jack is told they’re not “like a bad gang”, but are “better than a club”; There are a few book recommendations throughout the book & mentioned (‘A Wrinkle in Time’ by Madeleine L’Engle, ‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar, ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’ by Jules Verne, and ‘Farmer Boy’ by Laura Ingalls Wilder; Other books that are quoted from and mentioned but not given as a recommended are ‘War of the Worlds’ by H. G. Wells, ‘The Invisible Man’ by Ralph Ellison, and ‘The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream’); Mentions of brand names & items (Beanie Babies, Game Boy, LEGO, Squeezit drinks, Green River Sodas, & Mountain Dew); Mentions of fictional characters (Mega Man, Ninja Turtles, Batman, Super Mario, & Star Wars); Mentions of a car brand; A couple mentions of Disney movies (including a broad mention of the movies & also 101 Dalmatians); A mention of Jack’s grandfather complaining about politicians with his friends; A mention of a baseball player (Satchel Paige); A dark skinned boy comments on Jack being easy to see in the dark (the boy’s brother tells him not to be rude).
Sexual Content- A teasing joke about Henrietta being Jack’s girlfriend (he makes a face at this tease and the other boy apologizes).
-Jack Finch, age 10
P.O.V. of Jack
Set in 1995
192 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Four Stars
New Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but it was pretty cute! I thought it had the childhood charm well with the neighborhood adventures and I especially liked the illustrations (and map!) throughout the book. I’m looking forward to continuing the series.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
June 7, 2021
What an amazing read! I really enjoyed this! Jack is shocked to discover his parents are moving from their rural homestead to the boring suburbs of Chicago. Full of energy & determination, Jack devises a plan to get himself back to his beloved farmhouse forever. Only 3 things stand in his way: a neighbor in need, a shocking discovery, & tornado season. He makes friends in his new neighborhood(although he won’t call them that yet) called The Tree Street Kids-b/c they live on Cherry, Oak, Maple, & Pine Street.
This completely depicts what it feels like when you’re a kid & have to leave your home you love, & move. I felt the same way when my mom moved me away from the beach in 7th grade to over 3 hours away. I’ve always loved the ocean & am so at peace near it. My life changed after that, & it was a while before I accepted things-only made it harder for me until I did. Jack is a great kid, & I loved being on this journey w/him. I loved the friend group w/the new friends he made & their whole dynamic-including his little sister Midge, lol she was a hoot! His 1st new friend Ellison is very smart & loves to read. He’s always quoting books, & when he does there’s usually little info squares about it-same when Midge states a scientific fact-& all things quoted are cited in the back of the book as to where they came from. Loved that, & I actually learned a few things! Mr. Bruno has my heart.
The fact that he fought Nazi’s in the war, yet the neighborhood ordinance or whatever wants to fine him for the state of his house?? This is how we actually treat veterans in real life most of the time...why not start a donation for money or labor volunteers to HELP him instead? Love that was in here to help show that real life problem too. I found the whole discovery fascinating as well, & wanted to do research immediately! Lol This is also set in 1995 so I absolutely loved that! I would have been a few years older than Jack!
What I really love is how God is mixed in w/the story effortlessly. It does it in such a way that it’s not shoved in your face-for those who don’t like that-& it leaves you w/the feeling, that you should hopefully already know(if you believe in God), that God is w/you no matter where you are. Kids will get all of that while at the same time moving to a new place w/Jack, meeting new friends & a lonely neighbor, & going on new adventures w/him. Such an enjoyable fun read!
Oh! I lived about 45 minutes from Chicago for a couple of years, & then deeper in the Midwest for 5 more years after that-& this made me so happy to be away from tornado season even more! I’ll take a hurricane any day-at least there’s a warning longer than 30 minutes!(I’m in no way downplaying hurricanes, I lived through them until I was 13. Tornadoes terrify me more.) Highly recommend! Beautiful cover & illustrations sprinkled throughout inside by Aedan Peterson too!💜
This completely depicts what it feels like when you’re a kid & have to leave your home you love, & move. I felt the same way when my mom moved me away from the beach in 7th grade to over 3 hours away. I’ve always loved the ocean & am so at peace near it. My life changed after that, & it was a while before I accepted things-only made it harder for me until I did. Jack is a great kid, & I loved being on this journey w/him. I loved the friend group w/the new friends he made & their whole dynamic-including his little sister Midge, lol she was a hoot! His 1st new friend Ellison is very smart & loves to read. He’s always quoting books, & when he does there’s usually little info squares about it-same when Midge states a scientific fact-& all things quoted are cited in the back of the book as to where they came from. Loved that, & I actually learned a few things! Mr. Bruno has my heart.
The fact that he fought Nazi’s in the war, yet the neighborhood ordinance or whatever wants to fine him for the state of his house?? This is how we actually treat veterans in real life most of the time...why not start a donation for money or labor volunteers to HELP him instead? Love that was in here to help show that real life problem too. I found the whole discovery fascinating as well, & wanted to do research immediately! Lol This is also set in 1995 so I absolutely loved that! I would have been a few years older than Jack!
What I really love is how God is mixed in w/the story effortlessly. It does it in such a way that it’s not shoved in your face-for those who don’t like that-& it leaves you w/the feeling, that you should hopefully already know(if you believe in God), that God is w/you no matter where you are. Kids will get all of that while at the same time moving to a new place w/Jack, meeting new friends & a lonely neighbor, & going on new adventures w/him. Such an enjoyable fun read!
Oh! I lived about 45 minutes from Chicago for a couple of years, & then deeper in the Midwest for 5 more years after that-& this made me so happy to be away from tornado season even more! I’ll take a hurricane any day-at least there’s a warning longer than 30 minutes!(I’m in no way downplaying hurricanes, I lived through them until I was 13. Tornadoes terrify me more.) Highly recommend! Beautiful cover & illustrations sprinkled throughout inside by Aedan Peterson too!💜
January 9, 2025
Read-aloud
4 stars from me, 5 stars from my kids - so I'll give it the average:
4.5 STARS
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
RTC
4 stars from me, 5 stars from my kids - so I'll give it the average:
4.5 STARS
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
RTC
May 16, 2024
Jack moves with his family from the farm he knows and loves to the Chicago suburbs. It’s a relatable story of trusting God through the ups and downs of the storms of life, emotional and physical. I happily recommend!
April 10, 2021
Jack faces moving from the country to Chicago's suburbs. And he faces tornadoes...more than once! Here are a few of the layers: Coping with a move, coping with loss, facing tornadoes, finding a bomb shelter that becomes a cool"hang-out" place, entrepreneurship, helping others, forming friendships, faith in God (the characters live out their faith in a natural way). All of this plus humor, 1990's details, fun facts about biology, cool book quotes from other classic middle grade books, and more! Give this book a try...it will keep you turning those pages! The author also has Youtube devotionals for middle grade students.
May 3, 2021
Amanda Cleary Eastep’s debut middle grade series is off to such a fabulous start! I use the C.S. Lewis litmus test for whether I consider a children’s book good or not – is it enjoyable for adults too? These first two books in the Tree Street Kids series definitely pass that test! I had FUN reading these stories and I can’t wait until my youngest niece & nephews grow into middle grade fiction so I can read it with them.
The hero of our series, Jack, provides the first person narrative, and Eastep does a fantastic job of channeling 10-year-old boy as she wrote these stories. Jack’s perspective on the events in his world are matter-of-fact, winsome, and heartfelt, and readers of all ages will quickly embrace his character and the family & friends he gathers around him. I also appreciated the diversity of the characters in these books – not only in ethnicity but in experiences, too. Not every child is from a nurturing home… or a Christian home… or a two-parent home. And then there’s Jack who is from all of those things but has moved from his rural Illinois family farm to a Chicago suburb where his dad has to work out of town and only comes home on the weekends. The elderly next-door neighbor in Jack vs the Tornado and the bully in The Hunt for Fang allow for additional layers to be explored and provide many opportunities to talk with young readers about what loving our neighbors as ourselves really means.
Bottom Line: The little touches in Jack vs the Tornado and The Hunt for Fang make the Tree Street Kids series exceptional. Warmth, authenticity, and a child’s sense of curiosity grace each page of these books, and the cute illustrations & fun, quick ‘story breaks’ (like glimpses at other middle grade novels through the eyes of Ellison, or biology facts from Jack’s Ramona-esque sister Midge… and more) keep the entertainment level high. Relatable, diverse characters and simple but sincere messages of faith remind us that God is with us, even when we have to go through tough times. Beverly Cleary’s Ramona series and Paula Danziger’s Amber Brown books have long been favorites of mine, but it’s been a long time since I’ve read another children’s author whose writing style is just as charming – and I’ve found that in Amanda Cleary Eastep. I will be buying these for every middle grade reader I can find!
(I voluntarily reviewed complimentary copies of these books & then purchased them for my own collection.)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
The hero of our series, Jack, provides the first person narrative, and Eastep does a fantastic job of channeling 10-year-old boy as she wrote these stories. Jack’s perspective on the events in his world are matter-of-fact, winsome, and heartfelt, and readers of all ages will quickly embrace his character and the family & friends he gathers around him. I also appreciated the diversity of the characters in these books – not only in ethnicity but in experiences, too. Not every child is from a nurturing home… or a Christian home… or a two-parent home. And then there’s Jack who is from all of those things but has moved from his rural Illinois family farm to a Chicago suburb where his dad has to work out of town and only comes home on the weekends. The elderly next-door neighbor in Jack vs the Tornado and the bully in The Hunt for Fang allow for additional layers to be explored and provide many opportunities to talk with young readers about what loving our neighbors as ourselves really means.
Bottom Line: The little touches in Jack vs the Tornado and The Hunt for Fang make the Tree Street Kids series exceptional. Warmth, authenticity, and a child’s sense of curiosity grace each page of these books, and the cute illustrations & fun, quick ‘story breaks’ (like glimpses at other middle grade novels through the eyes of Ellison, or biology facts from Jack’s Ramona-esque sister Midge… and more) keep the entertainment level high. Relatable, diverse characters and simple but sincere messages of faith remind us that God is with us, even when we have to go through tough times. Beverly Cleary’s Ramona series and Paula Danziger’s Amber Brown books have long been favorites of mine, but it’s been a long time since I’ve read another children’s author whose writing style is just as charming – and I’ve found that in Amanda Cleary Eastep. I will be buying these for every middle grade reader I can find!
(I voluntarily reviewed complimentary copies of these books & then purchased them for my own collection.)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
June 18, 2021
I got this book for my 7 year old niece, and if she likes it even half as much as I did, then it's still a huge winner!
Discalimer: I am a huge kid at heart. At age 50, I still dream and act kid-like whenever possible. This book has it all. Adorable characters, an age-appropriate, but serious story line that kids can get and relate to, and a beautiful faith-element woven in wonderfully. I would liken this author a little bit to the quirkiness of Bill Myers (another favorite of mine!), and the Magic Treehouse or Imagination Station books as far as the adventure goes. This author gets and understands kids and what they deep-down in their hearts need and want and she does a great job of reaching kids at that level. I didn't want to put the book down... seriously!!! Just fun, and learning, and faith interspersed throughout effortlessly. Congrats!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Moody Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review.
Discalimer: I am a huge kid at heart. At age 50, I still dream and act kid-like whenever possible. This book has it all. Adorable characters, an age-appropriate, but serious story line that kids can get and relate to, and a beautiful faith-element woven in wonderfully. I would liken this author a little bit to the quirkiness of Bill Myers (another favorite of mine!), and the Magic Treehouse or Imagination Station books as far as the adventure goes. This author gets and understands kids and what they deep-down in their hearts need and want and she does a great job of reaching kids at that level. I didn't want to put the book down... seriously!!! Just fun, and learning, and faith interspersed throughout effortlessly. Congrats!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Moody Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review.
September 28, 2022
Jack and his family have moved from their family farm into the suburbs of Chicago. Not only does Jack have to leave his hayloft fort behind, but he has to leave grandma and grandpa too. They stayed back to finish up some things with the farm, just before they sell it off. But Jack refuses to buy into that idea. From day one of arriving into his new house and neighborhood, Jack is on a quest to make as much money mowing lawns and doing any odd jobs he can to give to his grandparents to help keep the farm. In his mind, Jack and his family are moving back. But when a a tornado comes, will Jack be able to still carry out his plans?
Jack and his family are Christians and it's nice to see their faith expressed very naturally. The relationship that Jack builds with his neighbor and even his new friends is genuine. The love and care literally shown for a neighbor is good to see.
Jack and his family are Christians and it's nice to see their faith expressed very naturally. The relationship that Jack builds with his neighbor and even his new friends is genuine. The love and care literally shown for a neighbor is good to see.
i-grew-weary-dnf
September 19, 2022I wasn't expecting the tornado to happen in the first chapter. Too close to home for me.
October 17, 2022
The book is well-written, cute, has mystery, fun and relatable characters, and a great Christian message. I highly recommend it for 4th grade or voracious 3rd grade readers.
April 6, 2021
When ten-year-old Jack Finch has to leave the farm he loves and relocate to the suburbs of Chicago, he's not happy, After all, who would want to leave their pet chicken behind and move into a strange home that's next door to a cemetery? Join Jack and his new friends in the first of these exciting, fun and faith-filled adventures.
March 29, 2021
Jack has to move to a new town right as he turns 10. Of course he is not happy about it.
My ten year old son will adore this story. I love how Jack struggles so much. No ten year old boy wants to move. I also love how his faith and his community spur him on to love others. Definitely will read to my kids.
My ten year old son will adore this story. I love how Jack struggles so much. No ten year old boy wants to move. I also love how his faith and his community spur him on to love others. Definitely will read to my kids.
June 24, 2025
I impulsively checked this out when I saw it at the library because it had been on my radar for awhile and I particularly wanted to read it because it sounded similar to the contemporary Christian upper MG I've been working on and am hoping to eventually publish- and this book blew my expectations out of the water! It was amazing and I definitely enjoyed it, and it has a lot of the same vibes as the novel I've been working on which was an added plus! Full RTC!!
October 16, 2021
Full review at https://stephaniesninthsuitcase.com/2...
Setting
The novel is set in the 1990s, which I recently heard referenced as a “historical” period. That’s a weird thought. Jack is a little bit older than me (I was a mid-90s baby), so I didn’t “get” all the nostalgia. But it was a fun read!
What I Liked
This book definitely stands-out, in terms of educational value! Interspersed throughout are little note card graphics, including science (Midge’s Phenomenal Facts), literature (“Ellison’s Bookmarks”) and history (“Rogers’s Riveting History”), based on some of the secondary characters’ interests. Naturally, I enjoyed the bookmarks. But I also had fun learning about bugs from Midge. She’s a smart one!
As I saw others mentioning in their review, Eastep achieves a well-crafted voice, conveying the believable perspective of a ten-year-old boy. Her writing is both humorous and engaging. It’s also relatable!
During one scene in particular, I felt the description was especially apt, bringing to mind my own experiences with childhood friends.
I also thought the premise of the Tree Street Kids, as a club, was clever. Tree streets are pretty much everywhere in the US, so I think this is delightfully relatable. Perhaps readers can begin “Tree Street” clubs of their own!
I received a complimentary copy of the book. Opinions expressed are my own.
Setting
The novel is set in the 1990s, which I recently heard referenced as a “historical” period. That’s a weird thought. Jack is a little bit older than me (I was a mid-90s baby), so I didn’t “get” all the nostalgia. But it was a fun read!
What I Liked
This book definitely stands-out, in terms of educational value! Interspersed throughout are little note card graphics, including science (Midge’s Phenomenal Facts), literature (“Ellison’s Bookmarks”) and history (“Rogers’s Riveting History”), based on some of the secondary characters’ interests. Naturally, I enjoyed the bookmarks. But I also had fun learning about bugs from Midge. She’s a smart one!
As I saw others mentioning in their review, Eastep achieves a well-crafted voice, conveying the believable perspective of a ten-year-old boy. Her writing is both humorous and engaging. It’s also relatable!
During one scene in particular, I felt the description was especially apt, bringing to mind my own experiences with childhood friends.
I also thought the premise of the Tree Street Kids, as a club, was clever. Tree streets are pretty much everywhere in the US, so I think this is delightfully relatable. Perhaps readers can begin “Tree Street” clubs of their own!
I received a complimentary copy of the book. Opinions expressed are my own.
April 14, 2021
Your kids will love Jack vs. the Tornado by Amanda Cleary Eastep. In this first book of the series, Jack, the story's namesake, is moving - against his will. And, he isn't too sure about the new suburban home his parent's chose. But, as good stories do, we are drawn into Jack's adventures in the new neighborhood, meeting new friends, a surly neighbor, and even a surprise buried underground. This book is lots of fun and mixes in important truths about God and life in a very natural way. A good book for children who struggle with change and anxiety, too. This will not only make them laugh, but assure them that God is with them no matter what may happen.
October 12, 2021
"I like this book because it has a lot of chapters. If you read one chapter a night then you would finish the book 26 days after. They found a bomb shelter and hid it during a tornado. It's the start of a series and I told my mom to read more of them." -Cadee, age 9
May 24, 2021
Change is never easy, which is something that Jack knows all too well as his family has made the decision to move off the of the family farm an into town. Jack doesn't want to leave his grandparents, chicken Henrietta, and hayloft fort, though his new life offers new adventures Jack wants nothing more than to return to the farm. But God may have other plans...
The first in a brand new series for middle grade readers, The Tree Street Kids, harkens back to a not so far away simpler time. Set in the 1990's before kids faces were glued to screens and had to play outdoors, this book introduces Jack and his new friends as they work together to help others and develop new friendships. I loved Jack's little sister Midge who is an encyclopedia of animal knowledge, with an adorable sense of humor. Ellison is a bookworm, and loyal friend. And I'm excited to get to know the other kids better in future books.
This is a wholesome read, with characters that are well developed and grow over the course of the book. I was also very impressed with the strong faith themes throughout the story, as Jack learns to let go of his own plans, and help others unselfishly. I really enjoyed the character of Mr. Bruno who is a kind elderly man whom Jack befriends as they teach each other.
Overall, this is one of the best new books that I have read for children in a while. It has an engaging story, blended with humor, faith, and likable characters. The conflicts and faith themes flowed naturally within the story, never feeling forced or slapped on. A wonderful read for middle grader readers, as well as a read aloud for the whole family.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The first in a brand new series for middle grade readers, The Tree Street Kids, harkens back to a not so far away simpler time. Set in the 1990's before kids faces were glued to screens and had to play outdoors, this book introduces Jack and his new friends as they work together to help others and develop new friendships. I loved Jack's little sister Midge who is an encyclopedia of animal knowledge, with an adorable sense of humor. Ellison is a bookworm, and loyal friend. And I'm excited to get to know the other kids better in future books.
This is a wholesome read, with characters that are well developed and grow over the course of the book. I was also very impressed with the strong faith themes throughout the story, as Jack learns to let go of his own plans, and help others unselfishly. I really enjoyed the character of Mr. Bruno who is a kind elderly man whom Jack befriends as they teach each other.
Overall, this is one of the best new books that I have read for children in a while. It has an engaging story, blended with humor, faith, and likable characters. The conflicts and faith themes flowed naturally within the story, never feeling forced or slapped on. A wonderful read for middle grader readers, as well as a read aloud for the whole family.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 18, 2025
3.5 stars. As a 90's kid, I liked this book a lot. It felt like a more wholesome, simpler time and I just loved that element. This is about a boy named Jack who moves from a farmhouse to the suburbs and he's not happy about it. He meets a couple of kids who live in the area and they all live on streets that have a tree name (I.e. maple, cherry, oak, etc.) They become a little gang, but Jack is still hesitant until a tornado hits the area. The kids have to work together to be safe. I loved the way Jack made friends with his older neighbor. It initially starts because he wants to mow his lawn to earn money to save the farmhouse and move back, but then he starts doing more jobs for him and tries to help him because the HOA board (maybe?) is trying to label him a neighborhood nuisance and get him in trouble. This was a sweet story that I'd recommend! It wasn't the most riveting and I don't know that the girls are super excited to continue with the series, but at some point we could. They were also a little freaked out by the discovery of a bomb shelter, so beware thats a heavy topic in here.
June 6, 2021
I got this book for my 9-year-old daughter who loves to read! I read through this one and it’s awesome! I love the storyline. You can see Jack’s struggle as he moves. He is trying to plan a way for them to move back to the farm away from the suburbs, but he is simultaneously getting used to his new home and making friends, much to his dismay. Throughout the book there are several instances where Jack reads or remembers Scripture and he is constantly reminded that God is with him. I absolutely loved this book for my daughter because first of all its clean and wholesome reading for her, which is getting harder and harder to find these days, and I feel like it’s relatable to a child. I mean any kid that has been uprooted and had to move away from their friends would feel how Jack does. I love how in the end he learns to rely on God and accepts where God has him right now. Great start to a series!
**I received a copy of this book for review from Moody Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
**I received a copy of this book for review from Moody Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 29, 2025
Ten year old Jack reluctantly moves from the family farm to the suburbs of Chicago leaving his hayloft fort and pet chicken behind. Determined to get back to the farm by the end of summer, he starts doing odd jobs for his elderly neighbor to make money to “save the farm” and does his best to resist making friends. But God’s plans are better than ours as Jack quickly learns.
This is book one in the Tree Street Kids series by Amanda Cleary Eastep.
I really enjoyed reading it. It’s funny and witty. The author sprinkles little facts about books, bugs, and interesting history throughout. The story is set in the 90’s and I had to laugh when the author explained what phone books were. Is that a part of history now? Yikes!
I loved all of the characters. I find them very relatable. There’s a piece of me that wants to be part of the Tree Street Gang. I did grow up on Maple Street when I was a kid!
I would absolutely encourage my 10-12 year old to read this series!
This is book one in the Tree Street Kids series by Amanda Cleary Eastep.
I really enjoyed reading it. It’s funny and witty. The author sprinkles little facts about books, bugs, and interesting history throughout. The story is set in the 90’s and I had to laugh when the author explained what phone books were. Is that a part of history now? Yikes!
I loved all of the characters. I find them very relatable. There’s a piece of me that wants to be part of the Tree Street Gang. I did grow up on Maple Street when I was a kid!
I would absolutely encourage my 10-12 year old to read this series!
February 22, 2022
10-year-old Jack loves his life on the family farm. However, change is just around the corner. When Jack's farm life gets traded in for suburban life, he immediately formulates a plan to get things back like they used to be. Jack is in for a big surprise as he learns life long lessons in his new town and finds out that change isn't always a bad thing.
This book is a great book for ages 8-12. This age group will appreciate the humor throughout the book and will learn age appropriate lessons that they can use in their own lives. It's very refreshing to be able to hand a book to your child and not have to worry about them reading something inappropriate. Parents and children will both enjoy this read and can enjoy family time by reading this book together.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the chance to read and review this book. These are my honest opinions.
This book is a great book for ages 8-12. This age group will appreciate the humor throughout the book and will learn age appropriate lessons that they can use in their own lives. It's very refreshing to be able to hand a book to your child and not have to worry about them reading something inappropriate. Parents and children will both enjoy this read and can enjoy family time by reading this book together.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the chance to read and review this book. These are my honest opinions.
June 24, 2021
When I saw that this book is set in the 90s, I knew that I had to read it. I was a 90s kid and it was such a fun time to be a kid. The author does an excellent job at conveying the time period and the book is filled with fun references that brought lots of nostalgia. This is great for fellow "90s kid" parents who are reading with their children...it has features that both the child and parent can enjoy.
The story was fun and I really liked Jack's character. The illustrations were a nice touch and the story was a good length for reluctant or beginning readers. Overall, this was a great story with a clean, wholesome storyline.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The story was fun and I really liked Jack's character. The illustrations were a nice touch and the story was a good length for reluctant or beginning readers. Overall, this was a great story with a clean, wholesome storyline.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 18, 2021
A cute story about a ten year old who moves from the farm he knows and loves into the city. It touches on the topics of moving, making new friends and even the bigger theme of worry and anxiety. The book is clearly Christian with Bible verses mixed in and the clear message that God is always with you. It would make a good read aloud for early elementary or a great book for a middle/upper elementary student to read. I'm excited to keep reading books in the series - there is already a second book with fun adventures.
I received a copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2024
I'm always on the lookout for fun, faith-filled middle grade with realistic, likable characters with relatable problems. And book one in the Tree Street Kids series did not disappoint!
Throughout this story, Jack faces many difficulties—his family's recent move, a neighbor who needs his help, the challenges that can come with making new friends, and even (as the title would suggest) a tornado. Readers get to see Jack's determination and how God works through his situation to bring him transformation he would never expect.
Throughout this story, Jack faces many difficulties—his family's recent move, a neighbor who needs his help, the challenges that can come with making new friends, and even (as the title would suggest) a tornado. Readers get to see Jack's determination and how God works through his situation to bring him transformation he would never expect.
April 19, 2021
Eastep’s new middle grade series, The Tree Street Kids, is a great Christian series I would’ve loved for my own kids. When Jack’s family moves from a farm to the city, Jack has to give up his hayloft fort, make new friends, help an elderly neighbor, along with braving a tornado. Through all his problems, he puts to practice Bible verses he’s learned. Fact tidbits and some illustrations add variety to the book.
February 14, 2023
My 5 year old and I listened to this story and I instantly thought of about 8 upper elementary aged boys that would love this series. Adventure, humor, relevant content with a sprinkle of faith on top made for an enjoyable listen as an adult, an engaging story for my youngest, and future independent reading material for my elementary aged son. Feels a little bit like the sugar creek gang meets Beverly Cleary with a touch of CS Lewis.
July 2, 2021
A very cute/cool/fun story for kids! No, I am not a kid, but I read it because I am the church librarian, and I like to make sure of books by new authors before I buy them for the library. It's not just a good story, but also gives some interesting scientific or classic book facts within the story, in a fun way. Our library is ready for something new, and this is it!
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
October 10, 2021
A cute new book for young kids 7-11 years old. Good themes and ideas, but not excited about the execution. For example, there was a lot of summary, AKA the main character Jack just narrating through major plot points instead of letting the reader be present in the action. Still, this would be a good series for kids to read. It is clean and has good themes that children could learn from and enjoy.
July 12, 2023
We truly loved this chapter book and are eagerly awaiting the second in the series to be available at the library. We laughed. We cried. We appreciated that prayer and attending church were normalized in a children's novel with a good story in a way that didn't feel forced and preachy. Hooray for beautiful Christian fiction for kids!
June 15, 2021
Great book for middle grade kids! Nice story about moving to a new town ( and not wanting to), making new friends, finding exciting new things and helping an elderly neighbor. I found it very suspenseful as new things were discovered ( don’t want to tell you more and spoil it!)
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