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The Buffalo Tree
Clipping hoodies changed Sura's life. He's shipped off to Hamstock, a juvenile detention center that's worse than most. At the Stock they don't. try to keep juvies till they reform. They just keep guys till they feel like letting them go. Sura and his patchmate, a kid named Coly Jo, look out for each other and try to evade the Stock's sadistic games. But things turn bad fast for Coly Jo, and Sura helplessly watches his friend's descent into hell, determined to escape with his own body and spirit intact -- if he can.Thirteen-year old Sura--intelligent, reckless, sensitive, and adrift--is serving a six-month sentence at Hamstock Juvenille Detention Center. Coping wiht the brutal pressures of life inside "the Stock," Sura helplessly watches his doomed bunkmate, Coly Jo, fall prey to the worst excesses of the prison system, and determines to escape with his own body and spirit intact--if he can. Vivid, inspired, shocking, real, The Buffalo Tree is a linguistic tour-de-force that burns with rhythms and intensitty of the street--and the unexpected dreams and desired of those who live there.
- GenresYoung AdultTeenFiction
Paperback
First published March 31, 1993
3 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Adam Rapp
53 books305 followersAdam Rapp says that when he was working on his chilling, compulsively readable young adult novel 33 SNOWFISH, he was haunted by several questions. Among them: "When we have nowhere to go, who do we turn to? Why are we sometimes drawn to those who are deeply troubled? How far do we have to run before we find new possibilities?"
At once harrowing and hypnotic, 33 SNOWFISH--which was nominated as a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association--follows three troubled young people on the run in a stolen car with a kidnapped baby in tow. With the language of the street and lyrical prose, Adam Rapp hurtles the reader into the world of lost children, a world that is not for the faint of heart. His narration captures the voices of two damaged souls (a third speaks only through drawings) to tell a story of alienation, deprivation, and ultimately, the saving power of compassion. "For those readers who are ready to be challenged by a serious work of shockingly realistic fiction," notes SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, "it invites both an emotional and intellectual response, and begs to be discussed."
Adam Rapp’s first novel, MISSING THE PIANO, was named a Best Book for Young Adults as well as a Best Book for Reluctant Readers by the American Library Association. His subsequent titles include THE BUFFALO TREE, THE COPPER ELEPHANT, and LITTLE CHICAGO, which was chosen as a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. The author’s raw, stream-of-consciousness writing style has earned him critical acclaim. "Rapp’s prose is powerful, graphic and haunting," says SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL. [He] writes in an earthy but adept language," says KIRKUS REVIEWS. "Takes a mesmerizing hold on the reader," adds HORN BOOK MAGAZINE.
In addition to being a novelist, Adam Rapp is also an accomplished and award-winning playwright. His plays--including NOCTURNE, ANIMALS AND PLANTS, BLACKBIRD, and STONE COLD DEAD SERIOUS--have been produced by the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the New York Theatre Workshop, and the Bush Theatre in London, among other venues.
Born and raised in Chicago, the novelist and playwright now lives in New York City.
At once harrowing and hypnotic, 33 SNOWFISH--which was nominated as a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association--follows three troubled young people on the run in a stolen car with a kidnapped baby in tow. With the language of the street and lyrical prose, Adam Rapp hurtles the reader into the world of lost children, a world that is not for the faint of heart. His narration captures the voices of two damaged souls (a third speaks only through drawings) to tell a story of alienation, deprivation, and ultimately, the saving power of compassion. "For those readers who are ready to be challenged by a serious work of shockingly realistic fiction," notes SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, "it invites both an emotional and intellectual response, and begs to be discussed."
Adam Rapp’s first novel, MISSING THE PIANO, was named a Best Book for Young Adults as well as a Best Book for Reluctant Readers by the American Library Association. His subsequent titles include THE BUFFALO TREE, THE COPPER ELEPHANT, and LITTLE CHICAGO, which was chosen as a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. The author’s raw, stream-of-consciousness writing style has earned him critical acclaim. "Rapp’s prose is powerful, graphic and haunting," says SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL. [He] writes in an earthy but adept language," says KIRKUS REVIEWS. "Takes a mesmerizing hold on the reader," adds HORN BOOK MAGAZINE.
In addition to being a novelist, Adam Rapp is also an accomplished and award-winning playwright. His plays--including NOCTURNE, ANIMALS AND PLANTS, BLACKBIRD, and STONE COLD DEAD SERIOUS--have been produced by the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the New York Theatre Workshop, and the Bush Theatre in London, among other venues.
Born and raised in Chicago, the novelist and playwright now lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 25, 2009
I read this book because someone told me there was a hubub around it being banned. So I wanted to know why. Now that I've read it, I'm still not entirely sure why. It had some rather disturbing parts I suppose, though I've read true stories, like Sleepers, that had much more disturbing parts, and they were true. If it were required reading...I guess I can see why you might not want your child subjected to it. At the same time, between TV and Games and the web, there are plenty of worse or equal things anyone could stumble upon. Life happens. Whether you read about it or not. Me, I refuse to pay attention to the news, because I can't do anything about it. But I know it happens.
So, this isn't a book to pick up if you're looking for a good feeling at the end. Prison tales rarely are. Although unlike many, this does have a happy ending.
If you've read anything by Adam Rapp, you'll know what you're in for. If you haven't, this is probably one of the easier ones to start with.
So, this isn't a book to pick up if you're looking for a good feeling at the end. Prison tales rarely are. Although unlike many, this does have a happy ending.
If you've read anything by Adam Rapp, you'll know what you're in for. If you haven't, this is probably one of the easier ones to start with.
June 1, 2010
I don't think I've ever been so depressed by a book in my life. It left me feeling sad even though the ending is hopeful. Written in the first person, we root for thirteen year old Sura to survive his six months in a juvenile detention center, where cruelty is the norm.
Author Adam Rapp has a new play that just opened on Broadway called "The Metal Children", which deals with an author doing battle with a Midwest town that has banned his YA book. Connecting the dots, I decided to read "The Buffalo Tree" to see what the hubbub might be about.
The book is disturbing to someone who grew up in the 50's and is nothing like the books I read. Was the world like that back then and we just didn't know? The adults in this story are non-human in the way they interact with the young inmates. There is no real kindness.
Using language that feels foreign and strange and hard to get a handle on adds to the feeling of alienation of being plopped down in an artificial, uncaring world.
Author Adam Rapp has a new play that just opened on Broadway called "The Metal Children", which deals with an author doing battle with a Midwest town that has banned his YA book. Connecting the dots, I decided to read "The Buffalo Tree" to see what the hubbub might be about.
The book is disturbing to someone who grew up in the 50's and is nothing like the books I read. Was the world like that back then and we just didn't know? The adults in this story are non-human in the way they interact with the young inmates. There is no real kindness.
Using language that feels foreign and strange and hard to get a handle on adds to the feeling of alienation of being plopped down in an artificial, uncaring world.
December 8, 2014
Even at the age of 22 Rapp was mad talented.
This may not be his best work, but it already has some of the 'Rapp' hallmark signs, which will lead to some overpowering stuff later on in his career.
Longer review to follow.
This may not be his best work, but it already has some of the 'Rapp' hallmark signs, which will lead to some overpowering stuff later on in his career.
Longer review to follow.
January 17, 2013
I enjoyed the book because it's about juveniles like us students in high school. But it was a good book. At first I didn't really get it but once I actually understood the story I really stared liking it. It was a work of art. Fantastic! I recommend it to all teen agers across the country to read this wonderful book. When I grow up I want to publish a book just like this one. I recommend this book to all students and young adults out there. I think the people at the juveniles detention center so they see were they stand.
February 24, 2010
Ugh. I HATED the voice. The use of "that" and "those" (not to mention "sexpole" and "lungwind") sent me into rage fits. It might be an authentic voice from somewhere, but I don't know where.
Which is really too bad, because it was a good story. The characters were fully fleshed out (In the case of Longneck, too fleshed out--he gave me the heebie jeebies), and the imagery was great. I just felt like the story got lost in a bunch of unnecessary (weird, unnatural-sounding) ornamentation.
Which is really too bad, because it was a good story. The characters were fully fleshed out (In the case of Longneck, too fleshed out--he gave me the heebie jeebies), and the imagery was great. I just felt like the story got lost in a bunch of unnecessary (weird, unnatural-sounding) ornamentation.
October 31, 2009
Novel based on a juvenile detention center and the sadistic games that are played inside by the juvies.
November 16, 2023
I really didn’t like this book haha BUT it’s NOT a bad book. I can appreciate the good writing, but I just didn’t enjoy it. It’s quite depressing, sad. Also, it’s a very “male” book - the author is a man, all the characters are male-identifying, and all the thoughts of the characters are very “male”…. I realize that is not something I’m interested in.
July 15, 2016
Sura, Coly Jo and Long-neck are three unhappy boys serving time in a depressing juvenile detention center.
With all the unfamiliar terminology I was forever puzzling out what exactly was being said. (Not always successfully) I was also unsure for the longest time whether this was set in the US or the UK.
I've never been a big fan of prison stories but I didn't know going in that that's what this was. I'm not sure why it's recommended reading for reluctant readers but I've seen it listed as such.
It felt a lot like a riff on the clockwork Orange theme to a degree
But that may have just been the unusual dialogue. In several ways it was darker, but then I've never read the clockwork book, just seen the film.
I'm not sure I'd recommend this to anyone,but then it lies a bit outside my comfort zone.
With all the unfamiliar terminology I was forever puzzling out what exactly was being said. (Not always successfully) I was also unsure for the longest time whether this was set in the US or the UK.
I've never been a big fan of prison stories but I didn't know going in that that's what this was. I'm not sure why it's recommended reading for reluctant readers but I've seen it listed as such.
It felt a lot like a riff on the clockwork Orange theme to a degree
But that may have just been the unusual dialogue. In several ways it was darker, but then I've never read the clockwork book, just seen the film.
I'm not sure I'd recommend this to anyone,but then it lies a bit outside my comfort zone.
February 18, 2014
A quick read that follows Sura during his six month stay at the Hamstock Juvenile detention center. Sura's patch mate is Coly Jo and the two become fast friends. Sura spends his time racing other juvies in foot races and avoiding Boo and Hodge, two vicious juvies that use threats and violence control the other juvies.
Sura is a typical young man, day dreams about girls and misses life on the outside although he doesn't always have a clear reason for his actions, outside of loyalty and respect. After a disturbing incident, Coly Jo's frail mental state begins to unravel and Sura feels he is headed the same path as well.
Sura is a typical young man, day dreams about girls and misses life on the outside although he doesn't always have a clear reason for his actions, outside of loyalty and respect. After a disturbing incident, Coly Jo's frail mental state begins to unravel and Sura feels he is headed the same path as well.
February 19, 2014
A quick read that follows Sura during his six month stay at the Hamstock Juvenile detention center. Sura's patch mate is Coly Jo and the two become fast friends. Sura spends his time racing other juvies in foot races and avoiding Boo and Hodge, two vicious juvies that use threats and violence control the other juvies. Sura is a typical young man, day dreams about girls and misses life on the outside although he doesn't always have a clear reason for his actions, outside of loyalty and respect. After a disturbing incident, Coly Jo's frail mental state begins to unravel and Sura feels he is headed the same path as well.(Amanda)
February 10, 2014
Adam Rapp brings us a really cool story about life in a reform school. The overall message is all about "playing the game" and "playing it right."
This is a perfect book for an alternative education read list and recommended for 11th & 12th grade high school students looking for something more today, more street-savy and real.
This is a perfect book for an alternative education read list and recommended for 11th & 12th grade high school students looking for something more today, more street-savy and real.
February 17, 2011
In Rapp's defense, I only read two chapters of this book. In my defense, two chapters was all I needed. The inconsistent voice and overzealous use of slang, as well as a certain lack of grounding, conspired to make me dislike the story from the very beginning. I literally could not read on.
Read
March 13, 2013This was a fairly book. After being shipped to Hamstock, a juvenile detention center, two kids named Sura and Coly try to escape. They soon find them selves being chased. The thing that could have change was the unfortunate thing happens to Sura fiend. All in all, it was a pretty good book.
September 15, 2011
this book is an amazing book and i can never put it down!
January 31, 2015
Really good, but some of the speech/dialect and slang it was written in was a tad confusing. Anyone know what time period this is supposed to be? 60s or 70s maybe but I'm not sure.
June 7, 2017
This novel is about a young man who is trying to get through his time at juvy. The main character is Sura and he has to watch his cellmate experience all kinds of terrible things from being pummeled in a fight to having the contents of a toilet thrown on him. Although the stylised language of the young men in this facility makes the setting feel realistic a plot or believable character study is lacking here. As a reader I just didn't buy Sura's motivation to stay well-behaved was to avoid his cellmate's demise.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews