The Tree of Bells

The Ornament Tree #2

by Jean Thesman

After her friend Bonnie leaves for college, Clare is left to face her fears of her future alone, but when she meets an abused child and his dog, she suddenly discovers what her calling is in life and no longer has fears of what tomorrow will bring.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Historical

232 pages, Hardcover

First published April 26, 1999

About the author

Jean Thesman was a widely read and award-winning American author known for her young adult fiction, with a career spanning over 25 years. Her novels often explored themes of family, identity, and belonging, frequently featuring heroines who find their place in the world by uncovering truths about their families and forming chosen connections. “I loved telling the story,” she once wrote, “because I really believed that families were made up of the people you wanted, not the people you were stuck with.”
Born with a passion for storytelling and literacy, she learned to read before starting school and recalled having to wait until she was six years old before being allowed her first library card. Throughout her career, she authored around 40 books, most under her own name but a few under the pseudonym T.J. Bradstreet.
Thesman published a wide range of novels for teens and middle-grade readers, including stand-alone works such as The Rain Catchers, Calling the Swan, and Cattail Moon, as well as series like The Whitney Cousins, The Birthday Girls, and The Elliott Cousins. Her lyrical style, emotional depth, and strong female characters earned her a loyal readership. Notable works like The Ornament Tree and In the House of the Queen’s Beasts remain particularly admired for their nuanced storytelling and emotional resonance.
She was a longtime resident of Washington state and an active member of The Authors Guild and the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Jean Thesman passed away in 2016 at the age of 86, leaving behind a significant legacy in young adult literature.

Reviews

[Kiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a historical fiction about Clare’s coming of age story. Though, the woes of her life were not taken seriously as the aftereffects of war were still nigh. In the beginning of the story, Clare doesn’t really have much drive and ambition but as the story goes on, it becomes clear what Clare needs to do. I loved the way this book was written, very easy to read for a little girl like me.

Repost of review from Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CzwhMTGvz...

[LeeAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a sequel to a book I haven't read; however, it can be read as a standalone.

I read it because I typically enjoy historical fiction, and I've recently been trying to read more books about university-age protagonists.

I also thought I'd enjoy reading a story about a strong female lead who wants to be a teacher-librarian (like me).

However, this story was so slow. Few important plot points, and for a character-centric story, there was little characterization. All the characters seemed so flat to me (including the main character, whose name I can't even remember, even though I just finished reading this).

I'm going to go read the other reviews of this book; maybe I missed a gem.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really sweet book , I liked how they all lived in the same house and everything . I read this one first so I didn't know some of the characters , but I caught up easily . I haven't read anything else by this author I would like to though because this book was good . It also ended well which is a must for me to be really enjoy a book .

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful. Poignant. Heart-wrenching. Hopeful. I love how Thesman infuses her historical setting with wistfulness, charm, eccentricity and youthful angst and uncertainty, bringing a sense of immediacy to events of another time. A lovely companion to The Ornament Tree.

[Karla · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author completely screwed it up! I was so excited when I found out about this book. I couldn't wait to read it and have it take care of what was missing in the first book. Now I wish I hadn't read it and just filled in the ending the way I wanted it.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not anywhere as good as the first one, but honestly I was so damn excited to find out that a sequel existed that I couldn't really look at it objectively. In general, it was nice to check in with an older Claire and co. and see what they were all up to!

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. I read this book when I was going through a rough time and I am so happy I found this book then.

[Lann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle, character-driven book. It reminds me of Little Women, but not as well developed. This is a sequel to a book I have not read, but it wasn't really a problem.

[Rachel Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

so good a great book to mach the first loved!!!

[Muriel]

It left me wondering what would happen to a few of the characters. I enjoy when a book does that, it makes me look forward to reading the sequel.