Reviews - The Giving Tree | The StoryGraph

2.23k reviews for:

I understand the issues surrounding this book. From either a good or bad interpretation of the love shown by the giving tree, the fact is the story matters because it captures the essence of how we love. It's also effective to the point that it leaves us in deep thought of whether we're the man or the tree in our own relationships. It's a good book to help ponder about one's self and actions.

lauratgonzalez's review

This is a terrible book and a terrible message. Maybe I just don't get it. The tree gives everything and then it dies, and the kid just leaves it without so much as a thank you? Nope. As a mom, this is my life, and it's not okay to lack gratitude.

megha_singhal's review

4.0

Ah the quickest a book has broken my heart - simple, classic and timeless. I am also glad I got the luxury of reading this with my brother - something we both enjoyed immensely :)

(Also I'm so surprised by the number of 1 star reviews on the book and the massive divide in interpretations for a children's book - while many see it as a tale of unconditional love, others see it as exploitation and gross codependency in terms of abusive relationships from which the question emerges - is it a right moral message for kids to be reading? (Which imo yes ofcourse - that is precisely the point of the book. You can teach kids a lot even with things not summed up into a plain single line righteous moral). Either way, any book that stirs up such controversial opinions is definitely worth reading).