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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
I love Shel Silverstein, but all I could see was a very selfish boy who takes takes takes. I know the point of the story is about the giving, but this book really made me hate mankind for all of the taking.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
I just read this for a bit of a lark, having not really read it in decades. And it still stings. Beautiful story, and I now view the tree (in the fullness of my years as a parent and now grandparent) as the adult in any child's life; almost a literary 'Cat's in the Cradle', but there's so much more depth there. Only slightly alarmed at the low reviews. I just find it to be a beautiful, heartbreaking tale.
They did not live happily ever after.
The end.
They did not live happily ever after.
The end.
A very touching and bittersweet tale from Silverstein about a tree’s endless love for it’s little boy who grows up and always looks to it for anything. It’ll leave you both sad and happy. A (100%/Outstanding)
A beautiful story of the friendship between a little boy and a tree, showing that some relationships are not equal in giving and taking. This would be an interesting story to use in the classroom as a discussion stimulus for friendship/relationship dynamics.
Sis really hit different with giving yourself away for others happiness only for them to forget about you till they need you again.
I used to dislike this book. The lesson about giving up everything for someone who wasn't grateful, who would just take, did not sit well with me. I felt bad for the tree and hated the boy. In turn I hated the book. But I don't take my anger out on the story anymore even though I'm not pleased with what happened. I still feel sorry for the tree. When I was younger, I took away a lesson (encouraged by teachers) that it was about love, that the ending was sweet in a way I couldn't stomach. It doesn't mean love to me anymore even though I see the tree's unconditional, self-sacrificing acts.
It means forgiveness to me now. Forgiving the boy, forgiving the story, forgiving myself.
It means forgiveness to me now. Forgiving the boy, forgiving the story, forgiving myself.
An excellent, short read that has themes of how friends should be treated (or not). I also love how it is controversial in someways. Students learn from this book. Adults do as well!