This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth

A deeply moving story about community and resilience, from the point-of-view of the Callery pear tree that survived the attacks on September 11, from Eisner Award-nominated author-illustrator Sean Rubin.

* "A resonant, beautifully rendered testament to life and renewal." --Kirkus, starred review

In the 1970s, nestled between the newly completed Twin Towers in New York City, a Callery pear tree was planted. Over the years, the tree provided shade for people looking for a place to rest and a home for birds, along with the first blooms of spring.

On September 11, 2001, everything changed. The tree's home was destroyed, and it was buried under the rubble. But a month after tragedy struck, a shocking discovery was made at Ground Zero: the tree had survived.

Dubbed the "Survivor Tree," it was moved to the Bronx to recover. And in the thoughtful care of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the Callery pear was nursed back to health. Almost a decade later, the Survivor Tree returned home and was planted in the 9/11 Memorial to provide beauty and comfort...and also hope.

This is the story of that tree--and of a nation in recovery. Told from the tree's perspective, This Very Tree is a touching tribute to first responders, the resilience of America, and the restorative power of community.

Author: Sean Rubin
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Published: 05/11/2021
Pages: 48
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
Size: 10.90h x 9.20w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781250788504
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 2.9
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 513639 / This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2021
Publishers Weekly 04/05/2021
Booklist 04/15/2021 pg. 41
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 05/01/2021
School Library Journal 05/14/2021 pg. 1
Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2021 pg. 140

About the Author
Sean Rubin was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He is the illustrator of The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan Bean, and the author-illustrator of the Bolivar series. In 2018, he was nominated for an Eisner Award for Bolivar. Sean graduated from Princeton University, where he met his wife, Lucy. They have two sons and live in Charlottesville, Virginia.