Walking the Tree

By Kaaron Warren

Botanica is an island, but almost all of the island is taken up by the Tree. Lillah has come of age and is now ready to leave her community to walk around the Tree for five years, learning all that Botanica has to teach her. Before setting off, she is begged by the dying mother of a young boy to take him with her. But if anyone suspects he carries the disease too, he and Lillah will be put to death.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Dec 28, 2010
• ISBN: 9780857660442

Kaaron Warren

Shirley Jackson Award winner Kaaron Warren has published five novels and seven short story collections. She’s sold two hundred short stories to publications big and small around the world and has appeared in Ellen Datlow’s Year’s Best anthologies. Her novel The Grief Hole won three major Australian genre awards. She has lived in Melbourne, Sydney, Fiji, and Canberra; her most recent works are “The Deathplace Set” in Vandal, and Bitters, a novella. Warren won the inaugural Mayday Hills Ghost Story Competition.  

Reviews for Walking the Tree

[dwhapax · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A compelling concept, but not handled deftly. Often relies on telling, rather than showing who a character is or what the world is about. Needs some serious editing. Still, enjoyed the overall idea a good deal.

[refpenny · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is set in Botanica, an island with a massive tree at the centre. Lillah sets off on the traditional 5-year journey around the tree with her fellow teachers and a group of children. As they travel they encounter the different groups that live around the tree and learn of their different customs and beliefs. Despite their differences all the groups are terrified of disease and Lillah becomes increasingly concerned about her half-brother who seems to be becoming sick.Although this book is very interesting it is not a compelling read and could have benefitted from some editing. It would suit thoughtful teen readers who are interested in people’s differences.