Tree Girl by Ben Mikaelsen

Gabriela, a native Mayan living in Guatemala, loves to climb trees. She is intelligent, talented and has a bright future. Gabriela's story turns violent and heart wrenching when her family, village and country are torn apart by upheaval and violence. Her ability to climb trees saves her life, but also creates conflict for her. This is a true story as told by the real Gabriela to the author. The author does not attempt to sanitize the story, which might make the story difficult for some. I found her story incredibly sad, but an affirmation of the human spirit.
Reed Reads Score: 4