The Great Treehouse War by Lisa Graff

5^thGrade and Up

Winnie’s last day of fourth grade ended with a pretty life-changing surprise. That was the day Winnie s parents got divorced, the day they decided that Winnie would live three days a week with each of them and spend Wednesdays by herself in a treehouse smack between their houses, to divide her time perfectly evenly between them. It was the day Winnie’s seed of frustration with her parents was planted, a seed that grew and grew until it felt like it was as big as a tree itself.

By the end of fifth grade, Winnie decides that the only way to change things is to barricade herself in her treehouse until her parents come to their senses and her friends decide to join her. It’s kids versus grown-ups, and no one wants to back down first. But with ten kids in one treehouse, all with their own demands, Winnie discovers that things can get pretty complicated pretty fast! Even if they are having the most epic slumber party ever!

Yet another book that got my attention by having a cool cover. Just look at that tree house. I love tree houses! I always wanted a big treehouse like the ones on the show Treehouse Masters. Here’s an example of an awesome treehouse.

I know divorced kids must have it tough but this girl’s life takes the cake. She has to spend every other day with either her mom or her dad (who can’t be in the same room without arguing) and spends Wednesday by herself in a tree house between the two houses. Apparently, it was a ‘sensible decision’. And the parents are constantly competing for her attention. They don’t seem to care if their daughter is doing well in school; all they care about is outdoing the other. It’s hard for me to believe that two people can hate each other so much that they let their child suffer because of it.

What makes this book so unique is the way the story is written. Throughout the story, there are various posted notes with random comments, drawings, emails, newspaper articles and many other fun things.

This weeks’ Weird but True Fact about Tree Houses

The world’s most expensive tree house, located in the United Kingdom, cost 3.7 million pounds to build (about $6.1 million).