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Far from the tree
400 pages
A beautiful, interweaving exploration of what it means to find, keep, and love a family.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like a deeply emotional exploration of belonging, perfect for those who appreciate the tender, interwoven storytelling of family dramas. The narrative unfolds at a steady, deliberate pace, allowing the reader to sit with the complex realities of adoption, foster care, and teen pregnancy. It balances a compassionate, earnest tone with flashes of snarky humor, creating a mood that is both vulnerable and ultimately hopeful. The prose weaves together distinct perspectives, moving from guarded isolation to a shared sense of connection. It is a moving experience designed for young adult readers who are drawn to character-driven stories about the messy, beautiful reality of finding your people and learning how to love them.
- Mood
- heartwarming
- emotional
- reflective
- hopeful
- Tone
- earnest
- compassionate
- moving
- tender
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- the meaning of family · belonging and identity · sibling bonds · hidden secrets and fears · adoption and foster care
- The writing
- Beautifully interwoven and emotionally resonant, balancing snarky humor with deep vulnerability.
- The arc
- Moves from isolated vulnerability and guarded secrets toward a shared understanding of belonging and connection.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave moving, character-driven young adult stories about complex family dynamics and the search for belonging.
Content notes
- teen pregnancy
- adoption
- foster care system
- family secrets
About the book
Three teenagers, biological siblings separated by adoption, explore the meaning of family in all its forms--how to find it, how to keep it, and how to love it.
"Perfect for fans of NBC's "This Is Us," Robin Benway's beautiful interweaving story of three very different teenagers connected by blood explores the meaning of family in all its forms--how to find it, how to keep it, and how to love it. Being the middle child has its ups and downs. But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including-- Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she's quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family's long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can't help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs. And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he's learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can't hurt anyone but him. Don't miss this moving novel that addresses such important topics as adoption, teen pregnancy, and foster care."
Description from Open Library.
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