My Quick Thoughts: I read this book a while ago. Thanks to unfinished review drafts, here is what I thought about the book: a great book to read and explore and discuss family, friendships, and community, as well as environmental issues, activism, and other places in the world (this is set in South Africa).

I recall how it made me feel – all warm and wonderful inside as I read about the young activists and their hodge-podge team of helpers! And that it brought back nostalgic memories of childhood summers spent climbing trees (whether it was playing hide-and-seek, or just finding out that perfect spot to read a book! Yes I did read books in trees – not always the coziest of spots for long periods of time but I improvised…)

In the end, I do think that any day, including today, is a good day for reading this gentle, uplifting middle-grade book with characters you will love and a story that will tug at your heartstrings.

Extra: You can check out the teacher’s sheet, a reading guide and tree identification guide from the publishers to use with this book

Source: Review copy from Netgalley

With thanks to netgalley

A good book made for a younger audience that carries a message on environmental sustainability and issues.

Cute story whose environmental message will be appreciated by its intended audience--middle school students.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In my quest to get through more of my NetGalley books, and because I needed to read something light after Missing Pieces, I decided to pick up Jaco Jacobs’ A Good Day for Climbing Trees. This is a middle grade novel about friendship, family, and resistance, in a story that is, though not entirely original, an endearing look at protest and the environment.

I found that although the characters were all quite stereotypical, I felt that they were accessible and people that a younger reader might be able to relate to. The writing was quite simple but I think it suits the target age range for the book.

Overall this story wasn’t very original but I enjoyed reading something that is relevant to the world today that still kept a positive tone. I found that the conclusion to the story detracted from the characters’ noble reasoning that they started off with, though I don’t want to explain further as I don’t want to get into spoiler territory! I would recommend this book to younger readers or people with children as it is a fun story and may spark conversations about deforestation and environmental issues.

Marnus is stuck. He's not the oldest. That would be his brother Donovan, the swimming star who offers kissing lessons to neighborhood girls when his parents are at work. He's not the youngest. That would be Adrian, who has been scheming to make money since he was out of diapers. Then there's Marnus, in the middle. He answers the front door to the pretty girls who all ask for Donovan. And he washes all the dishes, every day, to try to pay back the money he borrowed from Adrian to get a new game system. This is how he spends his Christmas vacation. 

That is, that's how he was spending his Christmas vacation until Leila rang the doorbell. Marnus figured it was another one of the girls who wanted kissing lessons from Donovan, but Leila didn't know what he was talking about. She had a petition she wanted him to sign, a petition to save the Tree at the Centre of the Universe. When Marnus asked her what she was talking about, she took him right to the park and showed him the tree. It's a white karee, and it's a beautiful full-grown tree in the middle of the park that the city plans to chop down. 

Leila won't allow it and climbs the tree, planting herself right in its branches so that the men from the city can't cut it down. Marnus climbs up too, still holding his dishcloth. 

He's not entirely sure why he decided to climb the tree. It doesn't mean that much to him. But he does know what it's like to feel invisible and unheard, and this seems as good a chance as any to finally take a stand. To take a stand against Donovan and his girlfriends. To take a stand against Adrian and his blackmail. To take a stand against doing the dishes. This is Marnus's chance to be heard at last. 

As time goes by, Leila and Marnus find that they're not alone in their fight. Locals who also believe in the dignity of the tree come by to check on them, to bring them food and make sure they have what they need. Leila's mother spends the night on a blanket at the foot of the tree, and the next day, a journalist comes to write an article about them for the newspaper. As the news spreads about Leila and Marnus in the tree, he comes to realize that maybe he doesn't have to be as invisible as he thought. 

Jaco Jacobs has written a fresh, honest, lovely tale of finding your voice and standing up for what you believe in. A Good Day for Climbing Trees is a beautiful coming-of-age story of a boy learning what it will take to be a teenager, of finding his sense of self in a difficult situation and putting himself out there for what he believes in. The characters are interesting and relatable, and the story being set in Africa allows readers a chance to get a glimpse of another culture in a fascinating, fun way. This is a great story and a perfect lesson for middle school readers with a sense of adventure. 



Galleys for A Good Day for Climbing Trees were provided by Oneworld Publications through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I had no preconceptions going into this; I didn't know the author, the genre, etc.
It was a quick and fun read. Not something I would have picked up on my own, but I'm glad I did.
I do feel that there were some instances that were really cliched and lazy, the brothers' characterisation is heavy-handed and in fact, most of the character (except Marnus and Leila) are flat and cliched.
The way the caretaker suddenly becomes "Uncle John" is a bit too quick and his stories come out of the blue so I can see the author trying to make the parallel, rather than feeling like it is a natural progression.
The story about Leila's dad is well done and feels natural, except for when she runs out of the park because Marnus was offered a sponsorship. That felt like a short-cut.
And that is my main gripe with this story, it is too short, it feels rushed. I think the author could have smoothed out the plot and the characterisation with just a little more time.

really cute childrens book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Excellently organized and entertaining. A real winner for the publisher and the reader.