No Family Tree by T. Katz
Tessie Tremaine is mortified when her middle school English teacher, affectionately known as Mean Old Mrs. Parker, assigns a family tree project. As the daughter of parents who were both adopted, Tessie is mortified; she imagines a postage-stamp twig showing nothing but her four immediate family members. As the rest of her classmates begin to…
Tessie Tremaine is mortified when her middle school English teacher, affectionately known as Mean Old Mrs. Parker, assigns a family tree project. As the daughter of parents who were both adopted, Tessie is mortified; she imagines a postage-stamp twig showing nothing but her four immediate family members. As the rest of her classmates begin to create trees filled with many family members, Tessie agonizes over the thought of exposing what her parents call their own little family island. Desperate for help, Tessie turns to her honorary grandmother, who takes her to a rose show where she learns about the art of grafting roses. Suddenly, the family tree project takes on a whole new meaning. In this poignant young adult tale, a girl struggling to find her roots soon discovers that family is much more than who she is related to by blood.
“A book every parent should read with their children.”
Five Star Review on Amazon By Thomas Law
Excellent! Well written. Clearly expressed. Poignant. In a world increasing made up of non-traditional and blended families where children are raised by those who may not even share their DNA this book is spot on. As the nuclear family continues to tear at the fabric of what was normative not too many years ago Thresa Katz has written a compelling story of a young girl struggling for her family identity. At a time when young people are coming to terms with who they are as people the protagonist of the story also has to deal with her heritage and history. The author has taken these struggles and molded them into a compelling novelette which keeps the reader enthralled and anxious to see how things will turn out. Even those of us who have grown up in a relatively traditional household may find out that our family tree resembles more of a cactus, thorns and all, than a mighty oak. A must read from counselors, teachers, youth workers, parents, or anyone who is helping young people come to terms with who they are. A book every parent should read with their children, if not to understand their own family, to understand the growing number of families and children in their community.
About the Author
T. Katz has over four decades of experience in the SoCal entertainment industry. She is a multi-platform author, actress and radio personality on AM 1220 KHTS as ‘Afternoon T.’