Parents' Guide to

The Great Treehouse War

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Zany kids-vs.-parents tale is set against a tough divorce.

Book Lisa Graff Family Life 2017
The Great Treehouse War Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

In THE GREAT TREEHOUSE WAR, Indian-American Winnie's parents, a mathematician and a scientist, sit Winnie between them at the end of her fourth-grade year, put a hand on each of her knees, and tell her they are getting a divorce. They emphasize that they will split her evenly among them, having thought out a custody plan in which she will spend three days a week with one parent and three with the other -- and every Wednesday alone in the tree house her uncle has erected exactly between their two properties. As the end of the next school year approaches, Winnie finds her parents' wrangling to get a leg up on the other parent so distracting that she's dangerously close to failing fifth grade. So, she decides to stay in the tree house until someone can talk sense. The fun really begins when Winnie's friends join her to protest their own parents, turning the end of the school year into the "world's best slumberparty."

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (3 ):

This story's humorous handling of divorce leads readers on a quirky tree house adventure. Kids will love the idea: a tree house that can house 10 fifth-graders, complete with a loft, a bathroom, a sleeping beanbag, a resident cat, a zip line, an artist's corner, and lots of sugared cereal. With the exception of the teachers and a cool uncle, the adults are acting like "idiots," putting their interests first. That behavior, of course, is the point of the story -- told in the form of a "collective memoir" by Winnie and her fifth-grade classmates -- and the point of the "Tulip Street Ten," who protest the unfairness of life at home.

Behind the fantasy and humor, however, lie serious subjects, such as child neglect and the fallout of divorce. Funny? Winnie doesn't think so -- she's terrified of failing fifth grade because her parents don't let her do her schoolwork. The threats and one-ups, arguments and manipulations are squirm-worthy. Author Lisa Graff has said this story was inspired by her own parents' divorce, but she has the advantage of being an adult who has a 30,000-foot view of it. Winnie does learn to speak up for herself, but kids who are going through custody battles might get triggered by the sheer selfishness and meanness of these parents' behavior. Though it's fun to follow 10 kids who pull off a 19-day protest in an awesome tree house, the larger question is whether the means of this story justify the end.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the divorce depicted in The Great Treehouse War. How is Winnie put in the middle? How does she learn to stand up for her well-being?

  • Can you think of any other books or movies where the kids live on their own? Is this fantasy appealing to you? Why, or why not?

  • Every kid in this book is good at some craft, game, or special thing. What are you especially good at? Do you think that having a special hobby makes you a more interesting person?

Book Details

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