The Only Branch of the Family Tree

The Only Branch of the Family Tree by Sherryl Clark (University of Queensland Press) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN: 9780702268915

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

Imagine growing up not knowing that an important member of your family was not only alive, but living just down the road from your house?

Gemma’s teacher has given the class a project – researching and putting together their own family tree. Great – except Gemma’s only family that she knows about is her mum. It’s just been the two of them for as long as Gemma can remember, and the only thing she knows about her Nan (let alone anyone else) is that she died some time ago.

Or did she?

Through her research, Gemma discovers that not only is her Nan still alive, but she lives close enough to visit one day after school. Nervous but curious, Gemma decides to pay her Nan a visit. The older lady is pleased and concerned in equal amounts. She’s happy to finally meet Gemma – but her relationship with Gemma’s mum has been non-existent for years and neither of them know how she will react to having her secret (and lies) uncovered.

The Only Branch of the Family Tree is a verse novel, which is perfect for this story given the ability of this form of writing to probe deep into the narrator’s interior thoughts. Readers are able to understand exactly what Gemma is thinking, how she is processing the ‘return’ of her Nan and how she is feeling about her mother’s ‘betrayal’.

While readers may not necessarily relate to the return of a ‘missing’ relative – although some will relate to the family estrangement scenario – they will certainly relate to the sometimes-rocky relationships we have with our parents as we are maturing and wanting to be treated as adults, while our adults just want to protect us from harm and disappointment.

Through Sherryl Clark’s careful choice of words, we feel Gemma’s anger at her betrayal, and smile at her happiness when events start taking a turn for the better.

With themes of family reconciliation, identity, forgiveness and hope, this midgrade verse novel, for readers aged from 9 to 12, is a must-read for anyone who has to deal with family secrets and occasionally tumultuous relationships.

I absolutely loved this verse novel and could happily dive in again.