Allison Rushby, The Mulberry Tree, Walker Books Australia, July 2018, 304 pp., $17.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760650292
Immy and her family move to a small village in Cambridgeshire, England, and rent a cute thatched cottage. Local gossip says that the dead-looking tree in the garden will spirit Immy away on the eve of her 11th birthday, just as it has apparently done twice in the past, but the family decides to disregard the threat. Immy is haunted by dreams and the recurring refrain of a song in her head: Do naught wrong by the mulberry tree or she’ll take your daughters, one, two, three… Not only is Immy challenged by the louring tree in her garden but she and her parents must cope with her father’s depression – one of the reasons for their temporary move from Australia.
I enjoyed this book for middle school students, once I ignored my rational side, though it could have been better edited to improve the occasionally long-winded sections. I am sure that there will be many readers who will also appreciate the paranormal story-line. Immy’s solution to end the legend is a little fanciful, but it fits the far-fetched premise of the book. Rushby has crafted some believable characters: Immy, Dad, the tree, and several people in and around the village, including Mrs Garland at school and her mother Jean, the family’s neighbour who teaches Immy about hedgehogs.
For the school environment, there are several strong themes: bullying and how to cope with it; mental illness and its effects on individuals and relationships; family dynamics; managing change through the family’s relocation; the differences in school; and the supernatural elements. This spooky story would make a good addition to library collections.
Teaching notes available from Walker Classroom
Reviewed by Maureen Mann
