Wendy Cincotta has written a delightful book for children in Christopher's Adventures
in Evergreen, the first volume in a four-part series titled Adventures in Evergreen.
Young readers will accept without any qualms the fact that trees can talk to one another
and to Christopher. In fact, they will be attracted to the unusual dialogue as trees talk
to trees and to Christopher.
Christopher meets a tree with the odd name SirOneTwoThreeFourFiveSixSeven-Two (the other
trees also have delightful names) and gets involved in the trees' struggle to restore
order and goodness to Evergreen.
The reader follows Christopher as he aids the trees in their struggle. Young readers
will identify with Christopher and his quest for enough courage to be helpful.
Young readers will enjoy the imaginative plot, but they will also recognize the age-old
battle of good vs. evil-an Animal Farm-like book based in the forest rather than
the barnyard. If the outcome is somewhat predictable, one must remember that the book
is for young children who not only accept such endings but also expect them.
Aimed at middle school students, Adventures in Evergreen will appeal to all
readers of fantasy literature.
Look for it to be a staple in middle school classrooms.