Reviews

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

al_sharnaqi's review

5.0

Lovely ❤️

bespectacled's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

mdevlin923's review

2.0

A tree loves a boy and provides him with everything that he needs: leaves to use in make-believe, shade to lay in, apples to eat, branches to build a house, trunk to build a boat, and finally a stump to sit on. And the tree is happy at the very end to provide one last thing for the boy.

On surface level, the sentiment is sweet: a tree loves a boy so much that she would do anything for him. But after looking deeper, there are some scary implications about gender imbalances and expectations. If gender were stripped from the book, it could be commentary about environmentalism and conservation...in which case having a discussion about our impact on the world is required when reading this story to a young one.

kari_coz's review

5.0

I love this book, fuck all the crap other reads might think, this book is truly about the idealistic nature of seflessness and giving.

drinkwater's review

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

im_just_vidu's review

informative inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It's really nice. Gives a good lesson.

gabyadams's review

5.0

even more heartbreaking to read this knowing he’s dead

the_book_of_t's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

3.75

sararose_cozy's review

5.0

I read this to my son tonight.
It hits different reading it as a mother now. The perfect allegory for motherhood.
Strong love. Wanting to give all parts of yourself until you have nothing left just to make your boy happy.

annagonzalez26's review

challenging hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0