The Treekeepers

LoveReading4Kids Says

Otherworldly, and rooted in the magic of nature, Kieran Larwood’s The Treekeepers will strike a chord with anyone attuned to environmental issues (no matter how old), and young readers who love fantastical adventures and the enchanting outdoors.

Liska is a shapeshifter, training to be a warrior under her mother’s guidance. At the heart of Arborven, their city in a forest, stands the awe-inspiring Undrentree – “the thing was monumental. God-sized”. In fact, the city is contained within the tree, a complex of villages and temples; castles and mansions. What’s more, the Undrentree lends its magic to Arborven’s wizards, facilitating a partnership between the city and wildlife that enables both to survive.

So, when Liska finds out the nourishing, balancing tree is under threat and no one listens to her, she steps up to save it in the company of a ghost girl and a boy named Lug whose wizard power is the ability to “summon and control the worms in the soil of Arborven.” Though this skill is often overlooked, in actual fact Lug’s ability ensures the earth remains full of food for the life-sustaining trees.

Balancing the thrills of a classic quest adventure with imparting valuable ecological messages, The Treekeepers is a beaut of a book, with Chris Wormell’s line-drawings and story-world map adding to its glory.

Reviewed by Joanne Owen
Joanne Owen is a writer, reviewer and workshop presenter whose lifelong love of books began when she was growing up in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
More reviews by Joanne Owen

About The Treekeepers

An epic tale of trees of power and a world under threat, from the author of the bestselling Five Realms series. Here come the roots of the Shadow Tree. Whatever they touch will never get free. Liska lives in Arborven, a city surrounding an extraordinary tree that gives all those living there special powers.

Read the full description

Find This Book In