Sully’s favourite thing is to climb. He enjoys the kudos of being “the best climber,” in his small village and is loud and proud about it. He gained this self professed title after climbing the four out of five huge trees on the edge of their village.

There is the Corkscrew Willow named Twisted Sister, and a large Larch called the Spider Trap. There is the Ash – Crazy Ash Bastard, and and an ancient Oak named Double Trunker. There is only one tree that no one has conquered. This is a Yew tree, unclimbed, therefore not named and even bigger than all the others.

Sully’s goal is to conquer this one day and have the glory of naming it.

Then Nottingham arrives. No one knows his real name, just where he is from. Nottingham is right next to Sherwood Forest where this stranger has climbed many a tree himself. He quickly proves how good a climber he is – threatening Sully’s reputation and title in his village.

Climbing has become Sully’s entire life. But with Nottingham’s arrival, not only is his title threatened, hidden truths within his peer group are suddenly revealed. Sully’s world is abruptly shifted off its axis and he suddenly has to reassess everything – climbing, those around him and most importantly, himself.

Split into 5 sections, each based around the next tree for the characters to tackle; this story is brilliantly structured in only 116 pages. The emotions of a 15 year old boy realising his position at the top of a peer-group pecking order is challenged, simply but entirely, sparking other shifts in his daily life.

This all happens in a short period of time, holding my interest as I wonder who will win increasingly dangerous challenges. The introspection that results is authentic and revealing, eventually imploding to a raw truth that must be faced.

Loved it. 

Author – Keith Gray

Dyslexic Title / Reading Age 8 – Interest Age Teen

Read the first chapter here

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(2021, Barrington Stoke, Dyslexic, Reluctant Reader, Dyslexia, Peer pressure, Peer group, Challenger, Top Dog, Climbing, Trees, Dangerous, Small village, Future plans, Growing up, Facing the truth, Popularity, Friendship)