Greenwood by Michael Christie

Greenwood by Michael Christie was nominated as a finalist in the Forest of Reading Evergreen category. It follows generations of the Greenwood family, specifically Jacinda (Jake), Liam, Willow, Harris and Everett.  What makes this book different from others is that it begins in the year 2038, giving a brief synopsis of the appropriate family member as the story works its way back to 1908. The story then winds forward again though the years and generations, filling in the gaps and expanding upon why the characters became the way they did. I found this an interesting device as some of the characters seemed shallow or unlikeable until I fully understood their history and the events that created their personalities. Through the telling of the story, the author provides a lot of interesting facts about trees and the repercussions of not looking after these vital resources.  I gave this book a rating of 4 stars.