The Tree of Hope: The Miraculous Rescue of Puerto Rico's Beloved Banyan

by Anna Orenstein-Cardona, Juan Manuel Moreno (Illustrator)

Overview

The true story of a beloved banyan tree and a community that fought to save it in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

On the tropical island of Puerto Rico, there was an ancient banyan tree. His enormous twisted trunk rose up beside the San Juan Gate. Long roots hung from his wide-spreading branches and his emerald, leafy crown greeted all who passed by. This beloved tree stood on the shore of the island for over a hundred years—until the fateful time when the biggest hurricane in Puerto Rico's history slammed into the island, devastating communities and uprooting that very tree.

This lushly illustrated and evocatively written picture book tells the story of the majestic jagüey blanco, one of the most beloved trees in the city of Old San Juan. Puerto Rican author Anna Orenstein-Cardona weaves an epic tale based on the true story of this bearded watchdog of the island, how the tree was impacted by Hurricane Maria, and how a group of people rallied together to save it. With gorgeous illustrations by Juan Manuel Moreno, this picture book serves as an account of the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria and the strength of the people who continue to rebuild to this day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506484099
Publisher:	Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
Publication date:	08/23/2022
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,040,068
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD920L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Anna Orenstein-Cardona was born and raised in Puerto Rico. After attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), she worked for over two decades in finance in the U.S.A. and Europe, before turning to writing for children. Anna is an alumna of Faber Academy and an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

Juan Manuel Moreno is an illustrator based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He spent most of his childhood living in the countryside and cultivating his passion for painting. After studying graphic design, he lectured at the university and worked as an in-house illustrator for different studios. He has illustrated several picture books for international publishers.

Editorial Reviews

"A powerful debut picture book about community, the determination of the Puerto Rican people, and a majestic and resilient tree. Purchase for all picture book collections." —School Library Journal, starred review 

From the Publisher

★ 07/15/2022

Gr 2–5—A moving tribute to a beloved tree located at Old San Juan Gate, that weathered the storm and brought hope to Puerto Rico. An ancient banyan tree (or jagüey blanco) overlooks the colonial city of Old San Juan, providing shelter for the people of the Caribbean island, bearing witness to their joys and sorrows. When a hurricane ravages the island nation, the tree also falls victim to the storm, and tumbles into the sea, with only its stump and roots still on land. As the Puerto Rican people tried to recover from the natural disaster, they joined together to bring the tree back to life. Its restoration brought hope to the islanders as they struggled to overcome the grief and loss that devastated their home. Inspired by true events in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017, this story is tenderly and respectfully told. With a layer of nature-filled spirituality, the jagüey's nostalgic narration feels fablelike and otherworldly. Moreno's painterly illustrations feature a diverse community of Black, brown, and white people. The tree is lovingly depicted in a bright, emerald hue, always looming large. It seems to lean in toward the characters as they experience their day-to-day triumphs. Especially effective is the spread in which the artist presents the passage of time via sepia-colored panels that eventually shift to brightly colored images of the present day. VERDICT A powerful debut picture book about community, the determination of the Puerto Rican people, and a majestic and resilient tree. Purchase for all picture book collections.—Shelley M. Diaz

School Library Journal

2022-05-25
Orenstein-Cardona explores the impact of Hurricane Maria through the story of a stately banyan tree.

The tree (in Spanish, jagüey blanco) is well known, providing shade by the San Juan Gate, which surrounds the old city. When the hurricane hits in September 2017, the tree feels he will survive. “ ‘I am ready,’ said the tree, digging his roots deeper into the rich Caribbean soil.” But this storm is worse than anything he and the people of Puerto Rico have ever experienced, and it almost kills the tree. Finally, the large tree cracks, and his large crown falls into the nearby ocean. His stump and roots remain, but in language that treats the tree in human terms “he drifted between this world and the next.” An unnamed girl, with dark hair and brown skin, discovers the tree’s plight and brings help. In “Behind the Story,” the author discusses the true story that inspired this tale. Some may object to the anthropomorphizing of the tree, but this meaningful story evades didacticism and links the tree’s resilience with the fortitude of Puerto Ricans determined to rebuild their lives. People are pictured with different skin tones, reflecting the diversity of Puerto Rico. Observant children will notice the young girl who helps the tree, pictured with her family, in many of the realistic illustrations, which picture the Caribbean island before and after the intense storm. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An engaging story about rescuing a tree and reconstructing Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. (author’s note) (Picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews