Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Chronicle Books (2010), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 280 pages
Description
Mystery. Young Adult Fiction. HTML: Not your everyday coming-of-age novel... This story was supposed to be about Evie�how she hasn't made a friend in years, how she tends to stretch the truth (especially about her so-called relationship with college drop-out Jonah Luks), and how she finally comes into her own once she learns to just be herself�but it isn't. Because when her classmate Elizabeth 'Zabet' McCabe's murdered body is found in the woods, everything changes...and Evie's life is never the same again..
Media reviews
School Library Journal
Readers who have ever felt like they don't fit in will find it easy to empathize with the teen's struggle to connect to others, and anyone can relate to the disillusionment that comes with growing up.
Booklist
A good option for reluctant readers, this thrilling story shows many instances of lyrical language, and the pacing is pitch-perfect.
User reviews
LibraryThing member kayla3194
I wanted to like this book more than I did, to tell the truth. Evie was such a fun, unique character who had a quirky personality that sometimes has the reader embarrassed for her, though she has no idea just how weird she’s being. But the book seemed to drag on, and I was never quite sure what
Evie and her new found friend, Hadley, are on the prowl, attempting to find Zabet’s killer. There’s also Jonah, the mysterious college dropout that Evie ’happens to run into’ every Sunday while she’s on her paper route. Every character has their own flaws, some not so obvious until the end.
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the book was supposed to be about. The ending was very lacking, and I expected much more.Evie and her new found friend, Hadley, are on the prowl, attempting to find Zabet’s killer. There’s also Jonah, the mysterious college dropout that Evie ’happens to run into’ every Sunday while she’s on her paper route. Every character has their own flaws, some not so obvious until the end.
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LibraryThing member catiesmoviesinmyhead
I'm not even going to pretend I didn't buy this book for its cover. The picture really doesn't do it justice, but it's beautiful. It is a hardcover that has been laser cut to look like branches that sit over the paper cover underneath. I found it in a bin at Border's last year during its closing
The story is about Evie, a loner who isn't really lonely at all. She has her paper route and she has Jonah. He hauls dead animals out of the woods behind one of the nicer neighborhoods in town (fun job right?). Evie loves him and follows him around during her route, but he seems to think she's just a silly kid. She twists the small conversations they have together into more romantic tales to tell the girls that she sits with at lunch. Her life with Jonah and her vacuous mother is blissfully boring until a body is pulled out of the woods. It turns out to be her childhood friend, Zabet, and Evie is immediately obsessed with the crime. She becomes entangled with Zabet's father, a sad, lonely divorcee and her best friend, the chain-smoking, slightly unstable, Hadley. She and Hadley begin searching for Zabet's killer and along the way form an unlikely friendship.
So what did I think about this book? Overall, it was better than expected. There were moments of real truth. This was especially true with Hadley. Her grief over the death of her only real friend sends her into a downward spiral that is realistic and painful to watch. She tries so hard to be tough and act like nothing bothers her, but throughout the book you can see her mental instability growing and you really start to feel for her. Mr. McCabe is another character that seems very well thought out. He tries to hold on to his daughter by forming a relationship with Hadley and Evie. His desperation is palpable, from only making spaghetti because it was Zabet's favorite to keeping her room in the complete disarray in which it was left. He is possibly the saddest character in the whole book. Finally there is Jonah. He is sort of an enigma in the book. He is around but he doesn't say much and the reader rarely knows what he is thinking. This is the same way that Evie sees him. The reader wants to get to know him as much as she does. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like he was given a chance to really come into his own as a character. I would have liked to understand him more. Another character who left me wanting was Evie's mother. She was so self-obsessed and vapid that I couldn't help but dislike her. I kept hoping that she would evolve through the story, but unfortunately she didn't. There was sort of a moment toward the end of the book where she seems to have come to her senses (she left the house without makeup, oh my!) but it was lackluster. The biggest problem I had with the book though was the mystery aspect. The whole story seemed to be leading up to this thrilling ending. Some big epiphany and, instead, it fizzled out. I found myself going, "that's it? It's over?" which is never much fun in my opinion.
Negatives aside, this book does have merit. Some of the characters are very fun to get to know and the story, itself, was very interesting at times. Evie is a sympathetic protagonist with real feelings and insecurities and the story does make you think. I wish that the author would have delved a little deeper into the characters and their relationships with one another, but for the most part the story wasn't bad. I'd recommend this if you want something a little dark, with some quirkiness to it.
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sale (sob!). It took me a lot longer than usual to read the book because I kept flipping it over and staring at the cover. But anyway, I didn't get around to reading it for a long time and I didn't expect much. Luckily, it surprised me. The story is about Evie, a loner who isn't really lonely at all. She has her paper route and she has Jonah. He hauls dead animals out of the woods behind one of the nicer neighborhoods in town (fun job right?). Evie loves him and follows him around during her route, but he seems to think she's just a silly kid. She twists the small conversations they have together into more romantic tales to tell the girls that she sits with at lunch. Her life with Jonah and her vacuous mother is blissfully boring until a body is pulled out of the woods. It turns out to be her childhood friend, Zabet, and Evie is immediately obsessed with the crime. She becomes entangled with Zabet's father, a sad, lonely divorcee and her best friend, the chain-smoking, slightly unstable, Hadley. She and Hadley begin searching for Zabet's killer and along the way form an unlikely friendship.
So what did I think about this book? Overall, it was better than expected. There were moments of real truth. This was especially true with Hadley. Her grief over the death of her only real friend sends her into a downward spiral that is realistic and painful to watch. She tries so hard to be tough and act like nothing bothers her, but throughout the book you can see her mental instability growing and you really start to feel for her. Mr. McCabe is another character that seems very well thought out. He tries to hold on to his daughter by forming a relationship with Hadley and Evie. His desperation is palpable, from only making spaghetti because it was Zabet's favorite to keeping her room in the complete disarray in which it was left. He is possibly the saddest character in the whole book. Finally there is Jonah. He is sort of an enigma in the book. He is around but he doesn't say much and the reader rarely knows what he is thinking. This is the same way that Evie sees him. The reader wants to get to know him as much as she does. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like he was given a chance to really come into his own as a character. I would have liked to understand him more. Another character who left me wanting was Evie's mother. She was so self-obsessed and vapid that I couldn't help but dislike her. I kept hoping that she would evolve through the story, but unfortunately she didn't. There was sort of a moment toward the end of the book where she seems to have come to her senses (she left the house without makeup, oh my!) but it was lackluster. The biggest problem I had with the book though was the mystery aspect. The whole story seemed to be leading up to this thrilling ending. Some big epiphany and, instead, it fizzled out. I found myself going, "that's it? It's over?" which is never much fun in my opinion.
Negatives aside, this book does have merit. Some of the characters are very fun to get to know and the story, itself, was very interesting at times. Evie is a sympathetic protagonist with real feelings and insecurities and the story does make you think. I wish that the author would have delved a little deeper into the characters and their relationships with one another, but for the most part the story wasn't bad. I'd recommend this if you want something a little dark, with some quirkiness to it.
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LibraryThing member GRgenius
I literally couldn't put it down as I was speeding towards the book's end...10 pages left and time for bed, NOPE! Simply had to stay up a wee tad longer to see where the author would conclude this interesting addition to the YA genre. The surface story will keep you guessing as the book progresses
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through twists and turns. The ending, though not what you might have been expecting, holds a power all its own as secrets come to light and a message reveals itself that runs much deeper than the discovery of "who-dun-it". With a fabulous cover to match both title and story, this is one book that will certainly draw readers to its pages. Happy reading! Show Less
LibraryThing member gubry
I've been wanting to read this for a while, and it didn't disappoint, but before I go into my review on this one, I will say that what really first hooked me in was that the synopsis was different from the place I saw this it talked about Evie telling stories, and I think a bridge? I don't know,
The first paragraph hooked me in this book, it still does when I reread it, yet it took a while for me to come back into the story again a some pages afterwords. The Space Between Trees isn't something I expected, in fact only some bits and pieces of this story was what I knew was true. What I wanted to happen didn't happen, and the ending was completely shocking but I was disappointed also, how things could've changed or went for the better.
So reading this was a whole new thing to me, it's an edgy book. Evie was a quirky, unique, curious character, her voice was fresh. She wasn't an outcast, just a loner in her school. It's really hard to define some of the characters as most of then were suspects and you weren't sure of them. For Hadley, I thought she was okay when we first saw her, but from then on to the end, I was irritated with her, wanted her to get karma back at her for what she especially did to some characters, most specifically in the ending. On to Jonah Luks, it's hard to say what I feel about him. I really liked him in the beginning and I can't say I like him as much as I used to like him as the story grows. But I was so relieved in the end when I knew he still had the same role he did have, despite some differences, you'll probably get what I mean when I read the book though.
Over all, this was an intriguing storyline. It really does stand out between the romances and a lot of things, you might like it and you might not.
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there was no mention of Jonah, but childhood playmate I got and I immediately thought the childhood friend was a guy, and I think there was the words grief in that synopsis. The point of this paragraph was that I read a different synopsis that made me think different things. But when I read the first paragraph and the real synopsis(es?) I knew that I still wanted to read this one. Also, this review is long so I'm sorry for that. The cover's beautiful if you must know when you see it in real life.The first paragraph hooked me in this book, it still does when I reread it, yet it took a while for me to come back into the story again a some pages afterwords. The Space Between Trees isn't something I expected, in fact only some bits and pieces of this story was what I knew was true. What I wanted to happen didn't happen, and the ending was completely shocking but I was disappointed also, how things could've changed or went for the better.
So reading this was a whole new thing to me, it's an edgy book. Evie was a quirky, unique, curious character, her voice was fresh. She wasn't an outcast, just a loner in her school. It's really hard to define some of the characters as most of then were suspects and you weren't sure of them. For Hadley, I thought she was okay when we first saw her, but from then on to the end, I was irritated with her, wanted her to get karma back at her for what she especially did to some characters, most specifically in the ending. On to Jonah Luks, it's hard to say what I feel about him. I really liked him in the beginning and I can't say I like him as much as I used to like him as the story grows. But I was so relieved in the end when I knew he still had the same role he did have, despite some differences, you'll probably get what I mean when I read the book though.
Over all, this was an intriguing storyline. It really does stand out between the romances and a lot of things, you might like it and you might not.
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LibraryThing member molliekay
What an inventive cover! It's the reason why I picked up the book. I kept reading because of the intriguing mystery. A friend of Evie's, Jonah, finds the body of a young girl from her school in the forest, Zabet McCabe. A little white lie turns Evie's curiosity into a full blown investigation of
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Zabet's murder. A thoughtful mystery, with a character akin to Flavia de Luce in Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Show Less
LibraryThing member EKAnderson
What struck me the most about Katie Williams‘ debut novel is the voice. Evie is a sixteen year old girl who reads like she’s much younger — she’s awkward and naive. She doesn’t have friends, though she sits with a group of girls she calls The Whisperers at lunch. She makes up stories to
But it’s not long before Hadley and Evie develop a strange sort of friendship. Hadley convinces Evie to flirt with her crush Jonah, the college drop-out who found the body, during her morning paper route, while Jonah is out patrolling for dead animals in the trees outside Hokepe Woods. Hadley wants Evie to find the exact spot where Zabet’s body was found. She wants to look for clues, to solve the murder, find out who killed the girl they had in common. And while Evie knows that Hadley isn’t exactly a good friend, she agrees to almost everything. Evie follows along and helps Hadley write suspect lists and go looking in places that two teenage girls shouldn’t be, because the intrigue is too much to bear for her, too.
THE SPACE BETWEEN TREES is an odd coming of age story — it is part mystery, part drama, and absolutely a story about friendship — even if Hadly and Zabet’s friendship is not ideal, their budding relationship is incredible to watch. It is the story of first loves and disappointments, and of the violence everyone things doesn’t happen in their town, to their friends, until it absolutely does. It’s the story of how when tragedy happens, we are both repelled and attracted by it. And it’s the story of two girls who are both brought together and torn apart by the horror of it all.
Poetically written, this is the sort of book that breaks your heart, that tears into you as you read it into the wee hours of the morning because you simply cannot put it down. I highly recommend you pick up a copy — it’s a work of beauty and a voice you will not soon forget.
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tell them and the lies and exaggerations roll of her tongue like truths. And it’s this voice that makes THE SPACE BETWEEN TREES so magical. The voice of a girl who wants so badly to be a part of things that she lies to the father of the girl found dead in the woods. She accidentally convinces Zabet McCabe’s father that she was her best friend. And when the real best friend, Hadley, finds out, she at first toys with Evie, makes her squirm, knowing that she hasn’t known Zabet since they were little. Because Evie is a busser who lives on the outskirts of town in a rental home. And even though Hadley is one of the “bad girls” at school, she lives in the nice neighborhood of Hokepe Woods, walks or drives to school, and never has to worry about money.But it’s not long before Hadley and Evie develop a strange sort of friendship. Hadley convinces Evie to flirt with her crush Jonah, the college drop-out who found the body, during her morning paper route, while Jonah is out patrolling for dead animals in the trees outside Hokepe Woods. Hadley wants Evie to find the exact spot where Zabet’s body was found. She wants to look for clues, to solve the murder, find out who killed the girl they had in common. And while Evie knows that Hadley isn’t exactly a good friend, she agrees to almost everything. Evie follows along and helps Hadley write suspect lists and go looking in places that two teenage girls shouldn’t be, because the intrigue is too much to bear for her, too.
THE SPACE BETWEEN TREES is an odd coming of age story — it is part mystery, part drama, and absolutely a story about friendship — even if Hadly and Zabet’s friendship is not ideal, their budding relationship is incredible to watch. It is the story of first loves and disappointments, and of the violence everyone things doesn’t happen in their town, to their friends, until it absolutely does. It’s the story of how when tragedy happens, we are both repelled and attracted by it. And it’s the story of two girls who are both brought together and torn apart by the horror of it all.
Poetically written, this is the sort of book that breaks your heart, that tears into you as you read it into the wee hours of the morning because you simply cannot put it down. I highly recommend you pick up a copy — it’s a work of beauty and a voice you will not soon forget.
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LibraryThing member codyparker
The space in between trees is about a space team who goes up into space. Kely and ken are both the best radio managers in the world and they been in space a long time. The team goes into space and gets lost in space. The liberty team later then finds their way in space and finds there freedom pod.
I liked this book because it was cool and interesting to read. The book cover is cool and very interesting to look at. In the book it was weird because everyone died at the end. The author was good in this book because he writes this book like it is in real life. I liked this book because it was cool how they went in there pod. In the book it was interesting how the author put his words in the book. Last is the book was cool because it was in space. Clearly you can see what this book is about and what I think about it.
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The squad gets into their pod and goes to mars but then they hit something and they go on this strange planet and get lost for a 11 days. When the liberty team lands on the planet there are bodies everywhere on the planet is ruby. The team gets freaked out and runs back in there pod and goes back to earth. Last the team gets stuck on the planet because it is stuck and the team dies because they run out of air in the pod. I liked this book because it was cool and interesting to read. The book cover is cool and very interesting to look at. In the book it was weird because everyone died at the end. The author was good in this book because he writes this book like it is in real life. I liked this book because it was cool how they went in there pod. In the book it was interesting how the author put his words in the book. Last is the book was cool because it was in space. Clearly you can see what this book is about and what I think about it.
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LibraryThing member sithereandread
THE SPACE BETWEEN TREES, by Katie Williams, is a unique tale of two teens outside of the normal cliques of high school. Evie is a loner who tends to make up stories to impress her school girlfriends, and Hadley is one of the "bad girls" who happens to be best friends with the recently murdered
This book was unlike anything I have read. The title and cover did not reveal much about the actual story. At first sight, I had a feeling it would be a bit mysterious, and I was correct! Throughout the book I was wondering what the "bigger picture" was, and when time came for the big reveal, I have to say I was stunned. I have mixed feelings about how the book ended, but after thinking about it, I felt it was appropriate. The story steadily went and I was left expecting a huge surprise ending with big explosions and an "ah-ha!"moment, but that would not have fit with the overall "voice" of the book. It was definitely different and more low-key than I am used to, but not bad!
I did enjoy the fact that the main girls were outside of the normal groups that are usually explored in YA. Neither were popular and were content with that. Evie never took any chances until she met Hadley. And with this new relationship, Evie grew up a lot. With one little stretch of the truth, Evie entered a whirlwind relationship with Hadley that forever changed her. As a side note on characters, I have to say I did not know what to think about Evie's mother. Williams created a character that was strange, and quite entertaining. Every time her mother was present, I was eagerly anticipating what gesture or random thing she would come up with to make me shake my head a smile.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I stepped outside of my comfort-zone with this one and delved deeper into a coming of age novel. Williams has a great writing style and her characters are honest and inventive. I look forward to reading her future works.
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girl, Zabet. These girls become friends because of their common ground, Elizabeth/Zabet, and soon Evie is getting more than she bargained for with Hadley.This book was unlike anything I have read. The title and cover did not reveal much about the actual story. At first sight, I had a feeling it would be a bit mysterious, and I was correct! Throughout the book I was wondering what the "bigger picture" was, and when time came for the big reveal, I have to say I was stunned. I have mixed feelings about how the book ended, but after thinking about it, I felt it was appropriate. The story steadily went and I was left expecting a huge surprise ending with big explosions and an "ah-ha!"moment, but that would not have fit with the overall "voice" of the book. It was definitely different and more low-key than I am used to, but not bad!
I did enjoy the fact that the main girls were outside of the normal groups that are usually explored in YA. Neither were popular and were content with that. Evie never took any chances until she met Hadley. And with this new relationship, Evie grew up a lot. With one little stretch of the truth, Evie entered a whirlwind relationship with Hadley that forever changed her. As a side note on characters, I have to say I did not know what to think about Evie's mother. Williams created a character that was strange, and quite entertaining. Every time her mother was present, I was eagerly anticipating what gesture or random thing she would come up with to make me shake my head a smile.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I stepped outside of my comfort-zone with this one and delved deeper into a coming of age novel. Williams has a great writing style and her characters are honest and inventive. I look forward to reading her future works.
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LibraryThing member sirk.bronstad
I was fortunate enough to get an advanced copy of this book, and I'm very glad I read it. Had I read this book when I was a teenager, I might have felt like the universe (or someone in it, at least) understood me. It's not that I've gone through what the characters here have, but the mood and the
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inner dilemmas seem very real and very finely evoked -- the loneliness of the friendless adolescent; the still-blurry line between fantasy and reality and its consequences. Reading it as an adult, I still felt the need to sit up and listen very closely to the narrator, who might be able to tell me something about my past and even present self, although I also felt the need to protect the characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member AshleyPelletier
Definantly a YA Fiction book. Was not a bad book. Kept you guessing however a tad grusum. Overall a 3/5 stars.
Awards
Physical description
280 p.; 5.63 inches
ISBN
0811871754 / 9780811871754