The Paperbark Tree Committee by Karys McEwen

The Paperbark Tree Committee is the gentle story of Art and his younger brother Hilary, who are best friends negotiating growing up, moving house, and a dysfunctional family.  Mum and dad are divorced, and dad has a new partner, Sally.  When mum accepts a job overseas, Dad decides to move the boys and Sally from their home in Queensland to Melbourne as he feels a change in scenery will help with his writing. 

Art starts at a new school and is targeted by the bully. He struggles to fit in and find his place and as dad is in “the writing zone” this means the only adult available is Sally who tries to help and give comfort, but Art worries she won’t stay if Dad doesn’t change his ways.  The Paperbark Committee is a secret meeting place for Arty and Hilary to help sort things out but Art thinks he needs to solve his problems on his own, after all both parents are too busy to help him and Hilary has new friends and interests so Art feels that he can only rely on himself. 

The story shows Art trying to cope with a range of issues, not least of which is letting other people in and asking for help which isn’t always a bad thing.  However, the consequences of trying to solve big problems on your own can be worse than the issue itself. 

I really enjoyed this book as it showed the problems that younger children face and the coping mechanisms they use to get through the rough patches.  I think that younger readers will relate to Art and Hilary in different ways to an adult reader and feel heard as they relate to Art’s struggles and family life and see how one person’s action can have an impact on others around them. 

I would highly recommend this book as a class text, read aloud or independent novel.  The characters are all well developed, not all are likeable in some instances, but the author has made them work.  The story is gentle but doesn’t avoid some big topics and is written in such a way that children and adults will be able to take something away from it. 

It could be a useful conversation starter for readers to open up about problems or issues that they are facing. Teacher's notes are available.

Themes: Family, Friendship, Moving house, Bullying, Connections, Growing up.

Mhairi Alcorn