The Letterbox Tree
Age 8+
General Fiction
Two of Australia’s most acclaimed and high profile writers co-author a sensitive and ultimately hopeful story about our growing climate crisis.
With sea-levels rising, and the land deforested, over-mined and affected by bushfires and drought – Tasmania is increasingly marooned, its people abandoned. Nyx’s father wants them to leave while they still can but, for Nyx, West Hobart is all she’s ever known, and where her mother is buried. She seeks solace in the single surviving tree near her home - an 80-foot pine that has defied all odds. Bea, too, finds solace in the tree, and facing a move to the mainland herself, leaves a despairing note, wedged into a hole in its trunk. Nyx finds the note, and writes back. But Nyx and Bea don’t realise how special their tree truly is …
Reviews
In The Letterbox Tree, two acclaimed children’s writers have teamed up for the first time to write a platonic, cli-fi version of The Lakehouse, crafting a tense and pacy story of friendship and survival that spans 70 years… Ultimately, the strong takeaway message is that our actions in the present can affect the future in a profound way and every little bit counts. For Zana Fraillon fans aged 10–14 who are willing to be a little confronted.
Books + Publishing
Told through alternating voices of both Nyx and Bea, this is a story of friendship, climate change and having the courage to make a difference. It will be enjoyed by those in middle to upper primary.
Lamont Books
The Letterbox Tree is a beautifully written novel by Australian authors Rebecca Lim and Kate Gordon… The characters were well-written and the story was so heartfelt. As I am a young adult who is concerned about climate change, I felt so emotionally connected to this story and the themes it conveys. I would recommend this book to anyone who is seeking hope during times of environmental uncertainty.
Better Reading
I really enjoyed The Letterbox Tree! I really loved the futuristic aspects of it, and I am particularly fond of books with multiple character perspectives. The Letterbox Tree has funny, relatable, and well-developed characters that bring out the interesting plot lines… This book not only met, but exceeded my expectations… The friendship of Bea and Nix is a magical, amazing thing. Everyone deserves to have friends that care about them like Bea and Nix care about each other. The Letterbox Tree is a great story.
Better Reading
The Letterbox Tree contains one of the most important lessons I have ever read on friendship and how what you do in your life now affects those into the future. It is really well written and keeps you questioning and remembering its message long after you have turned the last page.
Better Reading
