Tree is 12 years old and the tallest kid ever in his school: 6-foot-3 and still growing. He's a pretty intelligent and sensible guy and he copes by helping people, like his wonderful grandpa, a Vietnam vet who's just had a leg amputated. But still, being tall leads to problems. Coaches always expect him to be good at sports, even though he tries to explain, "I'm not real athletic." When he meets the father of Sophie, the independent-minded new girl at school, he has to show his birth certificate to prove he's not much older. "I'm tall for my age," says Tree. "You're tall for my age," says Sophie's suspicious father. And dance lessons--! Well, they're a nightmare, especially the tango, where he and Sophie have to replace hand-in-hand with hand-in-elbow, and cheek-to-cheek with cheek-to-chest.

But the thing that really makes Tree's life complicated is not his size but his parents' recent divorce. They have joint custody, so Tree has to divide his life, and he's always needing something he left at the other house. Then disaster strikes, and Tree proves that he has courage to match his size.

Joan Bauer's great heart and dry wit is always a delight, especially in Hope Was Here and Rules of the Road. In Stand Tall she gives us wonderfully interesting characters, funny scenes, zingy lines, and a story that has something warm and beautiful to say to kids. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty Campbell

From Publishers Weekly
In her heartfelt and humorous novel, Bauer (Hope Was Here) leaves teenage girl protagonists in favor of a middle-grade boy as she did also in Sticks (1996). But her fans won't be disappointed. At first, 12-year-old Tree, "six feet, three and a half inches and growing," only literally "stands tall." At school, Coach Glummer expects him to lead the basketball team (though he's not very athletic) and teachers expect him to act older than his age. On the home front which shifts weekly due to his parents' recent divorce and joint custody arrangement Tree is the glue of his family. He helps care for his Vietnam vet grandfather (who recently had a leg amputated) while worrying about his aging dog, Bradley, his two college-student brothers and his parents. Bolstered by his budding friendship with the outspoken new girl at school, Sophie, and by Grandpa, Tree finds an inner strength that helps him deal with just about anything including a natural disaster. Bauer once again creates a clan of believable characters scrambling to make the best of their particular brand of dysfunction. Her swiftly paced story artfully blends poignant and outright funny moments, resulting in a triumphant tale that will resonate with many young readers. Ages 10-up.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9-Tree is the tallest 12-year-old anyone in his town has ever known. However, his height and nickname are just two of his worries. His parents have recently divorced and his grandfather has just had part of his leg amputated from an old Vietnam War injury. Tree splits his time between his Mom's new house and his old home with his father and grandfather, and tries to come to grips with his new, divided life. Unlike his two older brothers, he has no natural athletic ability, even though everyone expects that a boy his size could get the ball in the hoop. Bauer utilizes Tree's relationships to help him find his voice and to teach him that being a "tree" may have benefits. The constant encouraging words from his grandfather help him see that while life is not always fair, it is best to give it your all. In the end, a disastrous flood that almost destroys his father's house as well as many others rallies the town, and the story ends with a realistic scene of courage and bravery. The depictions of Tree and his colorful family are candid and endearing, and much of the writing is leavened with the author's special brand of humor, albeit bittersweet in this case. The story moves fluidly as the author reminds readers of the small towns that stand tall and of the veterans that fought in a war that not even they understood.Delia Fritz, Mercersburg Academy, PACopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
Ron McLarty is always a pleasure to listen to, and he doesn't disappoint in this story about six-foot three-inch seventh-grader, Tree. Tree and his family are learning to deal with his parents' recent divorce while his grandfather, a Vietnam veteran, learns to cope with an amputation and new prosthetic leg. The story itself is told primarily from Tree's viewpoint, although the narrative occasionally shifts awkwardly to another character. McLarty carries the listener through with his gravelly voice and moments of brilliance. When Tree's grandfather's friend describes Christmas in Vietnam, he sings just a few words of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and makes the scene come alive. His rapid and edgy voice for Tree's friend Sophie is perfect. A compelling listen. A.F. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Book Description
Tree is twelve years old and too tall&150six feet, three and a half inches and growing. He's never really been able to fit in at school or on the basketball team, and since his parents' divorce he isn't even comfortable in his own home. Tree copes by helping people like his grandpa, a Vietnam vet who's just had part of a leg amputated, and Sophie, a new girl at school who is being teased by the popular kids. In helping his grandpa learn to walk again, and in listening to Sophie's advice that he be himself, Tree begins to heal, to stand tall. But when a flood threatens his town and his home, Tree's newfound confidence is put to the test.

Card catalog description
Tree, a six-foot-three-inch twelve-year-old, copes with his parents' recent divorce and his failure as an athlete by helping his grandfather, a Vietnam vet and recent amputee, and Sophie, a new girl at school.

About the Author
Joan Bauer is the critically acclaimed author of Newbery Honor and Christopher Award winner Hope Was Here.

FROM OUR EDITORS

A Los Angeles Times Book Review Best Children's Book of 2002

The Barnes & Noble Review
Acclaimed author Joan Bauer, author of the Newbery Honor book Hope Was Here, gives us a heartfelt look at courage and pride through the eyes of a 12-year-old boy, "the tallest seventh-grade boy in the history of Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School."

Tree, nicknamed for his towering six-foot, three-and-a-half-inch frame, is having a tough time finding reasons to "stand tall." Being one of the "nonathletic nobodies," unable to shoot a basket despite his height -- and with parents on less than friendly terms after their divorce -- Tree feels out of place, with his inner strength at a dim flicker. After his Vietnam vet grandpa has part of his leg amputated and he meets a sure-footed (and unpopular) girl at school, Tree begins to discover that his sizable his body holds a pretty big heart. Yet when a flood hits the town and his old dog, Bradley, has a stroke, Tree uses his remarkable gifts to learn that "everything's got a purpose, really -- you just have to look for it."

Using themes of purpose and inspiration that are familiar to her fans, Bauer brings readers a journey inward through the character of a boy whose awkward feelings shadow the true stuff inside. Tree, with a solid and compassionate demeanor, is instantly likable, and the strength he uses to block life's curve balls will resonate with young readers, especially boys. A powerful read with emotions and layers that come together like the branches of an oak, Stand Tall is another Joan Bauer winner that will keep readers thinking. Matt Warner

ANNOTATION

Tree, a six-foot-three-inch twelve-year-old, copes with his parents' recent divorce and his failure as an athlete by helping his grandfather, a Vietnam vet and recent amputee, and Sophie, a new girl at school.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Tree, a six-foot-three-inch twelve-year-old, copes with his parents' recent divorce and his failure as an athlete by helping his grandfather, a Vietnam vet and recent amputee, and Sophie, a new girl at school.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In her heartfelt and humorous novel, Bauer (Hope Was Here) leaves teenage girl protagonists in favor of a middle-grade boy as she did also in Sticks (1996). But her fans won't be disappointed. At first, 12-year-old Tree, "six feet, three and a half inches and growing," only literally "stands tall." At school, Coach Glummer expects him to lead the basketball team (though he's not very athletic) and teachers expect him to act older than his age. On the home front which shifts weekly due to his parents' recent divorce and joint custody arrangement Tree is the glue of his family. He helps care for his Vietnam vet grandfather (who recently had a leg amputated) while worrying about his aging dog, Bradley, his two college-student brothers and his parents. Bolstered by his budding friendship with the outspoken new girl at school, Sophie, and by Grandpa, Tree finds an inner strength that helps him deal with just about anything including a natural disaster. Bauer once again creates a clan of believable characters scrambling to make the best of their particular brand of dysfunction. Her swiftly paced story artfully blends poignant and outright funny moments, resulting in a triumphant tale that will resonate with many young readers. Ages 10-up. (Aug.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Alan Review - Katie Marshall

At six feet three inches tall, twelve year-old "Tree" is a middle school giant. Thus far, this has proven to be a source of trouble, criticism and teasing. Now, he is slowly realizing the strength he can obtain in his size throughout the events of the story. Along with his disabled Veteran grandfather, unpopular best friend, and newly divorced parents, Tree is learning how to struggle through "war" without losing hope. Though the situation seems unbearable, Tree and the others look to each other for support. When things seem like they just might work out, the entire town is struck with the devastation of an unexpected flood. This forces the community and Tree's family to unite in making it through the flood and rebuilding. Through these and other events, Tree is slowly learning how to stand tall amidst difficulties, using his height as a strength. In that journey, we learn how to maintain hope against all odds. 2002, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 192 pp.,

KLIATT - Paula Rohrlick; KLIATT

Sam is known as "Tree" because he is already over 6' 3", even though he is only in seventh grade. He isn't athletic, like his older brothers, and his classmates tease him. His parents have recently divorced, and Tree finds it stressful to keep shuttling between their two households. To top it all off, his old dog is fading fast. But Tree still has some high spots in his life. He adores his grandfather, a funny, tough Vietnam vet who has just had part of his leg amputated, and finds satisfaction in helping him and in his knack for fixing and inventing things. Tree also helps out an outspoken new eighth-grade girl, Sophie, and they become friends. She urges him to take pride in himself, but it isn't until a flood strikes their town that Tree really finds his purpose in life and takes pride in his size. Bauer, the Newbery Honor author of Hope Was Here and other fine books for YAs, has the knack of making her affection for her characters contagious. She writes funny, convincing dialogue, too, and if the life lessons here are spelled out clearly, that's all to the good. "Loss helps you reach for gain," Tree learns, and his story is genuinely heartwarming. Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: J*￯﾿ﾽExceptional book, recommended for junior high school students. 2002, Penguin Putnam, 192p.,

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Twleve-year-old Tree stands out in a crowd. Literally. Nicknamed by an antagonistic school bully, Tree is six feet three inches tall and feels lost and out of place. Due to his height, people expect him to act older and play a great game of basketball. Life for Tree is further complicated by his desire to help his Grandpa (who is an amputee as the result of an old war wound), a flood that threatens to destroy most of his town, and his parents' recent divorce. Fortunately Tree's complex and confused world has a silver lining in the form of his Grandpa, a Vietnam vet who is full of words of wisdom, and Sophie, an unpopular, outspoken, yet kind-hearted friend who points out Tree's many attributes and urges him to stand tall and be proud of who is. Joan Bauer's novel (Putnam, 2002) is a sensitive and humorous story about a young boy struggling to find his place in the world. Bauer remains true to her incredible gift of bringing to life strong, believable characters and the world in which they live. Narrator Ron McLarty's voice works well as the even-keeled and wise Grandpa, as well as the edgy, gruff-voiced Trash King, Grandpa's friend. Although he lacks vocal variation for the other characters, it doesn't detract from the story. Joan Bauer fans, bibliotherapy collections, and librarians in need of compelling novels for male teens should purchase this audiobook.-Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

AudioFile