A Review of The Beastie of Brambly Bald
Visits to the library often find my tween daughter strolling the stacks, eager to discover
her next read. She’s unearthed many favorite stories this way. But she’s also uncovered some
finds that I’m uncertain of. I’ve spent lots of time searching the Internet and online groups to
help my daughter in her quest for the next great read, one that aligns with our family’s values
and helps steward her young heart.
Finding a series like Amanda Cleary Eastep’s Tree Street Kids always makes my heart
skip a beat or two. Published by Moody Publishers, this series offers tween-friendly adventures
about faith and friendship. The most recent release, book five, titled The Beastie of Brambly Bald,
follows Jack as he explores the North Carolina mountains with familiar friends and estranged
family members. In this book, “Jack braves danger, finds new branches on his family tree, and
discovers what it means to be rooted in God’s great family.”
Told from the perspective of Jack Finch, there are many reasons Eastep’s books will
appeal to the middle-grade reader in your life. For one, they include sketches and notes that
help construct the world these readers are entering. Fun! Second, they take complicated themes
in kid-friendly bites. For many of us, family is not an uncomplicated topic. Family histories can
be hard to talk about and understand. But Eastep challenges young readers to think about
family from a biblical perspective while also honoring what they might be feeling. It may seem
like a young reader remains unbothered by family tension, but they probably catch on to more
than we guess. Eastep acknowledges the good and the hard of family in a way that honors
younger readers—and also allows parents to step in and finish up the conversation she starts.
There are also reasons these books will appeal to you, as a parent of a middle-grade
reader. There are no references to bathroom humor or bad language. There are great examples
of friendship, apologies, and forgiveness. The kids share facts about subjects they’re
passionate about, like literature and science. And family members and friends often reference
Scripture and prayer as a matter of everyday life and strength, just as many of our families do,
too.
Since these books take place in a world similar to ours, the characters face problems our
kids might face, like understanding our lives and the lives of those around us. Eastep presents
families with two parents and families with only one. One little girl lives with her dad but hasn’t
seen her mom in several years, until she receives an invitation to visit her mom for a special
dinner. Another little girl receives foster care from an elderly couple in her community. Jack, the
protagonist, witnesses his mom’s strained relationship with her parents and hopes to repair it. A
young boy hopes to find out his family history, but the records aren’t all there—his ancestors
were enslaved, and their lives weren’t well-recorded. Through all of these young lives affected
by family, Eastep invites readers to understand and have compassion. And for those who might
have similar family stories, Eastep provides representation.
We need middle-grade books that point us to the truth of Scripture just as much as we
need books that stoke a sense of adventure and courage. Eastep’s books do both. For this
reason alone, I’m glad to share the Tree Street Kids books with my daughter—even if it means I
have to dig through the pile of books on her bed to write this review.
She loves to connect on Instagram!
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I appreciate your review, Ashley, thank you! Knowing what parents find important in the books their children read help make me a better author.