The Great Treehouse War

The Great Treehouse War
by Lisa Graff
Philomel Books, 2017, Fiction. 272 p.
Winnie's parents get a divorce and then compete for Winnie's attention and approval. Each parent tries to outdo the other by celebrating obscure holidays. Winnie is so busy celebrating national "eraser" day or "hug your cat" day that she can't do her homework and is at risk of failing fifth grade. Her parents allow her to spend one night a week in a treehouse that stands between their two properties. Winnie finally decides to hide out in the treehouse until her parents agree to come together and listen to her demands for a more sensible lifestyle. Soon she is joined by her friends who have their own issues with parents.

This is a funny story about a spunky and clever girl with difficult family problems. The story is silly--the writing style is similar to Sachar's Wayside School series--but it has a serious side as well. Although most kids can't run away and live in a treehouse until their parents see reason, they can learn from Winnie's example of watching and thinking carefully about the people around her to find solutions to her problems.(272 p.)

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