The Suffering Tree

Gr 9 Up—Tori Burns and her family have inherited a house from a complete stranger on the eve of being evicted from their own home. Without question, they pack their things and move from Washington, DC, to Chaptica, MD. However, Chaptica is not the promised land the Burnses thought it would be. Tori starts having nightmares about a past she does not understand. The house in which they now live once belonged to the Slaughter family. For this reason, the Burnses are treated as interlopers. They also inherit 20 acres of land and a mysterious graveyard with a gigantic tree standing guard. A body crawls out of an ancient grave and introduces himself to Tori as Nathaniel Bishop, an indentured servant who lived on her land more than 300 years ago. Tori and Nathaniel uncover the truth about the Slaughter family, Tori's nightmares, Nathaniel's origin, and the land the Burnses have inherited. Cosimano tells this story by switching among Nathaniel's first-person flashbacks, Tori's nightmares, and details about what is currently happening to both of them. The pacing seems rough at first. Once the plot unfolds, however, the purpose of the flashbacks becomes apparent, as they reflect the tension between Tori and Nathaniel. The characters are well developed, and the plot is fresh. Overall, this book is enjoyable and will keep readers riveted.