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Morgan's Reviews > The Giving Tree
The Giving Tree
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Horrific relationship between a selfish unappreciative child and an enabling self-sacrificing mother who has no purpose in life other than to give herself away. I keep expecting a missing page to show up where he pisses all over the tree stump at the end.
I think this is offensive and despicable.
It is a horrible lesson for children. I'd rather see more literature that honors and respects the sacrifices that parents make, rather than this book's actual focus: demonstrating the expectations that this black hole of a child has.
I feel that sacrifice, without a concept of self, gives less weight to the sacrifice.
This could be rewritten with a hungry boy eagerly gnawing on the scraps that his mother is cutting off from her body.
I think this is offensive and despicable.
It is a horrible lesson for children. I'd rather see more literature that honors and respects the sacrifices that parents make, rather than this book's actual focus: demonstrating the expectations that this black hole of a child has.
I feel that sacrifice, without a concept of self, gives less weight to the sacrifice.
This could be rewritten with a hungry boy eagerly gnawing on the scraps that his mother is cutting off from her body.
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Finished Reading
April 6, 2009
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When I was little and used to read this book I too thought this kid was such a selfish brat! I hated page after page watching him take advantage of the tree!I even use to get mad at the tree for letting the boy treat him like dirt. Yet it made me realize that I DO NOT want to grow up and become self-absorbed,like the character in this story. I think the book is very inspirational and teaches kids to not take for granted people who love them and will do anything for them (i.e their parents;)
I don't agree with your assessment, but just wanted to say your "missing page" scenario made me laugh. ;-))
Your last paragraph sums it up for me.
I'm sorry you completely missed the point of this charming book. Perhaps next time you should try actually reading it instead of reading into it.
Well who did you empathize with when reading the book the tree to the boy? Who do you think children empathize with the tree or the boy? If children empathize with the tree, which 999 out of 1000 undoubtedly do, the book teaches the exact lesson of appreciating parental sacrifices that you desire. That is how you completely missed the point.
Can you point me to any point where the boy appreciates the sacrifice?
Morgan, can you point me to where I said the boy in the book appreciates the sacrifice?
So it is a horror story intended to scare kids straight?
If by way of hyperbole you mean to say it is a story of anti example intended to show children the depth of a parent's love in spite of a child's selfishness, then yes.
I have a low tolerance for stories with asshole leads.
The Tree is the lead not the boy. And the lesson as others have said is to teach children the depth of the sacrifices their own parents have made (Parents try to make their child happy as the tree tries to make the boy happy) the anti example part is that unlike hopefully real children the boy never realizes or respects the gifts and sacrifices the tree gave and the lesson is to not be like the boy but to respect the tree instead. When I read this book as a kid I felt sorry for the tree, that the boy didn't love her as she loved him and but that I would have loved her had I been in the boy's place.
Wow, I never thought of this angle. You have a point though. Will have to ponder this a bit more..
I used to love this book so much. Although you have made a strong point, I definently do not want to be a self absorbed person so i completely agree with your review.
absolutely agree with you. I never gonna read this book to my son. Such an unhealthy relationship, it wasn't a good example. I wondering why so many people love this book & the story
I love this book and I loved reading it to my children. It's the only children's book I know that deals with moral ambiguity. Every other book, actions (and usually characters) are black and white, good or bad, but in this book it introduces the concept of actions that are not completely good or bad, but it all depends on your point of view and what you bring to it. Morgan misses the point of the book so completely that I'm guessing his review must be a joke?
You can’t say a story is despicable only based on one interpretation of the book
We are similar!
xo