Robin Benway

Three teenagers, biological siblings separated by adoption, explore the meaning of family in all its forms--how to find it, how to keep it, and how to love it.

"Perfect for fans of NBC's "This Is Us," Robin Benway's beautiful interweaving story of three very different teenagers connected by blood explores the meaning of family in all its forms--how to find it, how to keep it, and how to love it.  Being the middle child has its ups and downs.  But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including--  Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she's quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family's long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can't help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs.  And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he's learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can't hurt anyone but him.  Don't miss this moving novel that addresses such important topics as adoption, teen pregnancy, and foster care."

Far from the tree

Cheesy dialog, but ultimately I did cry a little at the end. 

Jacqui Spears

Erin G.

I am actually dehydrated from crying the entire way through this book. I thought it would be light because it's YA! Instead it was an emotional rollercoaster and I loved it.

WINNER OF THE U.S. NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 2017 FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE! 'Sometimes, family hurts each other. But after that's done you bandage each other up, and you move on. Together. So you can go and think that you're some lone wolf, but you're not. You've got us now, like it or not, and we've got you.' When 16 year-old Grace gives up her baby for adoption, she decides that the time has come to find out more about her own biological mother. Although her biological mum proves elusive, her search leads her to two half-siblings she never knew existed. Maya, 15, has been adopted by wealthy parents and seems to have the picture-perfect family - that is, if you look past her alcoholic mother and the fact that Maya stands out like a sore thumb. Older brother Joaquin hasn't been so lucky. At 18, he's shuffled between foster home after foster home, always careful never to get attached to anyone or anything, because it always gets taken away. When these three siblings come together, they find in themselves the place they can belong, while the secrets they guard threaten to explode... For fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell and Nicola Yoon, Far From the Tree is a raw, compelling, and ultimately uplifting story of what it means to be family. 'Benway's unforgettable novel explores the paradoxes and entanglements of unconventional families ... It's a melodrama, to be sure, but with as much brain as heart. Benway writes with remarkable control and has the rare talent of almost vanishing as an author as she inhabits each character's perspective.' The New York Times 'Family issues are neither airbrushed nor oversimplified... From the first page to the last, this compassionate, funny, moving, compulsively readable novel about what makes a family gets it right.' Kirkus Reviews 'Equally heartwarming and heart-wrenching... Benway delves into the souls of these characters as they wrestle to overcome feelings of inadequacy, abandonment, and betrayal, gradually coming to understand themselves and each other.' Publishers Weekly 'Far from the Tree is the kind of book that strikes close to a reader's heart. I had to know what happened to Grace, Maya, and Joaquin, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Beautiful.' Ally Condie, author of The Matched Trilogy 'Far From the Tree is a touching story about the strength and love of unconventional families, and the unbreakable bond of siblings near and far. Robin Benway's characters are authentically crafted, full of heart, hurt, and hope.' Brandy Colbert, author of Pointe and Little & Lion 'In the eloquent confidence of its life-embracing argument, the book really is something special' The Wall Street Journal Praise for Emmy & Oliver: 'Robin Benway writes with her full heart. Emmy & Oliver is a genuinely sweet and funny novel bursting with the inextinguishable forces of love-between parents and children, distant and inseparable friends, new and reunited lovers.' Stephanie Perkins, New York Times bestselling author of Isla and the Happily Ever After 'Emmy & Oliver is wonderful. Funny, heartbreaking, and true. Robin Benway has written characters I felt like I'd known forever, and was so sad to see go. A must-read.' Morgan Matson, author of Since You've Been Gone

Far from the Tree

5 of 5 stars

----- 


A beautiful and emotional story of three siblings who met for the first time in their lives. I never thought I would cry this much reading their story. Listening to their perspective, discovering what they've been through while they were apart and what they're about to face after finding each other, it definitely tugged at my heart. It is not so often to find a read with great premise and great characters like Joaquin, Grace and Maya. With their different personalities, different experiences in life and the different pain they're feeling, I thought that they're able to balance each other out just fine. I just loved the whole family aspect that this book has offered. Damn, this is just simply wonderful and moving. This has certainly become one of my favorite reads. And the audiobook, it is definitely one of the best I've ever listened to. The narrator incredibly conveyed the right emotion for each and every character. That was so outstanding! I wish I can find a book again that can give me the same feels as this.

Ryan 

4.75 stars

usually, you’ll find books where the story makes the characters come to life. but in this book, it’s the other way around. it’s the characters that make the story come to life. this book is more character-driven that really make this book profound. far from the tree is divided into 3 point-of-views: grace, maya, and joaquin. each of them deals with their own issues that were solved - not entirely - through each other. grace’s problems revolve around teen pregnancy and the aftermath of giving birth of her child, which she later had to give away for adoption. it deals how teen pregnancy affected her high school social life, which i think is heartbreakingly accurate. maya’s problems come from the family more that is taking affect towards her. her foster parents are always fighting which resulted in a divorce. although maya expected that her parent’s constant conflicts would lead to divorce, she couldn’t handle how much of a impact it would be now that maya now lives with one parent rather than two. joaquin’s issue is how throughout his whole life, he never got adopted. and from his background, we get to learn why he now avoids being adopted from his new fostee parents. joaquin feels that he will hurt his foster parents no matter the circumstances, which later on in the story, we get to learn a certain past that scarred him.

this book deals with numerous topics which i think was tackled very well. in this book, you find issues of alcoholism, bullying, teen angst, and so much more. i really like how therapy and counseling in this story was positively portrayed, especially how we get to see how teens nowadays see that was stupid and pointless, mainly because of how no one could understand their issues. we also find diverse characters in the story, such as a mc with a poc love interest, a gay character with a gay love interest, and a mexican main character, which i think doesn’t really cover a lot of representation, but that’s not really the main focus of the story.

far from the tree is raw and beautiful that contains flawed, but very authentic characters that make this story come to life. 10/10 would recommend this and that’s not an easy statement from me. i could tell that this is why this book won the national book award.

karol tang

another family oriented book that brought me close to tears

Lacy W

...words could shatter harder than glass breaking against a wall, hurt more than a fist plowing through teeth.
 

I want someone to clock me right in the face. Because that pain would hurt less then what I just experienced reading this book. My chest hurts. My eyes hurt. My everything hurts. I finished this book days ago and I already want to re-read it because I loved it that freaking much!

The synopsis just doesn't do do this book justice. This is so much more than three siblings finding each after 15 years. This about the family you have and the family you make. And how family can help get you through times of hardship and be there for you in your victories. 

Grace, Maya and Joaquin all have a special place in my heart. They are siblings I have added to the ones I already have. I would fight for them like I do with my babies. Each of them are incredibly special and they have such amazing characteristics. They were incredibly flawed but also likeable. They acted like teenagers but were still smart and philosophical. They made horrible decisions and screwed up a lot of things but I still rooted for them! I could go on and on about these wonderful MCs but we would be here all day. 

God, I sound nuts. But this just affected me. I laughed (thanks to Maya with her self deprecating humor and Rafe, who could turn anything into a joke) and cried (Joaquin, you poor soft boy. I rooted for you the hardest) and smiled so much (with Joaquin realizing just what it means to have sisters), my cheeks hurt. 

You all need to stop sleeping on this book. I don't know what more I can say about this book without spoiling it, which would take away the enjoyment of discovering these amazing characters for yourself. Just do me a favor and please read this book. 


I'm going to find a happy fuzzy book now.

dorah luxieux

this book was a good book. i would read a book like this again. i like how they were just strangers who were connected somehow and they finally met and connected like they've always known each other before.

I liked it but thought some parts were extended that could have been more succinct in order to tell more story.

Tracie McMurray

WINNER OF THE U.S. NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 2017 FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE! 'Sometimes, family hurts each other. But after that’s done you bandage each other up, and you move on. Together. So you can go and think that you’re some lone wolf, but you’re not. You’ve got us now, like it or not, and we’ve got you.' When 16 year-old Grace gives up her baby for adoption, she decides that the time has come to find out more about her own biological mother. Although her biological mum proves elusive, her search leads her to two half-siblings she never knew existed. Maya, 15, has been adopted by wealthy parents and seems to have the picture-perfect family – that is, if you look past her alcoholic mother and the fact that Maya stands out like a sore thumb. Older brother Joaquin hasn’t been so lucky. At 18, he’s shuffled between foster home after foster home, always careful never to get attached to anyone or anything, because it always gets taken away. When these three siblings come together, they find in themselves the place they can belong, while the secrets they guard threaten to explode... For fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell and Nicola Yoon, Far From the Tree is a raw, compelling, and ultimately uplifting story of what it means to be family. 'Benway’s unforgettable novel explores the paradoxes and entanglements of unconventional families … It’s a melodrama, to be sure, but with as much brain as heart. Benway writes with remarkable control and has the rare talent of almost vanishing as an author as she inhabits each character’s perspective.' The New York Times 'Family issues are neither airbrushed nor oversimplified... From the first page to the last, this compassionate, funny, moving, compulsively readable novel about what makes a family gets it right.' Kirkus Reviews 'Equally heartwarming and heart-wrenching... Benway delves into the souls of these characters as they wrestle to overcome feelings of inadequacy, abandonment, and betrayal, gradually coming to understand themselves and each other.' Publishers Weekly 'Far from the Tree is the kind of book that strikes close to a reader’s heart. I had to know what happened to Grace, Maya, and Joaquin, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Beautiful.' Ally Condie, author of The Matched Trilogy 'Far From the Tree is a touching story about the strength and love of unconventional families, and the unbreakable bond of siblings near and far. Robin Benway’s characters are authentically crafted, full of heart, hurt, and hope.' Brandy Colbert, author of Pointe and Little & Lion ‘In the eloquent confidence of its life-embracing argument, the book really is something special’ The Wall Street Journal Praise for Emmy & Oliver: 'Robin Benway writes with her full heart. Emmy & Oliver is a genuinely sweet and funny novel bursting with the inextinguishable forces of love-between parents and children, distant and inseparable friends, new and reunited lovers.' Stephanie Perkins, New York Times bestselling author of Isla and the Happily Ever After 'Emmy & Oliver is wonderful. Funny, heartbreaking, and true. Robin Benway has written characters I felt like I'd known forever, and was so sad to see go. A must-read.' Morgan Matson, author of Since You've Been Gone

Far From The Tree

Anna

Liked first half more than second (slightly dragged couple of last chapters), but I really liked Draco in this fic. Tbh I was sure that (view spoiler)[he was another father of the twins, but expected involvement of some surrogate mother. (hide spoiler)]

5.5 stars out of 5⭐️ (because that’s just how great it was)

i loved it with all of my heart and it means so much to me and oh my god it was just pure feels and emotions and god I love it so much.

also, i need a Rafe in my life, someone help-

liyA

5.5 stars out of 5⭐️ (because that’s just how great it was)

this book was… wow. 

i loved it with all of my heart and it means so much to me and oh my god it was just pure feels and emotions and god I love it so much.

🥹💗💗

also, i need a Rafe in my life, someone help-

Kailey Rios

this is one of the best books i’ve read in a while. it broke my heart and then managed to put it back together.

the writing was so good and i actually cared about every single character and felt a connection with them. the way we got to see these three people go from strangers to family was just so wonderful to experience.

parts definitely made me emotional, though i somehow managed to keep the tears at bay.

i have a feeling this’ll be a book i think about for a long time to come.


  5 stars

rida

Ella Patterson

It was sweet but a little bit too YA fake deep.

Leah Romero

Love the plot & character development. But the 3rd person narration was kind of confusing to read with triple pov (In my opinion). 

Grace O'Callaghan

*4.5 ⭐️

Wow. I am completely blown away by this book. Such a beautiful story about love, loss and adoption. 

Grace has just given away her baby to a new family and is curious about her biological family.
Maya has never felt like she fits in with her adopted family.
And Joaquin has bounced around foster homes and has finally found a great one, but he’s so afraid of hurting them.
These siblings find each other when they need it the most and try to learn what family really means.

Absolutely adored Benway’s writing. It’s not over the top and pointless. Each word has a meaning. She also has some powerful writing which really helped in delivering the message of the story. There’s something about it that has you really connecting with the characters and I cannot wait to pick up more from her.

This was such a fascinating plot. I’ve never read about adoption before so it was really great to read about. Benway clearly did her research. I particularly loved Grace’s storyline. It was interesting to see how much giving away her baby impacted her and that despite giving her away, she loved her. This book honestly covered so many important topics: adoption, fostering, alcoholism, abuse, racism, teen pregnancy and so many other meaningful subjects. Definitely not a light read.

The characters were certainly the best part of this novel. They were all just so fleshed out and genuinely good at the core.

I really connected to Grace (and no not because we share a name, and no I have not been pregnant) so much. It was great to see her struggle with trying to do the best thing for her daughter whilst also doing hat was right for herself. She’s just such a selfless person and didn’t want to burden others.

Maya was probably my least favourite character, but she was still so well developed. I loved her inner struggle with not fitting in to a family that she knows loves her but still questioning it at times. There is also a relationship between Maya and a girl called Claire if you’re looking for some queerness.

Joaquin was also the best. He was such a precious bean. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone so he pushes everyone away but that hurts them even more. I just want to give him a hug and tell him that he’s loved because he’s too selfless, verging on self sacrificing.

Such a powerful read about three adopted siblings. I actually teared up a few times. Would highly recommend.

Eilidh 

I didn't really have high hopes for this book, it was just one I'd picked up from the library and thought, oh this might be interesting and normally those books don't turn out great. I was wrong though this book was really good. 

One of my favourite things about this book was the writing and the way Robing Benway wrote the relationships between the siblings because it felt so real and raw.

Definitely a book I will be recommending.

Kayla

This was a beautiful and emotional story! I really liked all of the characters and even teared up at parts. Anyone looking for stories about family, adoption and foster care really needs to pick this one up!

Katie

I can't remember the last time I read a book that had so many moments that had me crying.

This book is quiet. There isn't action, there isn't drama like it's a soap opera, though the premise sounds reminiscent of one. It's just three siblings, all with different family situations, navigating their own small family once they find each other.

It's not technically "found family" since they are, after all, related to each other, but it still sort of feels like it. After all, they have gone their whole lives without knowing each other. They didn't need to form a bond. But they did. They chose to support each other through their different trials and tribulations, and I think that makes their relationship as siblings even stronger than if they had been raised together.

I put off reading this book for way too long, and I am regretting that with every fiber of my being. If you're interested in this book at all, I would highly recommend reading it sooner rather than later.

Alexis 

Amazing, Heartbreaking, Emotional and inspirational. This was such an amazing book. I will never forget this book. It's probably going on my favorites list of all time, it made me feel so much and so little time. The author did such a fantastic job writing this book. I felt so connected to these characters, and there is nothing I could've asked more from a book. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

Dina

This book is so wholesome.
The more I read this sort of books, the more convinced I get that anything that deals with family hits me way harder than any romance story out there.
The only thing that kind of struck me weird was how these 3 kids just immediately connected. Like right off the bat, they're super comfortable with each other, and it somehow didn't seem very realistic to me. Everything else was heartbreakingly beautiful.

Jeni Enjaian

I loved the tripartite narration of this book with the unique yet connected points of view of the three main characters, all given up for adoption by the same mother for different reasons each time. 
Grace's perspective on her pregnancy, which starts the book, hooked me from the beginning although the shift to Maya felt a bit abrupt. 
Benway did not write a perfect book but I enjoyed it nonetheless, even with all the happy endings sprinkled throughout, happy endings that aren't always available in real life.

I recommend this book.