Teodora’s Book Reviews: “The Worry Tree” by Marianne Musgrove

“If worries weigh you down, find somewhere to hang them up.”
This story is about a girl named Juliet Jennifer Jones. She lives with her mother, her father and her younger sister named Ophelia (but everyone calls her Oaf). Right next to their house, lives Nana in a granny flat. She goes to a craft class where she learns how to make/decorate things (with dried macaroni, for an example).
The main character is, of course, Juliet. (Her annoying sister, Oaf, would probably say now: “Hey, that’s not fair! Why is Juliet the main character and not me?”) Juliet is also my favorite character! She tells the story very nice and I like the way she signs her name: JJJ. (“Written at the bottom in thick black marker were Juliet’s initials: JJJ, just like three umbrella handles in a row.”)
It’s quite annoying when you have to share YOUR things with someone else... especially with your brother and your sister! Juliet has to share her room with Oaf! How unfair is that? But luckily, Mom and Dad think about Juliet having her very own room. Mom wants to give Juliet The Room That Must Be Locked When Visitors Come. This room is Dad’s study. There he works for his so-called scientific researches. (“Think about it.” said Mom. “If Juliet doesn’t get her own room soon, we’ll have a murder in our hands.” “But what about my scientific research?” said Dad. “Research?” said Mom. “Please explain to me how 300 margarine containers filled with rubber bands count as research.”) There is such a mess in Dad’s study! That’s why it has been called The Room That Must Be Locked When Visitors Come... Finally, Dad gave up the room for Juliet. Juliet was so excited with having her very own room... at last! Even Oaf was pleased...
Juliet finds out a secret when she goes into her new room: Dad’s study was Nana’s room when she was a kid! Under the wallpaper, there is a painting with... a Worry Tree. (“What’s a Worry Tree?” said Juliet. “How does it work?” “You hang your worries on the tree each night so they don’t keep you awake.” said Nana.”) On every branch there were some animals... and a mysterious hole in the trunk. (“Wolfgang the wombat is looking after these friend worries for you. When you’re worried about your family, Dimitri the dog looks after them for you. Gywneth the goat makes you feel better when you are sick. Delia the duck knows it’s hard to get used to change – changing houses, schools or even bedrooms. Piers the peacock is in change of minding worries about things you’ve lost. Petronella the pig worries about school. Sometimes you have worries that you can’t describe. The Worry Tree has a special place for these too: the hole in the trunk.”)

Juliet has a lot of problems and worries, indeed... Her parents are having some fights (because of Dad’s “junk” – the scientific researches), Oaf is irritating her (“Juliet Jennifer Jones opened the door, stepped out of the toilet and walked straight into her little sister. “Eight minutes and forty-seven seconds.” said Ophelia, clicking her stopwatch. “What were you doing in there?” “Mom!” shrieked Juliet. “Oaf’s timing me in the toilet again!”), Nana is getting old, Lindsay and Gemma (her best friends) are fighting over who gets to be her BEST friend and horrible Hugh Allen (the class bully) is... bullying her...
I felt very sad for Juliet, while I was reading the story. She had so many worries! But I got very HAPPY when she managed to solve every single problem! With the help of the Worry Tree animals, too, of course! :)
The part I liked best was when Juliet, after many problems, finally solved everything and just... relaxed! (“The Worry Tree animals looked at her as if they’d known all along and were glad she’d finally figured it out. Like warm water running into a cold bath, a sense of understanding spread throughout her body. Her arms relaxed, her legs relaxed, her mind relaxed, her heart felt free.”)
I didn’t like the parts when Hugh Allen was bullying Juliet... :( (“Hi, Jooly-Wooly.” Said the boy. “Ooh, what’s that?” He reached out and snatched Juliet’s lunch box from her hands. “Urgh,” he said. “Health food.” He unwrapped her sandwich and tossed it on the ground. Lettuce, tomato and beetroot scattered all over the place.”)
I would recommend this book to... everyone (who has worries, of course! :P)! Maybe the Worry Tree will help you... :)
I give the book more than just five stars, for its lovely story and the funny jokes (most of them told by Oaf! :P): “I’m not eating these peas.” said Oaf, poking them with a fork. “They’re foul. P-H-O-W-L. Foul.” “Ophelia,” said Mom. “Think of the starving children in Africa. I’m sure they’d love to be able to eat beetroot, pea and squid ring stir fry.” “I’ll get an envelope.” said Oaf. “Ophelia,” said Dad. “How do you spell “Starving Children”?” “Oaf!” “OK, OK.” said Oaf. “How about I burp the alphabet instead?”