Review Detail

THE MEMORY TREES by Kali Wallace is a beautiful new book about family, loss, and how the past infuses the present. With deeply elaborative and inventive prose, this young adult novel fuses together multiple genres. Considered to be magical realism, the story has elements of historical fictions, contemporary dramas, mysteries, and fantasies, making it a truly unique work of art. While it is not a particularly easy read, those searching for an emotional story that features strong female characters or a rural setting will not be disappointed.

It is evident that Wallace is quite a talented writer in every page of this book. The way she describes the Lovegood apple orchard in Vermont is so clear and distinct that it actually becomes a character in its own right. Despite horrifying events and traumas that have taken place on the land, the Lovegoods are still nostalgic of their family’s lives there in the orchard, so much so that the nostalgia is catching. Reading this book made me miss being out in nature or the place where I spent my childhood.

The spine of the plot rests on the centuries-old feud between the Lovegoods and the Abrams', who have inflicted so much pointless pain on each other, all fueled by greed and suspicion. For this reason, the story has some echoes of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Though there aren’t exactly star-crossed lovers in THE MEMORY TREES, there is tragedy that ensues from the distrust between the Lovegoods and Abrams’, just like the Capulets and Montagues.

Despite the similarities with the play, Wallace has created colorful, engaging, and original characters. Sorrow, the narrator and main character, is compelling and as a reader, I was rooting for her every step of the way. The twist in the end is truly surprising and I like how it nuanced everyone even more. With that being said, there are a few moments that Sorrow’s dialogue feels a bit off, based on how she has otherwise been portrayed. Most notably, there is a scene when Sorrow talks on the phone with her step-sister and the one in which Sorrow confronts her mother for the first time. Sorrow is very harsh in these moments and it feels out of character, which in turn, takes me out of the story.

Moreover, THE MEMORY TREES could be triggering for those dealing with mental illness or those who have lost someone to the disease. This novel, dark and disturbing, is not for someone needing a happy, uplifting read. With that being said, those that don’t mind the eerie and haunting, will consume this book like an exquisitely rich, gourmet meal, one that both satisfies you and makes you sick.