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How to Grow a Family Tree (2020)

Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards – Shortlisted
The Age – Fiction Pick of the Week 

Stella may only be seventeen, but having read every self-help book she can find means she knows a thing or two about helping people. She sure wasn’t expecting to be the one in need of help, though.

Thanks to her father’s gambling addiction, Stella and her family now find themselves living at Fairyland Caravan Park. And hiding this truth from her friends is hard enough without dealing with another secret. Stella’s birth mother has sent her a letter.

As Stella deals with the chaos of her family, she must also confront the secrets and past of her ‘other’ family. But Stella is stronger than she realises.

What People Are Saying

“Eliza Henry Jones nails the mix of angst, emotion and family chaos in this YA read.” 

— The Herald Sun

How to Grow a Family Tree is a sincere and complex reminder that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.”   

— Books + Publishing

“This engaging novel for young adults doesn’t sugar-coat the difficult sides of life but it has substantial stretches of hope and beauty.”

— The Age

“This is a sensitive story about the things that break people and the strength and resources they draw upon to start over.”

— Readings

“Jones’s witty and nuanced narrative is authentic, messy, and bold.”

— Judges’ Report, Queensland Literary Awards

“Exploring important themes of family, addiction and forgiveness, this is a beautiful look at small town Australia and the teens that make their homes there.” 

— Courier Mail

“The characters are diverse, flawed and very real, as is the unvarnished regional setting. The dialogue is pitch-perfect, and the author’s keen observations bring Stella’s world into clear view. 
 This book is subdued in tone yet confronting in subject matter. In managing this balance, it forces the reader to challenge their own preconceptions and widen their perspective. A book that will stay with its young adult and adult readers for many years.” 

— Buzz Words Magazine

“A coming-of-age story that explores the complex tapestry of what it means to be human.”

— TeenBreathe