Emily's Tree
a novel
Praise for Emily's Tree:
"Filled with lovable characters, a daring rescue, the accurate reality of high school life and the goodness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Emily’s Tree by Lisa Washburn manifests the deeply moving and emotional story of Emily into the real world. Each person is intricately crafted with their own strengths, weaknesses and personalities, coming together to create a believable cast of characters that will melt your heart (especially Mikey—oh my goodness, he is the cutest!). I was surprised at the authenticity and relatable situations scattered throughout the book and how much it moved me; this led me to enjoy this book so much that I read the whole thing in one sitting and the ending was perfect—well, as perfect as it can be when the main character has so many trials that she has to power through. I highly recommend it, and I hope you love this book as much as I did! I honestly wish I could travel back in time to read it for the first time again because it was such a wholesome, sweet and satisfying whirlwind of amazingness."
-Elisabeth Y. (14)
This book surprised me completely—in a good way! Emily’s Tree is about a girl named Emily who lives in poverty, but through the help of missionaries and supportive friends, she sets herself up on a path to success with her artist’s skill. I love how Lisa Washburn wrote Emily’s internal and external conflicts because it made her so relatable, and I’m impressed at how well the plot flowed together; no subplot seemed too big, and I was able to read the book all the way through so fast! The dialogue was also definitely believable, which helped to envision the story as it went along. Beautifully, emotionally written, Emily’s Tree is a must read for fans of clean, religion-based prose and giant character arcs. Seriously, put it on your TBR list right now—I promise, you won’t regret it!"
-Allison Y. (14)
Woven with threads of humor, romance, and faith, this novel will both entertain and inspire young readers. Those who aren't members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will better understand the learning process that new converts often go through. And youth already part of this faith will get a glimpse into the joys of missionary service, discovering how small and simple things like seminary and choosing good friends can have a lasting impact for good.
Emily Hughs’ senior year is chock-full of firsts: first in her family to apply for college, first time holding a (rich) boy’s hand, first time getting desperate enough to jump into a dumpster, first time reading The Book of Mormon, and first time cleaning up her bedroom floor. In years.
But it’s not the first time she’s had The Dream. After dozens of nights spent under that beautiful, golden sky watching white-robed people sail away into the mist, Emily has to know what her dream is about.
One day Emily hits rock-bottom. She runs away from home and straight into a pair of sister missionaries. They take her to church where she meets the hottest boy she’s ever laid eyes on. Emily knows she isn’t Andrew’s type, but in a twist of fate the two find themselves meeting again, and this time something sparks.
A few visits to seminary class, a date, and a heart-stopping rescue later, Emily finds that she is falling in love with Andrew and his church. But just when life seems to be going her way, an incident involving both their older brothers comes to light, and it leaves Emily doubting Andrew's sincerity.
Readers of Emily's Tree will laugh as Emily navigates her first romantic relationship, cry as she faces unexpected personal loss, and cheer her on as she discovers her potential as a new follower of Jesus Christ.