The Girl Who Became a Tree

Joseph Coelho uses the legend of Daphne, who became a laurel tree to spurn the advances of Apollo, in this poetry- novel for older readers. However, in The Girl Who Became a Tree, Daphne cuts off the world to cope with her grief that threatens to drown her. Deep within the library, she seeks solitude, and the sanctuary of books and her phone. The librarian understands, though Daphne still hears a clamour of the outside world. She seems to retire further as though she has entered the origins of the wood of the bookcase so as to become something primordial. Thereafter, only her memories of her father exist. She is solid in grief and aloneness, and entirely isolated.

Yet is this enough for Daphne? Are her father’s last words enough to exist upon? What about other memories, for example when she spurned the final opportunity to see him? Thereafter, what about her mother and friends? Can Daphne find a way back to the real world? Will they reach out and want her?

Joseph Coelho constructs unimaginably touching, sensitive and intricate poems, in a wide variety of forms and rhythms that bring Daphne’s feelings and situation to perfect life. There are moments throughout reading this story that I was left in tears. What tenderness, anger and guilt!

Somehow, magically, Kate Milner shows Daphne’s feelings, actions and retreat so that they are utterly in tune with the writer’s words. We are in the pages of master craftspeople.

Bookwagon recommends The Girl Who Became a Tree to all older readers. We suggest that this book is likely to appear on school lists, recommendations, syllabuses. We are astounded and moved by this creation.