The Singing Tree

The Singing Tree was written and illustrated by Kate Seredy and was first published in the year 1939. The copyright was renewed once in 1967 and again in 1990 by Puffin Books. The book begins in the year 1914, a year many people will remember, and a year that the main characters, Jancsi and his cousin Kate will never forget.


"Life on the Hungarian plains is changing quickly for Jancsi and his cousin Kate. Father has given Jancsi permission to be in charge of his own herd, and Kate has begun to think about going to dances. Jancsi hardly even recognizes Kate when she appears at Peter and Mari's wedding wearing nearly as many petticoats as the older girls wear. And Jancsi himself, astride on his prized horse, doesn't seem to Kate to be quite so boyish anymore. Then, when Hungary must send troops to fight in the Great War and Jancsi's father is called to battle, the two cousins must grow up all the sooner in order to take care of the farm and all the relatives, Russian soldiers, and German war orphans who take refuge there."


Taken from the back of The Singing Tree, by Kate Seredy.


This book was a highly entertaining, coming of age story. Follow Kate and Jancsi as they experience the pains of growing up, run the farm, take charge of the Russian soldiers, experience grief and sorrow along with their village, watch lives be torn apart in the War. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book with my mother. It was a great story, and I will cherish it forever. Anyone could read this book, but with mild violence and a bad word, I would recommend that if your child is younger than nine or ten you should read this book aloud to them. All in all, it was a great book, better than its' prequel, The Good Master.