To be honest, the title of the book is a bit misleading as I initially read this book hoping that it would be about magic or something mystical. There is actually no such thing and it deals with the harsh life of common people in rural China. However, I still read this book because it interested me. However, I feel like the topic is too sad and raw to appeal to middle grade readers and wished that the author has write a more uplifting story at least. Overall, I would have enjoyed this book if it was more complex targeting an older audience.

A fantastical new middle grade novel set in rural Asia. When Kai's mother leaves him with his grandmother and goes to work in the city, he discovers a magic tree that will make him question how far he will go to get the thing he desires most.

While I enjoyed the overall concept, and learning new things about Asian families and culture, at times I had trouble following the story. However, the fact that the author has pledged to give 25% of her royalties to a charity to help left-behind children is, in my opinion, enough motivation to buy a copy and give it chance.

I was fortunate to receive a free ARC of this book from Netgalley. The above thoughts, insights, or recommendations are my own meek musings.

This book had a lot of promise, but I stopped partway through because I know that my students would not even get that far.

This is not really the story of a magical tree, as the description of the book says. There is no magic that happens in this book. There is sadness, though.

As the consequence of a poor harvest, Kai's mother must leave him to work in the city, as his father has all ready done. Kai doesn't want them to leave, but like many rural children in China, he has no choice. Work is more lucrative in the city.

He is left with his pig and the jade pendent that has been passed down in the family. The curse of the necklace is that if someone steals it, they will die, and the necklace will return to its owner.

Oh, and there is also a tree that has fruit that not even the birds eat, and yet a priest has said that it will cure consumption, or just about any decease if you treat the pods, if you boil them, and then bury them.

Kai is young, so he is constantly missing his mother. His mother misses him, so what can she do?

It is a sad story. But it gets a little confusing at time, and I only managed to finish it because I got curious as to how it would end.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.