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    Toby and the Secrets of the Tree
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    Toby and the Secrets of the Tree
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    Toby and the Secrets of the Tree
    Audiobook9 hours

    Toby and the Secrets of the Tree

    Written by Walter Kiechel III and Timothée de Fombelle

    Narrated by Peter Berkrot

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Toby's world is under greater threat than ever before. A giant crater has been dug right into the center of the Tree, moss and lichen have invaded the branches, and one tyrant controls it all. Leo Blue, once Toby's best friend, is holding Toby's beloved Elisha prisoner, hunting the Grass People with merciless force, and inflicting a life of poverty and fear on the Tree People. But after several years among the Grass People, Toby has returned to fight back. And this time he's not alone: a resistance is forming.

    In the much-anticipated sequel to the award-winning Toby Alone, the compelling eco-adventure reaches its gripping conclusion.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateSep 30, 2010
    ISBN9781441888808
    Unavailable
    Toby and the Secrets of the Tree
    Author

    Walter Kiechel III

    Walter Kiechel III is the former Editorial Director of Harvard Business Publishing, former Managing Editor at Fortune magazine, and author of Office Hours: A Guide to the Managerial Life. He is base in New York City and Boston.

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    Reviews for Toby and the Secrets of the Tree

    4/5

    23 ratings22 reviews

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    • 3/5
      It took me a long time to get through this book. I loved the first book, and couldn't put it down, but I couldn't seem to ever really get interested in the second book. I'm a sucker for interesting settings, and the first book delivered in spades! Toby alone was more character driven, but the characters weren't as interesting to me...
    • 2/5
      I was slightly lost in the story because of the lack of knowledge I had that would have been gained in the first book. I gave it to my younger sister and she had a little trouble getting through a few of the aspects of it. Overall it was a really good story. I would recommend reading the books in order if you have the opportunity.
    • 3/5
      I read this with my eight year old daughter. She enjoyed the book but it was a little tough to follow in parts. I was hoping for something a little more child friendly I guess. All in all it was a decent book though.
    • 4/5
      Enjoyed this sequel to Toby Alone, but not as much as the first book; was a tad slower read and a little more difficult to follow the various threads of the story, but still came to a satisfactory conclusion.
    • 3/5
      I just couldn't get through this book . . . I don't think it is so much a reflection on the book as that I hadn't read the previous book in the series. I like the environmental premise but it seems like this is definitely not a stand-alone book.
    • 4/5
      This book is a sequel to Toby Alone, which traces the early exploits of the titular character. Toby Alone left off with Toby having fled the tree for the lands of the Grass People, an exile that he has accepted because he believes everyone who cared about him is dead or has betrayed him. On hearing that his parents still live, he decides to head back and rescue them.The situation he returns to is even worse than that he left behind. The governance of the tree is shared between a greedy environmental despoiler and a vengeance obsessed young man. The damage done by run-away excavation is starting to have serious impact. Dissenters and Grass People are forced to work as slaves in the excavation project. Changing things will require Toby to meld back into the world he abandoned and draw on the friends and allies he left behind.The conceit in the Toby books, of a race of tiny people who live on a tree, works surprisingly well. The world is simultaneously familiar and strange--people eat grub eggs, use weevils as excavation animals, make armor out of insect hides. There's nothing inherently supernatural or fantastic, but Fombelle makes the most out of creating a sense of wonder through this tinier perspective.The action is quite moving, and the characters, though drawn in the broad strokes one would expect from a fairy tale are often engaging, sympathetic and even a little surprising. Between the fascinating world and the winning characters, I found myself quickly becoming absorbed in both books.If I had to point to a flaw, it'd be that sometimes the ecological allegory feels a bit heavy handed. This is only a minor quibble, especially since I imagine some degree of moralizing is common to children's books. Anyway, it rarely took away from my enjoyment of the book.
    • 4/5
      I approached this book as a first-time reader. I hadn't read Toby Alone, and I had never heard of it until I saw it here on Library Thing.I had no expectations except that it sounded like an interesting, entertaining book.First, let me just say that this is not simply a Young-Adult (YA) novel. Adults who enjoy this type of story will enjoy Toby and the Secrets of the Tree just as much as anyone else. Fans of Brian Jacques may find this book interesting and captivating as well. While the story isn't about animals, it is a different environment, different world, and adventurous, leading the main characters through dangerous and exciting experiences.While I did enjoy the book, I found it slow until about the halfway mark. Also, having never read the previous book, I was a little confused as to who the characters were, and whether or not they were human, humanoid, etc. I found a few characters unnecessary, and rather confusing, such as the mean-spirited sentry at the beginning. That said, the story was intriguing and it pulled me in. I wanted to know what happened and was pleased with how the story went. I'd like to read this book in French sometime, to compare and see if there is any difference in tone or nuance. However, from what I could tell, the translation was excellent. There were no awkward moments where the language didn't seem to fit, as can be the case in some translations. This was an enjoyable book and a pleasant change of pace from my usual reading.
    • 3/5
      I haven't read the first book in this series, so there were places that I didn't understand. I do recommend reading the books in order. I thought this book was well written overall. I will have to get the first book now.
    • 4/5
      The sequel to 'Toby Alone' concludes the story of Toby Lolness and his friends, a race of tiny people living in a giant oak tree. Three years after the conclusion of the first book, Toby returns from his exile among the Grass People to save his parents and stop his former best friend Leo Blue's obsessive quest to control the Tree. Despite his name being in the title, there is surprisingly little of Toby in this book. Almost every character from the first book, no matter how minor, gets at least a small appearance. The Asseldor family, Toby's parents, Elisha, and other characters struggling against Leo and Big Joe Mitch make up at least half the story. Also, unlike the first book, the characters are a little more well-rounded: the good guys are not necessarily perfect, and the villains aren't all impossibly stupid. If you liked the first book, you will probably like this one at least as much.
    • 4/5
      This is the second of a pair of books about Toby Lolness, a millimeter and a half tall boy whose whole world is the tree on which he was born. The story follows Toby as the greedy and evil Joe Mitch threatens the tree on which they all live with his damaging environmental practices. Toby's family is also put in jeopardy when Toby's father makes the radical claim that the tree is alive and must be treated with gentle respect and refuses to give up the secrets of his scientific discoveries to further Joe Mitch's plans. The whole world of the tree turns against Toby's family and he is separated from his parents and forced to flee. While this book could probably be read independently, it will make the most sense in the context of book 1 (Toby Alone). Overall, Toby's world is cute, entertaining and well thought out. The little details about the lives of the characters such as that they make four from leaves and coats from bumblebee fur really make the book enjoyable. There is also a decent amount of clever humor. My biggest complaint is that the story is a bit didactic for my personal tastes and the reader almost feels beat over the head with the messages. Things also seem to wrap up almost too neatly. Everyone finds a girl or guy, recognizes and fixes their faults, and lives happily ever after in the end. That may not bother younger readers, but it was a bit much for me. Nonetheless, I think kids will really enjoy this story. It has adventure, a cleverly thought out fantasy world, and a bit of romance thrown in. It also has an ending that should satisfy those who were frustrated by book 1's cliffhanger. Toby and the Secrets of the Tree is a cute and satisfying read.
    • 5/5
      What a treat! I really enjoyed this book and read it from cover to cover in a few days. This is the second in a two book series about a character named Tobie Lolness, but it's not necessary to read the first book to understand this one. Tobie exists in a world too small for the human eye to notice easily. The human-like characters are bee sized and live in and on a great tree and the grasses surrounding it. Fombelle has the magic touch of creating a fantasy world that has enough of a human element to be believable and relatable. As a former middle school English teacher, I began to read this book, which I assumed was for the YA crowd from a teaching perspective, but I found myself enjoying this book aside from that viewpoint.The novel's themes are rich and varied; struggle and oppression, ecology, friendship, and what constitutes a family. Fombelle has a knack for introducing these themes in manner that gets the point across, but is not too brutal for younger readers to be able to read and understand. While it doesn't deal specifically with the Holocaust, a large part of the novel deals with one group of prisoners in a work camp struggling under the oppression of another group who use brutality and fear to persecute. in It would be a really nice compliment to an eighth grade unit on the Holocaust. Another aspect of this novel that I think is brilliant from a teaching perspective is that it would be appealing to boys and girls. It has the same delicate balance that JK Rowling uses in the Harry Potter series. A strong central male character, and a compelling female secondary character. Fombelle uses a well balanced combination of action and relationships that I think would appeal to both genders.For people of any age, the author's ingenious creation of a tiny human world is intriguing and entertaining. His use of details like bee exoskeleton armor and grass blade canoes are simultaneously fanciful and realistic.This book has all of the ingredients of a great read for adolescents and adults alike.
    • 5/5
      While I have not read Toby Alone, the prequel to this book, yet, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Toby and the Secrets of the Tree and it is a book that I would recommend to readers of all ages.The reason I really enjoyed reading the book is the way Mr. de Fombelle tells Toby's story. It is told in vivid detail that captures the imagination. The author captures the dangers that living in a tree has for people centimeters high and how these dangers differ from those for "taller" folks. As Toby searches for his friends and family, the trials and tribulations he (and they) faces along the way hold the reader until the end. While I do think that this could be read as a stand-alone book, it would be better to read them in order.
    • 4/5
      Toby Alone and this sequel, Toby and the Secret of the Tree were fun reads for me. The author presents a microcosmos, life in a single tree with shades of human reality-growth, over consumption, and a slew of destructive environmental impacts and greedy, shady characters. In book two, Toby continues the search for his family by returning to the tree from the Grassland. Old characters reappear in new places. Action abounds. The story winds up to a satisfying finale. Not to be overlooked, the illustrations are whimsical and telling. Grab a copy of this book to sink into during lazy summer days sitting under...a tree.
    • 5/5
      I have to review Toby Alone and Toby and the Secrets of the Tree together, because they form one continuous story.Honestly, I wasn't expecting very much from a children's/YA "eco-adventure," clearly meant as an allegory for the environmental destruction of our own world. I mean, how good could that really be?Oh, very good, it turns out. I was absolutely blown away by this pair of novels. Fombelle is a spectacular story-teller, and Sarah Ardizzone must be an amazing translator, because I can't imagine that anything could have been lost from the original French. Also, Francois Place's wonderful illustrations only serve to enrich the world of the Tree and its minuscule inhabitants.While there is environmental allegory present here, it is not overpowering. Sim Lolness, Toby's father, refuses to give over technology that would provide energy by draining the sap of the Tree, while the villain Joe Mitch, who wants to get his hands on such technology, uses weevils to dig craters (and even attempts a transportation tunnel through the Main Trunk, titled "The Eco-Tunnel of Progress"). Sim Lolness has heretical ideas about life beyond the Tree, and writes scientific works such as "Where do Walnuts Come From?" (Sim Lolness is a spectacular character. He is an all-around naturalist, whose works also include "The Psychosociology of Hymenoptera." Seeing something like that mentioned matter-of-factly in a YA novel pretty much made my life.)Practically every YA fantasy adventure novel deals with a kid separated from his parents, but here, though Toby is alone, his parents are fully involved characters who have a central role in the story. The use of flashbacks is masterful: it is never disjointed, and always feels like someone is just telling a story in speech, flowing into the next segment as one thing reminds the speaker of the next. Every matter that is central to the plot is revealed at just the right time: I never felt like I was being kept in the dark for too long, even when I knew there were things that were yet to be revealed.There were many, many times I laughed while reading. Frombelle's turns of phrases are spectacular (which is why I say that Ardizzone must have done a great job). None of the characters here are terribly complex, but they're all a lot of fun. Every minor character is wonderfully crafted. One of my favorites is a violation of the trope that all ugly characters are evil. Zef Clarac is described as "extraordinarily ugly" and "like an old cheese, but less firm," but he's such a charmer that Sim Lolness, one of his best friends, prevented him from meeting his wife for many years. When Zef turns on the charm, "suddenly the decomposed mushroom turns into Prince Charming.... He gave off all the warmth, generosity, and sparkle you'd ever hope to find in a person."Many minor characters who I'd thought were just a one-off thing made a reappearance in the second book. In fact, by the very end, every single minor character had made a major contribution to the plot. The way in which the strands of plot were woven together was masterful. Any seemingly insignificant detail that was mentioned ended up meaning something in the end. It was impressive.In short, this pair of novels was a complete delight to read. They were much, much more than an environmental allegory. They had wonderful characters, and had themes of love, friendship, family, war, redemption, and respect. They were an adventure story, but turned several tropes of such stories (absent parents, girl needing-to-be-rescued) completely on their heads. While there was a villain who was pure evil, there was a second villain with a far more interesting fate; there was the above-mentioned ugly-but-not-evil character; there was even a character with disabilities that was done really, really well--and you know how I feel about that.Timothee de Fombelle, please keep writing. I want my future children to grow up with your books.
    • 3/5
      The book follows around the life of Toby Lolness, who is very small and lives in a tree. And then there are Grass people who live on the ground. There are bad guys who capture the people are taking over, and Toby must/well save.This was great for me not reading the first book.Though at first I was a little lost but once i got into it i was not that lost. You may want to read the first book before you read this one though. It was very enjoyable to read.Thought the Characters where great fun.Though i felt the book could have been shorted a little, Just because i felt like some parts where a little bit boring, but for the most part it was a nice cute read.The author did a great job at describing the scenes and the way the characters interacted with things, and other people. The style of the writing was easy read, and I just loved every little detail.Like every other page or so, there would be illustration. These illustration where gorgeous to look at. It was always for to look at the drawings, to get a feel of what was happen.There is some little violence where a wingless butterfly will get slowly shot of arrows until the butterfly dies,there may also be other little violent scenes. This book is not about Violence. but i would just beware of this factor for the more sensitive young readers.The overall plot of the book is a great adventure, and it has some great beauty in it. form what they use as coats and prisons,etc.Its just full of greatness.
    • 4/5
      The sequel to "Toby Alone" continues the epic eco-adventure of Toby Lolness and his fight to save his miniature world. After living with the Grass People for several years, Toby realizes that he must return to the tree. He is alarmed by what he finds. Not only is the tree dying, but his beloved Elisha is being held captive in a Treetop Nest. Her fiancé is none other than Toby's enemy and former best friend, Leo Blue.Meanwhile, Joe Mitch, the "Friendly Neighbor" with an obsession for digging holes, continues his destructive ways. Mitch forces his captives, including Toby's parents, the Scholars, and the Grass People, to dig a crater that threatens the well-being of the tree.While time is running out for all, Sim Lolness continues to withhold the secret of Balina as Toby struggles to stop both Leo's relentless quest to conquer the Grass People and Joe Mitch's quest to destroy the tree. Toby bravely endures betrayal and hatred in his pursuit to find friendship and love. Along the way he makes new friends and meets some old ones in his journey to free his loved ones and save the oak tree he calls home before all is lost.In this miniature world where the people are just 1.5 mm tall, life is all too fragile and uncertain. de Fombelle has created a tiny civilization whose survival depends on the well-being of a single oak tree. The tree and the destruction that plagues it mirror the Earth's woes. Similarly, prejudice exists in this mini world where two races struggle to survive with the Tree People viewing themselves as superior to the Grass People. Thus, the Toby Lolness series offers a unique example of sociology and ecology.The Bottom Line: As a sequel, "Toby and the Secrets of the Tree" seamlessly continues the suspense of the first book. Since this book begins in the middle of Toby's adventure, be sure to check out "Toby Alone" first. Like the first novel, "Toby and the Secrets of the Tree", is told in a style that uses flashback to fill in the backstory. Both novels are fast-paced and action-packed. de Fombelle's beautiful descriptions of the tree awaken and appreciation for nature. Additionally, the pen and ink illustrations by Francois Place enhance the story.Due to the graphic violence depicted in parts of the story, Toby and the Secrets of the Tree is appropriate for kids and teens ages 12 and up. This imaginative adventure is highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      Great book! Toby and the Secrets of the Tree is the sequel to Toby Alone. This book has it all - suspense, mystery, adventure, romance, and even a subtle bit of environmentalism. Follow Toby and his friends as they discover lots of secrets in and around the tree. Will Toby ever find his parents and be reunited with them? Will Leo Blue ever find out the truth about his father? Will the tree survive Joe Mitch? Read Toby and the Secrets of the Tree to find out the answers to these and more. I loved reading this book and found it hard to put down. I think it's even better than the first book in the series.
    • 4/5
      A sequeal to Toby ALone which manages the feat of reintroducing characters from book one in interesting ways, without retelling the plot from the first book. An enjoyable read which picks up the story of Toby and his family who now have been banished to the damp lower branches away from the sun, because hiu father, has discovered that the tree is in fact alive. Eventually Toby has to go on the run to avoid the pressure put on the family for his father to share another of his discoveries. His parents are not so fortunate.
    • 5/5
      Toby Alone was good, and Toby and the Secrets of the Tree was even better! With just the right amount of action, drama, and suspense, this was a feel good story from start to finish. I would recommend the novel for ages 10 and up due to some graphic fighting scenes (appealing for boys, especially) and there was even enough romance to broaden the appeal to female readers as well. I commend Francois Place for excellent translation--idioms and phrasing were very natural and appropriate.
    • 4/5
      SO I got this one a few days ago - and started reading it and realized right away I was lost. I liked the style and the story line - but was confused. So I went and got the first book from my library - and I love it - I am almost done and going to start the second book - but the reader should know ahead of time that they need to have read the first book to read this book.
    • 4/5
      This book is the second of a two-part adventure story following the lives and tribulations of the Tree and Grass People. I would suggest reading the first book, Toby Alone, before reading this sequel. I did not do this, and was left with many questions throughout the story, and lacked the background for the beginning of Toby and the Secrets of the Tree. I wondered how these tiny people came about, how they ended up making a home out of a large tree, why Toby was exiled in the first place, and why there was conflict between the Tree and Grass People. I will definitely be picking up a copy from my library of Toby Alone soon, since this book did not offer a complete recap or back story.That being said, I did enjoy this book which is intended for a young adult audience. From the first page, readers are submerged into action and adventure revolving around miniature people living in the Tree. Leo Blue, a former best friend of Toby Lolness, rules the Tree from the Treetops and condemns his captured Grass People to manual labor. Because of Joe Mitch and these captured laborers, a giant crater has been dug into the heart of the tree in pursuits of development and building. The Tree People fear this will cause the Tree to die, along with its inhabitants. Toby comes back in this book to fight for freedom and his love, Elisha, whom Leo Blue has captured for himself as well. A strong environmental theme is present throughout the book, promoting the beauty in nature and how we must be conscious to preserve it. This book is fast-paced and follows many characters’ stories which are interwoven and come together at a satisfying conclusion. The illustrations throughout enhance the story as well, and help readers visualize what Toby and the Tree and Grass People are going through.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book which is targeted to the Young Adult (YA) audience. However, there are a couple of issues I discuss below which might influence an individual's decision whether to read it or not. First, it's the second in a two book series. Second, there are scenes of great violence where individuals and creatures are tortured and die (description not criticism).Some sequels can be read out of sequence, but this is not one. I wouldn't hesitate to say you should borrow/buy/steal the first title, Toby Alone and read it before reading the second book. I borrowed Toby Alone from my public library and read it just a few days before I received my Advance Reading Copy via LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. The first book thoroughly lays out the society of millimeter sized people living in a tree, and develops most of the individual characters. Toby Alone ends abruptly, with Toby and the Secrets of the Tree picking up immediately after. I can't imagine understanding most of the plot in the sequel without the earlier book's extensive exposition of place and characters.This book is translated from the French by Sarah Ardizzone who won the Marsh Award for Children's Literature in 2009 for the earlier book, Toby Alone, and this translation is as seamless as the first book.The series, follows the life and adventures of Toby Lolness, a 1.5 millimeter tall member of a race of people who live and maintain a complex civilization in a tree. There is a separate race, the "Grass People" who live on the ground. The books are unabashed parables about respecting one's environment. The bad guys are destroying the tree and oppressing the people. The good guys mostly suffer from the actions of the bad guys, and this is where the violence occurs. The initial scene in the book consists of seeing a wingless butterfly being slowly shot full of arrows until it dies. Though the book is not ABOUT violence, there are enough violent episodes to be cautious about recommending these books to sensitive young readers. The reading level is probably about age 12 keeping that caveat in mind.And the book is full of wonderful beauty. A hollowed out egg is a giant translucent prison. Fur coats are made from the bellies of bees. The Grass People sleep in the hollowed out grain waving at the tip of a wheat stalk. References to food were among my favorites: "She had filled her pockets with pieces of sweet fried walnut and there was a trail of butter all the way around her mouth." Hams made from grasshopper legs, roasted cicada on a spit, and snow with sugar (for breakfast) are a few of the dishes mentioned.The plot is about adventure, cruelty, kindness, and, above all, true love. All's well that ends well, but hard earned lessons make the happy ending a bit more poignant.