The Lorikeet Tree

A moving story of family, love and loss, from one of Australia's greatest storytellers. Nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing 2024.

Fifteen year-old twins Alex and Emily are coping in very different ways with the news that their father has a terminal illness. Alex is constructing an ever-more elaborate treehouse in the tree loved by the lorikeets in their reforested clifftop garden; Emily puts her grief onto the page in a writing assignment for school. But when Alex breaks the unwritten nature-friendly family code by secretly adopting a kitten, their grief threatens to divide the teens for ever. 

Paul Jennings, described by Australian Book Review as 'Arguably Australia's greatest living children's author', tackles some strong themes with the deft touch of the master storyteller in this full-length teen novel.

This is a beautiful story told in a very unique way. I want to tell you its secrets, but I won’t, because discovering them is part of this literary journey and I don’t want to spoil it for you. But I will say this isn’t a typical start to end book. It won’t be exactly what you expect... I am forever changed after reading it, and you will be too. And isn’t that what we hope for when we open a book? – KidsBookReview blog

Read an extract here

Teacher's Notes may be downloaded here

 192pp; 208 x 128mm; 9781910646878; publication date 27th April 2023