Toby and the Secrets of the Tree

Toby and the Secrets of the Tree, published in French as Les Yeux d'Elisha, or The Eyes of Elisha, is a children's novel by Timothée de Fombelle. It is a sequel to the award winning Toby Alone and continues the story of Toby and his efforts to save his parents, his friends and his home from devastation.

Plot

Toby's adventures continue as he heads back to the tree to save his parents, Elisha (who is held captive by Leo Blue) and all the Grass People who are being held captive by the evil Joe Mitch, who is digging a hole to the center of the tree, determined to get the secret knowledge of how the tree lives from Toby's father. Meanwhile Toby meets up with another one of his old friends, Nils Amen, who is the leader of a band of woodcutters and is also helping to hide some fugitives in a secret forest in the tree. Nils pretends to side with Leo Blue, in order to give Elisha the message that Toby has returned.

Characters

Toby - Son of Sim and Maya Lolness, Toby is a fugitive on the Tree with both Leo Blue and Joe Mitch after him. He attempts to rescue his love, Elisha Lee, from the Nest at the top of the tree, where she is going to be married to Leo Blue. He has just returned from a journey from the Prairie visiting the Grass people. He carries their mark: Designs drawn on the soles of his feet with caterpillar ink.

Leo Blue - Leo Blue is the son of the famed butterfly explorer, El Blue. His mother died when he was quite young and he was once best friends with Toby. However, his belief that the Grass People killed his father feeds his hatred toward the Lolness family and he eventually lands them all in jail. It is later found out that he is half sisters with his to-be bride Elisha Lee. He takes on the persona of the Shadow to gain closeness to Elisha.

Elisha Lee - Born of Isha Lee, the princess of the Grass people, and El Blue, Elisha is half-Grass person and half-Tree person. She carries the Grass people mark (foot decorations). She is said to be pretty and has a rebellious and stubborn streak. She is in love with Toby but is captured by Leo Blue to be married to him. She is held captive in the egg in the top nest of the Tree. She is Leo's half sister.

Reception

Critical reception has been positive.^[1][2][3] Reviewers for the School Library Journal both praised the work, with one stating that "This interesting piece of eco-fantasy provides a satisfying conclusion for those who enjoyed the first book."^[4][5] The Horn Book Guide had a similar opinion as they felt that the book would be best appreciated by readers who had finished the first novel.^[6]

Kirkus Reviews was more mixed in their opinion, writing "Once all these people and threads intersect, the sheer quantity of coincidence and contrivance to tie them off neatly strains credulity to the breaking point. Nonetheless, the knit never quite ravels, displaying a brilliance and depth nothing short of dazzling. A mess, but a spectacular one."^[7]

Peter Berkrot, accomplished voice over actor and audiobook narrator, calls this Toby book one of his favourite titles^[8] while Booktrust included it in the Booktrust 2010 Best Book Guide.^[9]

References