Stand Tall

Tree’s grandfather is a Vietnam veteran and exemplifies the theme of Resilience in the Face of Adversity. Although his leg was injured in the war, he only recently decided to have it amputated. When he begins physical therapy, “Grandpa looked at his half leg. It was easy to see the loss of it [...] But he wasn’t going to concentrate on that” (28). It is impossible to ignore what Grandpa is missing; however, the “but” indicates that he will not dwell on his loss, and instead focus on what he possesses, which he later lists: a strong body, a sound mind, and a great-grandson. This perspective highlights his optimism despite the challenging road to recovery. Coupled with this positivity, Grandpa’s sense of humor allows him to make light of his challenges. When folding laundry, Grandpa notes the benefits of having one leg: “I don’t need a pair of socks. I just need one. Doing the laundry gets easier when you’re not so particular” (73). By joking about only needing one sock, Grandpa emphasizes his mindset. Furthermore, he models the lessons of perseverance he provides Tree. He not only espouses the value of examining things closely, he lives it, repeatedly analyzing his time in Vietnam: “Every so often he’d take the war apart to try to make sense of the experience” (107). Instead of avoiding or repressing his memories, Grandpa reflects on them to healthily move forward, modeling how to be resilient.

In these ways, Grandpa mentors Tree and cares deeply for his family. He encourages his “world-class grandson” to be who he is and to not give up because of difficulty or societal expectations. He compares war to life, so Tree can reflect on his own problems. Furthermore, Grandpa provides honesty and emotional support. For example, when Tree’s mother moved out and forgot a load of laundry, Tree cried. Grandpa comforted him: “I would have cried too, if I’d seen that [...] It’s been a hard day. People do all kinds of things they wouldn’t normally do when they’re fighting each other. I’ll help you fold that laundry, then you call her” (72). By validating Tree’s emotions, Grandpa allows Tree to work through his grief. Then, he articulates the complexity of his parents’ split and that his mother is struggling too. Finally, he offers to help fold the clothes, making it clear that he is there to support the boy. This love for his family runs deep, for Grandpa also cares for Tree’s brothers. When Larry comes home drunk, Grandpa tells him that “what you’re doing isn’t making the hurt go away” and that “booze doesn’t help. Talking does” (85-86). Even though Larry does not want to hear it, Grandpa shares a hard truth to help his grandson through his grief over the divorce. Additionally, he offers to talk with Larry, adding another layer of support for the boy. Grandpa’s love for his family consistently shines through encouragement, advice, honesty, and support.

Sophie Santack, an eighth grader who is new to the school, speaks her mind, is not afraid to try new things, and is a caring person. The day they meet, Tree witnesses Sophie confront bullies in the cafeteria and soon realizes that she stands up for what is right no matter how she may be treated as a result. She tells Tree and his friends her motto: “Speak your mind and ride a fast horse” (52), which emphasizes her need to voice her opinions immediately. The day mean girls affix trash to her locker, Sophie tells her aunt, “Sometimes you’ve got to shout the truth and wake people up” (119). Even when pressed by an adult, Sophie stands firm in her conviction to speak out. Along with being vocal, she is not afraid to try new things. Even though she prefers not to take ballroom dancing lessons, she is the one to pull Tree to the dance floor and lead them in the tango. Amid all this, Sophie is a caring and steadfast friend. She repeatedly encourages Tree to “stand tall” and “wear it proud” (122), which she means both literally regarding his height, but also figuratively to encourage him to take pride in his identity.

Like Grandpa, Sophie exemplifies the theme of Resilience in the Face of Adversity. Instead of backing down when trash is on her locker, she confronts her bullies and challenges the principal. She refuses to simply accept the mistreatment and instead faces the problem head-on. Furthermore, despite her father’s absence from her life, she does not give up on him or their relationship. When her mom tells her that she is deserving of a better father, Sophie replies, “But he’s the one I got” (75). Instead of dwelling on the unfairness of having a dad who is mostly absent from her life, Sophie accepts what she does have. Later, after she gives her dad a heartfelt Christmas gift, she admits feeling angry. However, she says, “I figure I’ve got it better than a lot of kids. At least I know where my dad is” (78). Instead of focusing on the negative, Sophie chooses the positive outlook. The word “but” emphasizes this shift and highlights that she understands there are worse situations. By embracing that perspective, Sophie can better cope with her family situation.

Tree’s Mom recently moved out after the divorce. Despite this, she loves her family fiercely and tries to keep everyone connected. Whether it is through holiday gatherings or a website to communicate with her sons, she encourages the boys to process their feelings. By keeping open lines of communication, Tree’s mom strives to help everyone adapt to their new situation. On her website, she writes, “Divorce ended our marriage, but our loving family will never end,” and “change is part of life. It is the healthy family that learns to adapt to change” (8-9). Although Tree and his brothers find her website, heymom.com, to be corny at times, her written words express her devotion to them even if she is not present. She also shows her love in other ways, too, by baking Grandpa’s favorite brownies when the man returns from the hospital or calling to check in on them during the flood. Despite her tense relationship with Tree’s dad, she labors to keep her family together and to show her love in the ways she knows how.