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Where The Trees Were

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( 805 ratings, 142 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Where The Trees Were by Inga Simpson is a poignant tale that weaves together themes of memory and identity. The story follows a group of childhood friends whose discovery of ancient, carved trees sets into motion a series of life-altering events. As they grow older and their paths diverge, the impact of their discovery continues to resonate, raising questions about heritage, the environment, and the irrevocable passage of time.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you enjoy stories that beautifully weave the threads of childhood memories with adult life resonances, this narrative exploring themes of friendship, secrets, and the impact of the past might captivate you. This book may appeal to those who appreciate lyrical prose and a poignant reflection on human relationships set against the backdrop of nature.

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A beautiful novel about the innocence of childhood and the scars that stay with you for life, from the award-winning author of MR WIGG and NEST.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Shortlisted for the Indie Award for Fiction 2017

Longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award 2017

'All in?' Kieran pulled me up, and the others followed. We gathered around the bigger tree. No one asked Matty - he just reached up and put his right hand on the trunk with ours.

Kieran cleared his throat. 'We swear, on these trees, to always be friends. To protect each other - and this place.'

Finding those carved trees forged a bond between Jay and her four childhood friends and opened their eyes to a wider world. But their attempt to protect the grove ends in disaster, and that one day on the river changes their lives forever.

Seventeen years later, Jay finally has her chance to make amends. But at what cost? Not every wrong can be put right, but sometimes looking the other way is no longer an option.

an entrancing novel from a powerful new voice in Australian literature - The Australian Women's Weekly - April 2016 AWW Great Read

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Where The Trees Were by Inga Simpson is praised for its atmospheric and absorbing narrative. The story is both poignant and page-turning, addressing significant themes with notable intelligence and sympathy. Critics highlight Simpson's remarkable ability to create a strong sense of place, making it an entrancing novel by a powerful voice in Australian literature. The book is also described as perfectly rendered by reviewers.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780733637858

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 April 2017

Country: Australia

Imprint: Hachette Australia

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Inga Simpson began her career as a professional writer for government before gaining a PhD in creative writing. In 2011, she took part in the Queensland Writers Centre Manuscript Development Program and, as a result, Hachette Australia published her first novel, Mr Wigg, in 2013. Nest, Inga's second novel, was published in 2014 and was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Stella Prize and shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal. Inga's third novel, the acclaimed Where the Trees Were, was published in 2016.

Inga was awarded the final Eric Rolls Prize for her nature writing and has obtained a second PhD, exploring the history of Australian nature writers. Inga's account of her love of Australian nature and life with trees, Understory, was published in 2017. Her first book for children, The Book of Australian Trees, illustrated by Alicia Rogerson, was published in 2021. The Last Woman in the World, her critically acclaimed environmental thriller, was published in 2021 and shortlisted for the 2022 Fiction Indie Book Award. Her bestselling and critically acclaimed 2022 novel Willowman was shortlisted for the BookPeople Adult Fiction Book of the Year 2023 and in 2024 was selected by Australia's leading booksellers in BookPeople's 100 Must-Read Australian Novels. Her 2024 literary thriller The Thinning has been shortlisted for the 2025 ACT Literary Award for Fiction and was longlisted for the 2025 Stella Prize and the 2025 Fiction Indie Book Award. The Peach King, illustrated by Tannya Harricks, is her second book for children, and published in 2025. Once We Were Wildlife is her eighth novel.

Inga lives on the New South Wales south coast among trees.

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