Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French
Realistic Fiction; 353 pages
In northern California, Julian Carter-Li and his friends old and new fight to save a grove of redwoods from an investment company that plans to cut them down.
Sam’s review:
Julian Carter-Li is in a tough situation. His dad was killed in a motorcycle crash, and his mom is in China on a grant to take photographs. Julian has been left in San Francisco with his wealthy and obnoxious uncle, Sibley Carter, and his cold and calculating wife, Daphne. They make Julian feel as welcome as Harry Potter felt at the Dursley’s. When Julian is left alone for hours in Sibley’s office, Julian happens to see his name on the subject line of an e-mail, and he can’t resist reading it. Julian goes on to read the next e-mail which happens to be from a girl, Robin, whose family lives next door to a grove of old growth redwoods that Sibley’s company has just purchased and plans to clear cut. Julian begins to correspond with Robin and joins her in the effort to make Sibley change his mind. Julian’s rambunctious friend Danny, Julian’s young cousin Preston, and Robin’s family and her old friend Ariel all get in on the action that unfolds with a great combination of mystery, suspense, humor, and drama. This page-turner drives to a satisfying conclusion, giving some important information about ancient redwoods along the way.