S. Terrell French

OPERATION REDWOOD

Publication Date: Earth Day (April 22, 2009)

Publisher:  Abrams Books for Young Readers / Amulet Books

ISBN: 978-0-8109-8354-0

Website:  http://operationredwood.com/

Summary:

“SIBLEY CARTER IS A MORON AND A WORLD-CLASS JERK!!!”  When Julian Carter-Li intercepts an angry e-mail meant for his high-powered uncle, it sets him on an environmental adventure.  His uncle’s company plans to log an ancient redwood grove and it’s up to Julian and a clever group of friends to stop them.  Filled with humor and surprising plot twists, OPERATION REDWOOD is an environmental page-turner with a multi-cultural cast of characters.  It touches on the unique history of California's redwoods and the complexities of civil disobedience, and introduces readers to a memorable crew of smart kids who care about the world around them. 

About the Author:

S. Terrell French grew up in near Washington, D.C. and spent her summers running barefoot in the forest.  She graduated from Harvard College and Berkeley Law, and once spent two months as a Forest Service volunteer in Misty Fiords National Monument in Alaska.  She lives in the very foggiest part of San Francisco with her husband and three children (two boys and a girl).  She read her children so many stories over so many years that it made her want to write a story of her own – an adventure story that would reflect her children's love of nature and include kids you might find in the wonderful, multi-cultural city of San Francisco.  In addition to writing and reading stories, she practices environmental law and tries to visit the redwoods as often as possible. 

Excerpt:

The computer beeped. Julian glanced at the screen, and saw a message so astonishing that he sprayed ginger ale out his nose and all across his uncle’s computer screen.

The subject line of the newest e-mail read: “SIBLEY CARTER IS A MORON AND A WORLD-CLASS JERK!!!”

After Julian had grabbed some tissues and wiped away every drop of ginger ale, he stared at the computer suspiciously. Did it have a hidden sensor that could somehow read his mind? Surely, he thought, even his uncle’s computer couldn’t translate his inner thoughts directly onto the screen. It was just an ordinary e-mail. An ordinary e-mail calling his uncle a moron and a jerk. Julian tried to imagine Sibley sitting down at his imposing desk and finding this message. It would be as if he came in and found his computer sticking its tongue out at him.

What kind of person, he wondered, would be sticking his tongue out at Sibley? Obviously, someone smarter than Julian was. Someone who wasn’t fooled by his uncle’s smooth manners and slick facade. Not another businessman, Julian figured. In fact, it sounded like a kid. But why would a kid write his uncle an e-mail? He checked the name of the sender: Robin Elder.

Julian reached for the mouse, then hesitated. He’d already opened one of his uncle’s e-mails. But that one had his name on it. It had practically invited him to open it. This one certainly had nothing to do with him.

Then again, what did he have to lose? And what did he owe an uncle who made up lies about him and slandered his parents and was plotting to send him to math camp? Just peeking at one e-mail wasn’t such a crime. Especially when the e-mail couldn’t possibly be about any important business matter, when it was from some tongue sticker-outer.

Julian got up, crossed the room to the open office door, and looked up and down the hallway. Nothing but darkened cubicles. He felt like a cat burglar about to steal some precious jewel. Stealthily, he sat back down in his uncle’s chair, grabbed the mouse, and clicked:

May 4

Dear Mr. Carter,

Maybe I shouldn’t call you names, but that’s how I feel. I’ve lived next to Big Tree Grove my whole life and you just come in and buy the Greeley land and think you can cut down all the trees and you don’t even care. Maybe you’re not really a moron, but it is OBVIOUSLY pretty stupid to take a redwood tree that has been growing for hundreds and hundreds of years and DESTROY it just to make decks for fancy houses or to make more money, especially when you are already probably a lot richer than almost everybody else on the planet! How would you like it if I went to your backyard and started destroying everything with a chainsaw? My parents say there’s nothing we can do but at least I can tell you that if you do this there’s going to be a lot of people who hate you forever, like me!

Yours truly,

Robin Elder

Reviews:

"Top Ten" pick -- Summer 2009 Kids' Indie Next List -- "Inspired Recommendations for Kids by Indie Booksellers"

A "satisfying eco-adventure" starring a group of young people "gratifyingly diverse in age as well as experience and ethnic background.  A highly enjoyable read." -- Kirkus Reviews