The Climbing Tree - My latest offering
See also Western Mail Article on The Climbing Tree
Poet, novelist and teacher, Mike is acutely aware of the challenges facing young people. The Climbing Tree doesn’t shy away from some of the darker issues but still conveys a message of hope, however fragile . . .
“This is not a warning, but a message. a message from a place just around the corner. it could reach you without you even noticing.” in the not too distant future, Wales has been devastated by major flooding and people have been forced to take refuge on higher ground. in this new world, gangs and violence have become a way of life. after the mysterious disappearance of their leader, low finds herself at the head of the commos. in the face of constant danger - from their opposing gang, the astros, from travellers in the valley below, and from the interminable threat of rain - low must hold the gang together, and fight for freedom, and a better way of life. This topical and exciting 64-page paperback for young people by Mike Jenkins is ideal for the classroom. although the story is short, it is a challenging read, and could be used to prompt discussion about topics such as the environment, youth culture and life in a small community. The full interview with Mike Jenkins is available to download for free on our website, and can be used as a teaching tool alongside the book. The Climbing Tree by Mike Jenkins £4.99
The Climbing Tree is available from your local bookshop or directly from Pont Books. www.pontbooks.co.uk
What was the inspiration for The Climbing Tree? It was inspired by a combination of factors. Firstly, the tree is actually based on an oak tree on the moorland at the back of my house. Not far away there was an Astroturf where youths would often gather to play sport during daytime and do various other, more dubious, activities in the evenings. The idea of the two gangs came directly from these settings.
Do you really think the future will be the way you’ve described it in the book? I think it is already happening. Although the book is about a near future, it is also about what is around us today.
There are many references to the rain and floods. Did you use this purely to create atmosphere, or is there an environmental agenda too? I think the environmental message is there throughout the book, but I didn’t want to link it directly to particular causes. There are ‘flood- refugees’ and there are camps on lower ground and the whole landscape is constantly being shifted by rain. The very existence of the Common is under threat. However, I did not want to preach at the reader. What’s more important is empathy with the youngsters and with Low (Lowri) in particular.
Do you think life is changing for young people, or has it always been a challenge? The breakdown of the Commos reflects the way society is at this point. It is increasingly difficult for them to fight against the elements... Having said that, I do see an autobiographical aspect here. As a teenager, I identified much more with the friends I hung about with on the streets and very little with my family.
A Pont book always has a Welsh dimension. What for you makes The Climbing Tree a distinctively Welsh story? All the settings are distinctively Welsh. This is especially true of the Common itself... It is as an area which was once mined and there are many overgrown tips there. But apart from the landscape, I hope there is an underlying philosophy of solidarity between people... There is a belief in the communal as well as the individual, which is more akin to Wales and to the Valleys in particular. To see the whole interview, please visit our website: www.pontbooks.co.uk
Poet, novelist and teacher, Mike is acutely aware of the challenges facing young people. The Climbing Tree doesn’t shy away from some of the darker issues but still conveys a message of hope, however fragile . . .
“This is not a warning, but a message. a message from a place just around the corner. it could reach you without you even noticing.” in the not too distant future, Wales has been devastated by major flooding and people have been forced to take refuge on higher ground. in this new world, gangs and violence have become a way of life. after the mysterious disappearance of their leader, low finds herself at the head of the commos. in the face of constant danger - from their opposing gang, the astros, from travellers in the valley below, and from the interminable threat of rain - low must hold the gang together, and fight for freedom, and a better way of life. This topical and exciting 64-page paperback for young people by Mike Jenkins is ideal for the classroom. although the story is short, it is a challenging read, and could be used to prompt discussion about topics such as the environment, youth culture and life in a small community. The full interview with Mike Jenkins is available to download for free on our website, and can be used as a teaching tool alongside the book. The Climbing Tree by Mike Jenkins £4.99
The Climbing Tree is available from your local bookshop or directly from Pont Books. www.pontbooks.co.uk
What was the inspiration for The Climbing Tree? It was inspired by a combination of factors. Firstly, the tree is actually based on an oak tree on the moorland at the back of my house. Not far away there was an Astroturf where youths would often gather to play sport during daytime and do various other, more dubious, activities in the evenings. The idea of the two gangs came directly from these settings.
Do you really think the future will be the way you’ve described it in the book? I think it is already happening. Although the book is about a near future, it is also about what is around us today.
There are many references to the rain and floods. Did you use this purely to create atmosphere, or is there an environmental agenda too? I think the environmental message is there throughout the book, but I didn’t want to link it directly to particular causes. There are ‘flood- refugees’ and there are camps on lower ground and the whole landscape is constantly being shifted by rain. The very existence of the Common is under threat. However, I did not want to preach at the reader. What’s more important is empathy with the youngsters and with Low (Lowri) in particular.
Do you think life is changing for young people, or has it always been a challenge? The breakdown of the Commos reflects the way society is at this point. It is increasingly difficult for them to fight against the elements... Having said that, I do see an autobiographical aspect here. As a teenager, I identified much more with the friends I hung about with on the streets and very little with my family.
A Pont book always has a Welsh dimension. What for you makes The Climbing Tree a distinctively Welsh story? All the settings are distinctively Welsh. This is especially true of the Common itself... It is as an area which was once mined and there are many overgrown tips there. But apart from the landscape, I hope there is an underlying philosophy of solidarity between people... There is a belief in the communal as well as the individual, which is more akin to Wales and to the Valleys in particular. To see the whole interview, please visit our website: www.pontbooks.co.uk