Mixed feelings on this book. Based on the title, I expected this to be a character study of a single tree. That’s not what the book is about; it’s more an introduction to the natural history of New England with the tree as a framing device, and climate change is more of a generalized couple of chapters rather than specific to this tree.

How I would’ve loved the conceit I expected! I guess that’s not Mapes’ fault, and she sure writes page-turningly well for any nature author. It’s just not what was presented; I could’ve used double the length with more on the witness tree itself as a paragon.