Operation Redwood

Operation Redwood follows Julian Carter-Li, a twelve-year-old boy who lives with his career-focused uncle and aunt in San Francisco. After intercepting an email about a grove of old-growth redwood trees slated for logging, Julian becomes entangled in a conservation effort to save the ancient forest. The story tracks Julian's growing involvement with a group of young activists, including Robin, whose family owns a northern California farm near the threatened grove. Julian must navigate complex family dynamics while trying to balance his new environmental mission with his responsibilities at home and school. With themes of friendship, environmental conservation, and finding one's voice, Operation Redwood presents the tensions between business interests and environmental protection through the eyes of young people. The novel examines how children can engage with real-world issues and make meaningful change in their communities.

Readers describe Operation Redwood as an engaging environmental story that balances serious themes with humor and adventure. On Goodreads, the book maintains a 4.1/5 rating from over 1,400 readers. Readers appreciated: - Strong character development, especially Julian's growth - Educational value about redwood conservation - Fast-paced plot that keeps kids interested - Balance of environmental message without being preachy - Realistic portrayal of middle school friendships Common criticisms: - Slow start in first few chapters - Some found the corporate villain too one-dimensional - A few readers felt the ending wrapped up too neatly Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,400+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (90+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 One teacher noted: "My students connected with the characters and learned about conservation without feeling lectured." Another reviewer mentioned: "The friendship between Julian and Robin felt authentic to middle school dynamics."

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🌲 The author, S. Terrell French, works as an environmental lawyer in San Francisco, bringing real-world expertise to the novel's themes of forest conservation and environmental activism. 🌳 Coast redwoods, featured prominently in the book, can live for over 2,000 years and are among the tallest trees on Earth, reaching heights of up to 380 feet. 📚 The novel was French's debut book and won the Green Earth Book Award, which recognizes environmental stewardship in children's literature. 🌿 Many of the protest techniques described in the book, such as tree-sitting, were inspired by real environmental activism movements in Northern California during the 1990s. 🌲 The book's fictional setting of Potter Creek Grove was inspired by real redwood groves in Northern California, including Humboldt Redwoods State Park, home to the world's largest remaining contiguous old-growth redwood forest.