First published 1992
Sarah Bell and Penny May are best friends until they have a fight. Penny storms off and scrambles up the tall sugar-gum tree in their neighborhood. She perches among the branches and declares she won't climb down until Sarah says she's sorry. Sarah stands at the bottom, looking up at her stubborn friend. The standoff begins. Penny stays put in her leafy refuge while Sarah wrestles with her pride. Other kids gather to watch the drama unfold. The tree becomes a fortress where Penny waits for the apology she believes she deserves. Sarah must decide what matters more: being right or saving their friendship. This simple conflict captures the fierce loyalty and wounded feelings that mark childhood bonds.
Genres: family-life, friendship, contemporary
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Neighborhood
Period: 20th-century
64 pages · Hardcover · Viking Juvenile