The Survivor Tree
Through evocative prose and watercolor illustrations, The Survivor Tree: Inspired by a True Story, takes the reader on a journey of hope and healing that parallels our nation’s own journey following the events of September 11, 2001.
A month after the collapse of the Twin Towers, workers at the site discovered a few green leaves showing through the gray concrete and ash. Clearing the debris, they found a badly injured Callery Pear Tree. She was rescued, taken to a nursery outside the city, and put in the care of Richie Cabo, a City Parks worker.
No one was sure if she would live, but the following spring, a dove built a nest in her branches, and new green buds appeared.
Over the years, the tree, although bearing scars, grew tall and strong. Now known as the “9/11 Survivor Tree,” she is planted in a place of honor on the 9/11 Memorial Plaza.
This story imaginatively describes the experience, memories, and feelings of the tree throughout her healing and her eventual return home.