Branches of Hope: The 9/11 Survivor Tree, written by Medford native Ann Magee and illustrated by Nicole Wong, shares the story of the callery pear tree that survived the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center. The damaged tree was rehabilitated and replanted at the memorial, making it a symbol of resilience and hope. Magee uses this theme to introduce the story of 9/11 to children. Written in a lyrical and poetic style it has a lightness that lends itself well to share the difficult topic with children. This heartfelt tribute was awarded a Kirkus Star, a prestigious award recognizing books for their exceptional writing and being a standout amongst others in the genre. As Magee’s first book she was absolutely floored for the recognition.
As a former teacher and lifelong learner, Magee has always been drawn to narrative nonfiction. Magee felt compelled to write the story following a trip to the 9/11 Memorial in New York with her children in 2015. She knew firsthand the difficulty of sharing such a difficult topic with young children and wanted to craft a piece she wished she had at the time. The goal was to remind readers that hard things will happen in life, but they can get through them just as the callery tree did.
Magee began writing in October 2016 and submitted the manuscript to Charlesbridge in December 2017. The story was published in March 2021, ahead of the 20th anniversary. Now, with the 25th anniversary in mind, the book has become a staple in the classroom and is even being used by high school teachers as a starting point for deeper discussions about the events of September 11th.
Medford native Ann Magee is the author of Branches of Hope: The 9/11 Survivor Tree, a children’s book that uses the story of the tree that survived the World Trade Center attacks to teach young readers about resilience, hope and the events of September 11.
Connecting with readers is one of her favorite parts of being an author, and she can be found at the Collingswood Book Festival each fall. Parents applaud the story for offering a gentle way to begin conversations about 9/11 with their children. It’s a story she wishes she had for her own children when they were younger.
For aspiring children’s book authors, Magee encourages writers to learn as much as they can and engage with others. She recommends joining the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, not only to take yourself seriously as a writer but also to build a supportive community. Before writing Branches of Hope: The 9/11 Survivor Tree, she joined the organization as a way to learn, immersing herself fully in its courses. Above all, her advice is simple: always stay curious about the world around you.
It’s that same curiosity that led Magee to pursue her passion for writing, learning, and teaching, ultimately allowing her to share the story of the Survivor Tree with new generations and remind them that even in the face of loss, hope and resilience can be found.
