THE LOST TREES OF WILLOW AVENUE

Fighting for the giants among us.

Tidwell, an author and climate activist, does not think that any one single action, machine, or plant will save the earth from environmental disaster. But if he had to put his faith in one living thing, it would be trees, and probably the kinds of majestic oaks that graced his own street in Takoma Park, Maryland, until many of them died and left him and his neighbors in shock and grief. “The oaks on my street are a fair measurement of our collective progress on global warming,” he writes. “Wherever mature oak trees are found, in urban forests or wilderness settings, they are a keystone species, indicating ecological health.” Tidwell’s absorbing book pays tribute to the oaks that provided canopy, cool shade, enduring beauty, and homes for birds, squirrels, and insects. It also honors Tidwell’s family members and fellow citizens, including his wife, Beth, and his climate scientist friend Ning Zeng—a doctor born in China during the Cultural Revolution—who buries the dead trees in the ground, hoping that others will take their spot. Tidwell also pays homage to Jamie Raskin; the crusading Democratic Maryland congressman emerges as a genuine hero who loves trees and has defended American democracy fiercely, especially in the wake of Jan. 6, 2021. Other heroes: the Kilbys, two resilient farmers who recycle and renew their pastures. There are also heartwarming moments in the book, as when the author heralds the thousands of acorns that fall from an ancient oak, burrow into the ground, take root, and begin the cycle of life all over again.

An impassioned book that might well inspire readers to think globally and act locally—maybe planting a tree or two.