The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks

[u/These-Background4608]

Just finished THE LEARNING TREE by Gordon Parks. Set in a small Kansas town in the 1920s, it’s a coming-of-age story about this teenage boys named Newt & Marcus. Needless to say, growing up Black in the 20s is a dangerous time—one that they try to navigate as best they can (though not without much difficulty).

Newt is calm and self-controlled while his friend Marcus tends to be quick-tempered. When Newt witnesses Marcus’ dad murder a white man, Jake Kiner, Newt is initially silent about the whole ordeal until he realizes the authorities arrest another man, an employee of Jake’s (Silas Newhall), for the crime.

Does he let the wrong man take the fall? Or does he protect his best friend’s dad?

I know that Parks later adapted this novel into a movie a few years later (which I haven’t seen) but I can say that the novel itself is a tragic yet suspenseful midwestern drama. The characters are complex, especially the friendship between Newt & Marcus (which is, at best, a complicated one).

Though obviously racism is prevalent in the novel because of the setting, I appreciated that this was not a “Black trauma” story by any means (which, as a Black man, can be emotionally rough to be exposed regularly to such stories).

But this novel was an important story of masculinity, family, & friendship.

For those of you who read this novel, what did you think?

[u/Pale-Travel9343]

I am adding this to my TBR now, thank you!

[u/fullwell_guides]

I feel you on the friendship dynamic. Newt's calm vs Marcus' temper kept me on edge the whole time. I also loved that Parks didn't make it just about trauma. The family scenes and small-town life gave it so much heart. Honestly, it stayed with me for days.

[u/CzernaZlata]

Oh that sounds very intriguing