The Ripping Tree

At the age of sixteen, Thomasina Trelora, “Tom”, finds herself sailing for Australia to be married to a vicar she’s never met. She’s had a radical upbringing and isn’t too happy with the plan for her future, particularly the lack of any say in the matter. There is a shipwreck along the rocks on the coast and Tom finds herself rescued by an aboriginal man from the wreckage. She’s left on the verandah at Willowbrae, a well-to-do estate belonging to the Craw family in the middle of nowhere. At first, she feels she has gained a reprieve from her fate, and due to her (feigned) lack of memory, she tries to fit in with the family. It soon becomes obvious there are massive secrets at Willowbrae and perhaps her future well-being is not best served there.

This was a lovely story with flowing and evocative language, which contrasts with the ugliness of the early colonial days of the British settlements in Australia. As the story unravels, we are confronted with the atrocities committed towards the Aboriginal peoples at the time. There is no way to soften the blow of what happened but I found this book addressed all of that with Tom, or Poss, as she is known locally. Her beliefs in fairness, justice, and equality for people are challenged at every step. Even the few family members she has formed alliances with are not quite what they seem and she finds herself as alone as ever. While Poss is decidedly progressive in her thinking, she also soon recognises she may have been mistaken in some actions she takes, especially with regard to the native people she encounters.

The story is told over seven days from the time of the shipwreck, which sort of makes me think of the biblical seven days, in which quite a lot happens. Religion plays a major part in the story, with Tom having quite a different attitude towards god and religion to her contemporaries. Her upbringing has made her an independent young woman in a time when this isn’t socially acceptable. It’s another confronting aspect of life during this time with non-conformity putting a woman at risk of being sent away due to “hysteria”.

I found this to be confronting, thought-provoking but quite a pleasure to read. It flows beautifully from start to finish and leaves the reader with much to consider. I give this book a solid four stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for sharing an advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair review.