The Maple Tree Monster

By Bryan Kwasnik and Jackie Hahn

The end of summer is hard, especially when you have to start school in a brand-new town. As the days count down, Andrea tries to spend as much time with her friends as possible. One day, on a picnic in the park, Andrea becomes separated from her friends and discovers an old tree house. Andrea soon finds that the tree house is connected to a large monster who doesn’t want her to leave...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781716436505

Book preview

The Maple Tree Monster

Copyright ©2017 by Bryan Kwasnik and Jackie Hahn

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Second Printing, 2020

ISBN 978-1-716-43650-5

www.bryankwasnik.com

www.jackiehahn.com

The Maple Tree Monster

Written by Bryan Kwasnik

Illustrated by Jackie Hahn

Edited by Josiah Davis

To all the friends I’ve lost touch with over the years.

A painting of a flower Description automatically generated

chapter 1

August is a strange month. Though a third of the summer remains, it feels as if it is already over. Seeing that first Back to School commercial interrupting your favorite show brings the dream of an endless summer crashing down. With that, all the anxiety and dread of the school year returns.

Andrea felt that more than ever this year. At the end of the summer, she and her family were moving away. She would be settling into an unfamiliar home with just enough time to start high school with hundreds of strangers.

She had begged and negotiated with her parents repeatedly, trying to convince them to change their minds. She offered to do countless chores, sacrifice birthday and Christmas presents, and anything else that could tip the scales in her favor. It was already decided, they told her. Nothing she could do. They said her new school was very good, and she’d make lots of new friends. Andrea wasn’t so sure.

She was terrified of high school. She’d had nightmares of surprise exams and long, confusing hallways; of lockers that wouldn’t unlock, and of big bullies chasing her. And all of that was before she knew she was moving—before she knew she wouldn’t have her friends there helping her.

No more study session sleepovers with Megan. No more goofy faces from Emily to make her laugh. No more bike rides with Peter and Rachel. And what about Candace and Lisa and Jimmy and Sam? They would all be three whole states away!

She shrugged the thought away. She had one month left to pretend it would never end. One more month of movies, trips to the mall, ice cream, swimming at the lake, backyard barbeques, and just hanging out. She had to make the most of it before the summer evaporated away into autumn, leaving nothing but memories.

Earth to Andrea, Rachel called out.

Sorry, Andrea said.

Day dreaming again? We not exciting enough for you? Emily teased.

Andrea jogged along the trail to catch up to her friends.

The girls were hiking in Hope Park, a large hilly area teeming with trees, lakes, camp sites, playgrounds, and nature trails. Andrea’s family used to camp here when she was younger. Even though it was only a few miles from the house, it seemed like