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When Amanda Cleary Eastep told me I’d especially love this third installment in her Tree Street Kids series, she was right. Lions to the Rescue! is a story rooted in friendship, discovery, and—best of all—books. With a bicycle bookmobile, a library club, and thoughtful reflections on how stories help us understand ourselves and others, this book offers exactly the kind of substance I’m grateful to see in new middle grade fiction.
Set in the 1990s in the suburbs of Chicago, the Tree Street Kids follows Jack and his little sister Midge, who have recently moved from their family farm. Along with new friends Roger, Ruthie, and Ellison—each living on a street named after a tree—they find that everyday life can become a meaningful adventure.
In this volume, school is back in session. While Roger and Ruthie attend the local public school, Jack and Midge are enrolled at Ellison’s Christian school. Jack wants to play football. Ellison wants to join Library Club. Eventually, they do both—and what unfolds is a thoughtful, funny, and deeply sincere story of what it means to belong.
At the heart of the story is the tension between wanting to be known and the risk of misunderstanding. Jack wrestles with wanting to be accepted by his peers on the football team while also staying close to Ellison, his loyal, thoughtful, book-loving best friend. Ellison, on the other hand, finds himself unexpectedly drawn into Jack’s world, learning that he not only enjoys football, but that he’s good at it. Their collaboration on a community bicycle bookmobile leads to more than just fitness and fun. It becomes the backdrop for deeper revelations: about friendship, about identity, and about the quiet burdens each boy is carrying.
One particularly poignant moment occurs when Ellison hesitates to deliver books to a neighbor who he believes dislikes him because of his race. Jack, not understanding, brushes off Ellison’s concern, leading to a painful encounter that opens both their eyes. Eastep handles this moment with honesty and compassion, showing how real friendship grows through hard truths and sincere listening.
Meanwhile, Jack’s own life is quietly shifting. His father has lost his job, and Jack carries a hidden weight of worry. Yet even in this, there is grace. His father, now home during the day, invests in his children in meaningful and restorative ways. That balance between hardship and hope, sorrow and sweetness, is what gives this book its emotional depth.
As always, Eastep’s writing is full of warmth and clarity. I’ve become a real admirer of her work, not only as an author but as an editor. The books she touches—whether her own or those published through Moody—consistently reflect excellent storytelling, beautiful language, and deeply rooted values.
We’ve been listening to the audiobook while working on projects in our library, and it’s been a delight. This is middle-grade fiction that doesn’t condescend. It’s funny, heartfelt, and full of good things to think about.
I would gladly recommend Lions to the Rescue! to middle-grade readers, especially those who love books about friendship, growing up, and doing good in the world—whether through football, library club, or a brave little bookmobile.
If you love the story and want to do a little more with it, check out The Tree Street Kids website! There you will find awesome extras that can bring your readers deeper into the story!