🌺 Where the Guava Tree Stands

A coming-of-age novel-in-verse by Leah T. Williams

📘 The Heart of the Tree

What do you hold on to when the world around you changes?

Twelve-year-old Mina didn’t want to leave her island. But when her family moves from the Caribbean to Florida, everything shifts. The food is different. The kids are louder. The air feels heavier. And most of all, the guava tree — her anchor — is gone.

Told in vivid, lyrical verse, Where the Guava Tree Stands is a tender story of homesickness, cultural identity, and finding your way when home is no longer one place but two. Mina’s voice is quiet but strong, and her journey speaks to anyone who’s ever felt between worlds.

🌿 Why You'll Love It

  • Beautifully written in accessible verse — great for reluctant or poetic readers

  • Themes of immigration, family, and identity

  • Captures the emotional truth of moving and starting over

  • Perfect for grades 6 and up

  • A strong choice for class read-alouds, poetry units, and cultural discussion

✍️ Author’s Note

“This book is my love letter to the girls who feel like they’ve lost their place in the world — and to every guava tree we carry with us. Mina is me, and she’s so many others, too.”
— Leah T. Williams

📚 Get the Book

📅 Coming June 30
Available on:

  • 📦 Walmart

  • 📚 Barnes & Noble

  • 🛍️ Wherever books are sold

  • 📚 Hoopla (library access)

  • 📖 Add to Goodreads: Goodreads Link

🧑🏽‍🏫 For Educators & Book Clubs

  • Perfect for National Poetry Month

  • Great for immigration or identity units

  • Includes figurative language, symbolism, and character growth

  • Discussion guide and poetry activities coming soon!
    📩 Contact: kittiwriter1@gmail.com