Champion book cover
Champion, written by Sally M. Walker, is The Comeback Tale of the American Chestnut Tree as the subtitle states. First published in 2018, the book is written in a narrative style at a middle-grade level. The eight chapters are well illustrated and contain helpful photographs. Appendices provide additional background information that includes source notes for each chapter, a glossary, a select bibliography of books, articles and websites, and image credits.
In the Author’s Note, Walker tells the story of how she came to learn about trees as a young girl and was inspired by her father’s knowledge about and love of the American chestnut. The author gives special thanks to junior high school teacher Megan Newhouse and members of the school’s Chestnut Club for reading an early version of the manuscript and providing wonderful feedback.
Champion is a story about the loss of the tree as a foundational species and the efforts to restore it through human ingenuity. The author provides an historical account of the tree and its significance to Native American culture, to European colonists, and later generations who relied on the resources it provided. She devotes chapters to each of three different approaches scientists are pursuing to help restore the tree. Research work ongoing at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station to use strains of a virus to invade and weaken blight fungus is covered. The backcross breeding program The American Chestnut Foundation uses to breed blight resistance into trees with good American chestnut characteristics is discussed. Research work at the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry to develop a genetically altered American chestnut tree to survive blight attacks is explained. The final chapter discusses current efforts and future restoration plans.
Though the science and research work involved in restoring the American chestnut tree is complex, Walker provides the background knowledge and instruction needed for the reader to grasp the concepts involved, if only starting with a basic understanding of biology and genetics. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the American chestnut tree and its restoration. It is a great book to place in school libraries for use by teachers and students. Per the author, incorporating the story of the American chestnut into school curricula at all levels can spark interest in young people who hold restoration success in their hands.