The Only Branch on the Family Tree

Sherryl Clark

• Publisher: University of Queensland Press
• eBook ISBN:
  9780702272523
• Year: 2025

It' s always been Gemma and her mum – just the two of them. As close as best friends. But while researching a class project about family, Gemma makes a life-changing discovery. Her nan is not dead, like Mum told her, but alive and well and living close by. Gemma now has huge question marks hanging over her. Why would Mum lie about this? What is her nan like? And what would happen if Gemma tried to find her? The Only Branch on the Family Tree is a story about secrets, forgiveness and finding a way for relationships to blossom.

Table of contents

• Author biography
• Also by Sherryl Clark
• Title page
• Dedication
• Today
• O
• The project
• My tree is bare
• Photos
• Being a detective
• The huge question
• Other questions
• Recess
• Tears
• Marley
• Mum
• Darkness
• Making plans
• Wardrobes and cupboards
• In the box
• Notebook
• School
• Family stuff
• Is that all?
• One less mystery
• Unbelievable
• Maps
• Missing
• Birthday
• Present
• Choosing
• Hiding
• Phone
• Longest journey
• The front door
• Nan
• Surprise
• Hug
• Imagined
• Why?
• Explanation
• What I remember
• First answer
• What next?
• Birthday happy
• In this moment
• Fence-sitting
• Now or never
• Covering up
• And then
• Alone
• Nothing is normal
• What happened?
• Heavy
• Fight
• Flinch
• Family project
• It’s not easy
• Can’t stop trying
• Silence
• Back on the fence
• Handing it in
• Writing
• Waiting for change
• The big day
• The fence is still up
• Please, stop
• What can I do?
• I’m sure I’m in trouble
• The last photo
• Fence down
• Note from the author
• For help
• Imprint page