The Overstory

Greenwood

Michael Christie

A multi-generational saga that interweaves family history with forest conservation. Following the interconnected branches of the Greenwood family across centuries, the story explores humanity's complex relationship with trees and nature. Like The Overstory, it uses trees as both metaphor and central character, examining environmental themes through personal narratives.

Flight Behavior

Barbara Kingsolver

A young woman discovers an unprecedented natural phenomenon in the Appalachian Mountains involving monarch butterflies. The novel weaves climate change science with personal transformation, rural life, and ecological awakening. Similar to The Overstory, it explores human connection to nature and environmental crisis through intimate character study.

Barkskins

Annie Proulx

An epic novel spanning 300 years, following two families and their relationship with North America's forests. Starting with French settlers in New France, it chronicles the destruction of forests and indigenous ways of life. The book shares The Overstory's deep concern for forest ecology and human impact on natural systems.

To the Bright Edge of the World

Eowyn Ivey

Set in the Alaskan wilderness, this novel follows an expedition through untamed territory while exploring humanity's relationship with the natural world. Through journals and letters, it weaves together adventure, romance, and magical realism. The book echoes The Overstory's reverence for nature and its mysterious interconnections.

The Word for World is Forest

Ursula K. Le Guin

A science fiction novel about colonists destroying an alien forest world and its peaceful inhabitants. The story explores themes of environmental destruction, indigenous rights, and the deep connection between sentient beings and their environment. It shares The Overstory's environmental activism and exploration of forest consciousness.

Lab Girl

Hope Jahren

A memoir about a female scientist's life studying trees and plants. Jahren weaves together personal story with fascinating insights about plant life and botanical research. Though non-fiction, it captures The Overstory's deep appreciation for trees and their hidden lives.

The Hidden Life of Trees

Peter Wohlleben

A groundbreaking exploration of how trees communicate, feel, and live in social networks. While non-fiction, this book shares The Overstory's fascination with tree intelligence and forest ecosystems. It reveals the science behind many of the phenomena Powers fictionalizes in his novel.

The Great Derangement

Amitav Ghosh

A powerful examination of culture's failure to confront climate change through literature and politics. Though non-fiction, it resonates with The Overstory's environmental themes and urgency. Ghosh explores why we struggle to tell stories about our greatest ecological challenges.

American Canopy

Eric Rutkow

A comprehensive history of America's relationship with its forests, from colonial times to the present. The book explores how trees shaped American culture, economics, and politics. It provides historical context for many themes in The Overstory, including the timber wars and conservation movements.

The Man Who Planted Trees

Jean Giono

A short allegorical tale about a shepherd who single-handedly reforests a desolate valley. Through simple daily actions over decades, he transforms an entire landscape and its inhabitants. Like The Overstory, it celebrates individual environmental action and the profound impact of trees on human communities.