Jack vs. the Tornado: Tree Street Kids (Book 1)

AUTHOR: Amanda Cleary Eastep

From the Publisher:

Adventures, friendships, and faith-testers . . . all under the watchful eye of a great big God.

The Tree Street Kids live on Cherry, Oak, Maple, and Pine, but their 1990s suburban neighborhood is more than just quiet, tree-lined streets. Jack, Ellison, Roger, and Ruthie face challenges and find adventures in every creek and cul-de-sac—as well as God’s great love in one small neighborhood.

In the first book of the Tree Street Kids series, 10-year-old Jack is shocked to discover his parents are moving from their rural homestead to the boring suburbs of Chicago. Full of energy and determination, Jack devises a plan to get himself back to his beloved farmhouse forever. Only three things stand in his way: a neighbor in need, a shocking discovery, and tornado season. Will Jack find a solution? Or is God up to something bigger than Jack can possibly imagine?

Leah’s Thoughts:

This is a great go-to Christian fiction series for kids ready for longer chapter books with more substance. My older boys flew through it. We read the first one aloud, and they read the rest on their own. Each book follows Jack and his group of neighborhood friends as they face real-life challenges, solve mysteries, and grow in friendship and faith.

The characters wrestle with everyday struggles like divorce, fear, and responsibility in ways that feel relatable and age-appropriate. There’s a clear Christian worldview throughout, but it’s woven in naturally and never feels preachy. It’s the kind of series that encourages kids to think deeply while still being fun and full of adventure.

*Note for parents: These books include some mild name-calling, crude humor, and realistic kid behavior like eye-rolling or sibling squabbles. There are brief references to topics such as puberty, ghosts, and Nazis, as well as a mention of Goosebumps books. I personally found them age-appropriate for 8–12 year olds and appreciated how the stories handled real-life situations with honesty and care.

Check out the whole series:

1. Jack vs. the Tornado
2. The Hunt for Fang
3. Lions to the Rescue
4. Mystery in the Crooked Creek Woods
5. The Beastie of Brambly Bald
6. Jack and the Red Giant