The Beastie of Brambly Bald: Tree Street Kids Book 5

AUTHOR: Amanda Cleary Eastep

From the Publisher:

Jack Finch’s plan to gobble up tons of turkey over Thanksgiving Break and work on the Tree Street Kids’ fort has been foiled. Instead, the Finches are traveling to the mountains of North Carolina to visit grandparents Jack barely knows. Thank goodness his best friends Ellison and Roger are coming with him to the cabin on Brambly Bald mountain. But something is lurking in the forest, and soon Jack uncovers a secret bigger than Bigfoot. When the kids come face to face with a real threat, will Jack find a way to protect his friends? Jack braves danger, finds new branches on his family tree, and discovers what it means to be rooted in God’s great family.

Book 5 in the Tree Street Kids Series explores themes of belonging, family dynamics, foster care, and what it means to be part of God’s family.

Join the Tree Street Kids in all their adventures!

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