NPR

Parents Just Don't Understand: 'Far From The Tree' Profiles Kids Who Confound Expectations

Rachel Dretzin's sometimes poignant film, inspired by Andrew Solomon's book, takes a narrowly focused look at kids who turned out differently than their parents thought they would.
L to R: Jack and Bob Allnutt are featured in Rachel Dretzin's<em> Far From The Tree</em>.

All children disappoint their parents from time to time, but most offspring are not profoundly different from what was expected — at least once they pass through the fire of adolescence. Author and psychologist Andrew Solomon had a more alienating experience. He felt he was utterly unacceptable to his family, which, chronicling more than 300 cases of difficult upbringings.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR6 min readInternational Relations
What To Know About A Possible Israeli Military Offensive In Rafah
In Gaza's southernmost city, where more than a million Palestinians have sought shelter and where aid groups have centralized operations, worries have grown over a possible Israeli military operation.
NPR10 min read
Happy Arbor Day! These 20 Books Will Change The Way You Think About Trees
Trees communicate. They migrate. They protect. They heal. We climbed into the NPR archives to find some of our favorite arboreal fiction, nonfiction, and kids' lit — get ready to branch out.
NPR2 min readAmerican Government
Amazon Warehouse Workers In Alabama Might Get A Third Try At Unionizing
Federal officials threw out the first vote, ruling that Amazon improperly interfered. The results of the second vote remain inconclusive. The federal government now determines what happens next.

Related Books & Audiobooks