The narrative begins with Sam Benton, known as Tree, talking to the administrative assistant at his school, who peppers him with questions. Tree’s parents recently divorced, and the secretary’s annoyance at missing forms emphasizes how complex Tree’s life has become. After school, he admires a giant white oak in the park. When Tree, a six-foot-three-inch seventh grader, stretches his arms out, Mrs. Clitter, a neighbor, walks by and asks about his grandfather, who is in the hospital recovering from surgery to amputate his leg. Thinking about his nickname and the oak’s strong root system and sturdiness, Tree is reminded of how people expect a lot from him just because he is tall. He realizes that to go to his mom’s house, he would leave in one direction, but to go to his father’s, he would head the opposite way.

At his dad’s house, Tree visits his mom’s website, heymom.com, which she uses to communicate with Tree and his two older brothers, Curtis and Larry, who are away at college. She encourages them to share their feelings after the divorce, but the older boys just crack jokes. Tree stares at the empty spaces where furniture used to be and remembers the day his mom moved out.