The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Aug9

Victoria Jones grew up in the foster care system. On her eighteen birthday she’s finally free and is set up in a halfway home. Ignoring her social worker she runs away from the safe house, and creates a garden for which she hides in the local park. Flowers have always been her safe haven as the Victorians used flowers to communicate secret messages. They also don’t talk back or tell her how she should be living her life.

When Victoria impresses a florist with her natural talent of flowers, she finds herself living an almost normal life. Yet with positive step, the past creeps up as horrible secrets threaten her sanity. Unable to trust the world she throws herself into the flowers looking for answers. When someone bursts back into her life, Victoria must come face to face with her regrets to find her future.

The Language of Flowers is simply stunning. The chapters alternate between the past and the present, creating an itch that can only be soothed by turning the page. Victoria’s voice is loud and clear no matter what age she’s being written about. The deepest fears a foster child feels is astoundingly expressed through the novel with simplistic realism that makes the book hard to put down. Diffenbaugh has down her research and it clearly shows, bringing a dead language new life giving this tale a sweet sadness.

Although perhaps not practical, the story is so engrossing it can’t be helped but enjoyed and relished. The drama of Victoria’s life is a different sort to relate to, with her issues being deeply rooted. The story is told beautifully as a young girl grows from a troubled teen to a strong sunflower. You don’t have to know anything about the Victorian period to appreciate the charm and care that this book provides, and it might even make you look at flowers just a bit differently.

Fateful by Claudia Gray

Aug4

Tess Davies has served the wealthy Lisle family for most of her life. Forced to live in squander whilst working to the bone, her only hope is to start over in America after accompanying the family abroad. But an encounter with a handsome stranger the night before the voyage temporarily puts her plan out of focus. He’s hot, he’s manly, and he’s just saved Tess’s life and then instantly disappears. She puts the event out of her mind as she focuses on her duty to the Lisle’s as they board for their coming journey. Yet there’s more to this handsome stranger than Tess realises and it’s honestly the least of her worries as she and the Lisle’s settle in on the RMS “Titanic”.

I really wanted to like this book. Entranced by the cover (how could one not?) and intrigued by the blurb I was hungry for a disaster story. Adoring the history around the Titanic it was wonderful to be transported to a different point of view (a servant girl’s) rather than just how the wealthy enjoyed the voyage. Regardless, I couldn’t like the book. I praise Gray for giving herself a challenge. Writing about the Titanic and weaving an evil supernatural society into the logistics isn’t an easy task. Regardless, I felt that Tess has too many loopholes. I didn’t buy the love story either, and that is what ruined the book for me. I wanted to believe in Tess and Alec, but it was just so easy. ‘I see him! I love him!’ Doesn’t cut it. And he’s a werewolf, big surprise!

What kept me reading, and on the edge of my seat was when the Titanic hits the iceberg. We all know it’s going to happen, and what occurs after, but how does Tess cope? Will she make it? What about the family she serves? Do the readers want them to survive? Reading through the tragedy creates such a level of suspense that before you know it; the end of the book arrives.

I think Fateful is an ideal book for YA readers, especially on the younger side of the spectrum. It’s got passionate love up to first base, a heroine that young girls will want to succeed and protagonists to root against. Blending history with fantasy is a difficult task, and even through the holes, Gray is able to create truly romantic supernatural tale.

Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Jul26

312 pages

Published 2006

USA Publisher: Warner Books (Right)

UK Publisher: John Murray (Left)

Twelve-year-old Veronica Swan comes from a loving Mormon family. Living in Utah she adores taking care of her two little sisters. Witnessing their murder is an event that forever changes Veronica, her family and the entire community.

As ‘Ronnie’ grows up and processes the grief whilst welcoming the birth of a new sibling, she looks to her faith for guidance. As her life begins to regain normality, she plans her future with best friend Clare and falls in love with the tough neighbour boy Miko. Everything she knows and trusts is tested when her parents choose to publicly forgive their daughter’s murderer, Scott Early. Unable to accept what her parents have done, Ronnie carves a path that will shape her life than more she ever expected.

Mitchard is able to capture the true voice of a teen in tragedy whilst able to blend the complex Mormon faith for readers to understand. Although not directly considered a YA novel, I believe due to the age of Ronnie throughout most of the book that it can be placed in this category. Blending adult issues and themes with teenage angst of true love that’s dampened by different faiths, Cage of Stars is a complex story of forgiveness.

Capturing grace and honestly, Mitchard is able to portray intense tragedy and how people move on. At the same time she’s able to keep Ronnie’s voice true. The tone and language used never falters from the teenage context, even as she becomes a young adult. Slow paced but powerful, Cage of Stars is a great novel to nurse the heart through a difficult time. Ronnie’s strength will inspire, whereas her daring will provide an open channel to process those ‘what if’s?’ we all feel when tragedy hits home. Lastly, her resolve creates peace and sets an example that no mater bad things are, it’s important to hang on for just a little longer.

Midwinterblood

Jul12

(Click photo to enlarge)

Midwinterblood

By Marcus Sedgwick

263 Pages

Published 2011

USA Publisher: Roaring Book Press (Macmillan)

UK Publisher: Indigo (Hachette)

Torn apart,

By blood,

For the future.

Love so true,

To be united,

Seven times.

A sacrifice,

Both sides,

On Blessed.

A unique island,

Holding secrets,

Discovered page by page.

No children,

A dragon flower,

And a wandering hare.

Born before,

Born again,

Born another time.

A story of reincarnation,

True love,

A sacrifice for prosperity.

The poem is my form of a summary for the book. It’s difficult to write an informative review of such a book that needs no explanation. Just read it. Honestly, I didn’t want to like to Marcus Sedgwick’s Midwinterblood. Sedgwick’s been publishing books since 2000, but this is my first. The beginning section was a bit rough; I found some of the sentence structure distracting. However, once that section was finished, boy does the narrative change and pick up! I found myself being sucked in, and finishing the last 150 pages in one sitting.

Moving back in time with each section the reader is given further clues as to what exactly is occurring during the first. The ability to switch point of views and effective tones is miraculous. With each passing section secrets are discovered, causing the need to finish to see how it ends. The subject of reincarnation is subtle, presenting the reader with an unconventional love story told throughout time.

Sedgwick’s Midwinterblood is an unusually engaging time travelling love story. It presents the idea that true love will always find each other, although not in the traditional sense. Delightfully weird, I’d give Midwinterblood a chance if you have a long train journey, because you’re sure to finish it before you reach your destination.

Birthmarked

Jun30

(Left – UK/Right – USA Book Cover)

Birthmarked

By Caragh M. O’Brien

384 pages

USA Publisher: Square Fish

UK Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone has followed all the rules set by the Enclave for her entire life. Set in a dystopian world where the upper class live separately behind the Wall in wealth, the rest of population struggle for survival in an environment wrecked by climate change. With a face that’s scarred, Gaia will never know the luxuries of the elite.

Regardless, Gaia and her mother faithfully ‘Advance’ the required quota of the first three babies born a month to the Enclave. It’s a privilege for the children, a chance to be brought up with opportunity. For the mothers it’s a painful honour although they are rewarded for their sacrifice. However, whispers begin to develop, the possibility of adding another child to the quota. When her parents are taken, Gaia struggles with her desire to find them, her duty of serving the Enclave and feelings of desire for the unattainable Enclave guard Leon.

Knowing that to go against the Enclave means death, Gaia ignores the danger and follows her heart to be reunited with her family. Discovered and put into jail, Gaia realises a deeper secret that the Enclave is hiding: sterility. Locked up with other doctors, Gaia learns she is too value and too dangerous to be executed, a piece of a puzzle she never knew had been created.

O’Brien’s debut novel is beautifully woven with secrets and the fight against morality. At times there can be ‘more telling than show’, but the environment O’Brien has created is riddled with possibilities and the fight for survival that is reminiscent of The Hunger Games. Gaia Stone is a unique heroine in being physically flawed but strong in spirit for the love of her family. It’s a quick read that will makes readers request only more, which O’Brien happily obliges with Prized. The trilogy is wrapped up with Promised, to be published in October 2012.

I found Birthmarked to be exciting with O’Brien’s words keeping me up into the early hours. I found her novel by accident at the library. I bumped into a shelf and the book hit the floor as if to say, ‘Read me now!’ Gaia is a strong female lead, and Birthmarked doesn’t seek to be another Twilight. Although there are elements of romance with the handsome Enclave solider Leon, Gaia has her eyes set on the right prize: her family. Her endless strength is inspiring and you can’t help but wonder what exactly the Enclave is up too. I was captured by her character, and praise O’Brien for creating a healthy example of a girl that stands up for herself and accepts her scar that has shaped her life.