Victoria is a withdrawn teenager with no family and no friends. Afraid of being hurt, she withdraws from anyone who tries to reach her. She owns almost nothing—a few clothes and a passion for flowers and their meanings, a love inherited from Elizabeth, the one foster mother who made her feel safe. Now that Victoria is an adult, she must find a home and a job. More than that, she must learn to trust people again, a feeling lost through years of suffering across foster homes.
Diffenbaugh's debut moves us with prose that is rich and fluid, drawing us into Victoria's inner world. The choice to follow her thoughts, combined with a parallel narrative between past and present, keeps us engaged from start to finish. Through Victoria, we find ourselves asking difficult questions about the importance of human connection—and sometimes about our need for solitude. The story may feel predictable at moments, but the reading experience is deeply rewarding.
M. C., 2011