From the Bookshelf of Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
What Members Thought
Amazing! If I had to use one word to describe this book, that would be it. I can't remember the last time I loved a book so much that I stayed up late to devour it all in one day. Told in alternating sequences between the present time and and when Victoria was a foster child/almost adoptee the story unfolds with heartbreaking realness. You cheer for Victoria as she inches towards the love she deserves but can't allow herself to risk. I can't wait to read more by Ms. Diffenbaugh in the future.
...more
Victoria has been betrayed over and over again during the years that she grew up in the foster care system. The only thing that ever interested her is flowers and their hidden meanings. When she is 18 and finally free from the system she feels more at home with her flowers than with people, but she must learn to live in the world of people in order to survive. As Victoria gradually finds her way, she begins to form some tentative bonds with others. But when her new life intersects with her past,
...more
I really did love reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. This is a debut novel. It is the story of Victoria, a young girl of nine when the story opens. She has been in foster care most of her life. She loves flowers and anything of the earth. This book was hard to read at times because of abandonment issues and the complicated life of someone in foster care. I loved the language of flowers- the meaning behind each flower. I did copy the wonderful glossary of the meaning of each
...more
I found this book to be okay. I loved the concept with the language of flowers and how Victoria is drawn and even communicates with them. I even understood her disappointment when she discovered the different meanings existed. There were many things I had a hard suspending belief which I'm normally able to do when reading. I also was not a fan of Victoria, because I couldn't understand or connect with her. This book had such great potential that I'm just a bit disappointed.
...more
Loved the book, only annoying part was how selfish the main character was. Full review to come.
Great writing about a subject that no one seems to want to talk about; children that are never adopted and finally at a certain age are put out on the streets. This story also has to do with the language of flowers which the Victorians used in flower arranging. Great story; would highly recommend.
While this book can be emotionally taxing at times, it pulls you in with the hope for the main character. You want so badly for her to get it right, for something good to happen for her and that pulls you through this story. I liked learning about the meaning behind certain flowers along with the character, and I thought it clever of the author to add the flower "dictionary" at the end. A good book, with a second life when finished (for reference~!).
...more
Aug 26, 2011
Polly Holthaus
marked it as to-read
Dec 06, 2011
Stephanie Cook
marked it as to-read
Jan 09, 2012
Stephanie Bartlow
marked it as to-read
Jul 01, 2012
Laura
marked it as to-read
May 03, 2018
Menomonie Public Library
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
all-staff-favorites,
staff-tim
Apr 26, 2013
Maria
marked it as to-read
Jun 18, 2013
Regina Franklin
marked it as to-read
Aug 31, 2015
Joni Patterson
added it
Jan 21, 2016
Diane Mouchian
marked it as to-read
