Summary:
Left on her own when her family dies in a terrible disaster, fifteen-year-old Green is haunted by loss and by the past. Struggling to survive physically and emotionally in a place where nothing seems to grow and ashes are everywhere, Green retreats into the ruined realm of her garden. But in destroying her feelings, she also begins to destroy herself, erasing the girl she’d once been as she inks darkness into her skin. It is only through a series of mysterious encounters that Green can relearn the lessons of love and begin to heal enough to tell her story.
My take: 3 looks
Originally reviewed August 20, 2011
Really fast little book to read. It was surprisingly enchanting for me. I liked the symbolism and the external show of internal emotion. I liked the metaphor of loss of oneself in the midst of great grief. I liked the communion of person with nature and animal. There was so much symbolism in this book that is worth a deeper look. On the surface, the coming to grips of a young girl with overwhelming anguish and grief to find her place and rediscover herself was story enough to love.
Highly recommended.
