The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is a deeply moving novel whose protagonist is Victoria, a damaged eighteen year old who has just been released from the foster-care system and left to navigate the world alone with no friends, family, home or job prospects. All she has is her knowledge of the Language of Flowers, taught to her by a former foster mother a decade ago.
This novel was so heartbreaking, at times it was hard to read, yet it was totally captivating. Even as Victoria continues to make bad choices, ruining her own chances for happiness, we can't help rooting for her. We feel her scared and tender heart as she cares for the most fragile flowers, gently replanting their roots and nurturing them.
Diffenbaugh is a foster mother herself and writes from her experience. This is an amazing debut, weaving together grief with hope, desperation with redemption, loneliness with family; with the magical language of flowers at the heart of the novel. A great read.
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