BY CATHERINE ARMITSTEAD

 

An absorbing story about a young girl growing up in care. Finding it difficult to form bonds with others, she learns to communicate through the language of flowers.

The novel moves fluidly between two different times. In the present, we follow Victoria leaving the care system at 18, unable to cope and becoming homeless. Then we flashback to the past, where she was taken in by Elizabeth, who once said she would never give up on Victoria. Yet, we know that this placement must have ended, just like all the others.

Moving between the past and the present, the reader sympathises with Victoria, seeing events from her point of view, watching her make good and bad choices, trying to survive, even if this means turning against those that show her kindness.

We empathise with characters, such as Elizabeth and Renata, who try to help Victoria. Renata recognises that Victoria has a gift. She learned about flowers and their meaning from Elizabeth, so Renata offers her work in her florist shop. Through her work, Victoria meets a young man at the flower depot. The sense of mystery grows as we are led to wonder who he is, and his connection to Elizabeth.

It is enjoyable and rewarding to learn about the meaning of flowers – the one thing that sustains Victoria. She plants a garden when she is homeless, creates an index file about their meanings and, like Elizabeth, uses them as a tool for communication for herself and others. The messages can be surprising or contradictory: cactus (which Victoria puts in Elizabeth’s shoes) means ‘ardent love’, whereas a yellow rose indicates ‘infidelity’. A thistle perfectly sums up Victoria’s misanthropic attitude, as a result of the cruelty she has experienced.

The flowers that Victoria arranges for customers even influence how their relationships develop, and bring her a chance to improve her life. The theme of growth (from seed to flower, or blossom to bloom) is an obvious metaphor for the whole novel, relationships and life itself.

Overall, this is an unexpectedly moving story. I was convinced by the narrative point of view and wanted to discover how Victoria could resolve her difficulties. At the same time, I was intrigued by the meanings of the flowers, their representations in the novel, and how they have transferred messages since ancient times.

 

This book was published by Pan and is available to buy for £7.99. It can also be borrowed from The Hive as well as other Worcestershire libraries. Click here to check availability and check it out.