hellmaidn 's review for:

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I loved the movie and to no surprise i loved this book as well, Astrid is a character i hold close because she has experienced many of the same things i have as a former child in the system. Her emotions towards her mother and her time in foster care are so raw, real and complex which i don’t see a lot of. Every woman she encountered in the story played a large role in shaping who she became towards the end of the book— i loved that we were able to see her go from a young, confused girl with no control to a young woman who is sure of herself.