The Flourishing of Floralie Laurel

In 1927, 11-year-old Floralie and her brother, Tom, live on their own in an English village, supported by their grandmother, who disapproves of Floralie’s lack of proper manners and passion for painting. Flashbacks reveal the story of the children’s parents: their dynamic, flower-loving mother, who was taken away after a breakdown, as well as their abusive, deceased father. When their grandmother announces that Floralie will now live with her at the orphanage she runs, to begin training to be a “proper wife,” Floralie is distraught. Then, with her new friend, Nino, a boy who has escaped the orphanage, she discovers a letter from her mother with a series of flower clues that might lead Floralie to find her. The key to deciphering the meaning of each flower is a dictionary, and the only remaining copy is owned by the gardener at Giverny, Monet’s estate and the town where Floralie once lived. Together with Miss Clairoux, a librarian with a secret family connection, they set off for Giverny, uncovering lost relatives along the way and scrambling to escape the henchmen Floralie’s grandmother sends after her. Moser brings the era, with all its limitations for girls, to life and readers will sympathize with Floralie’s longing for more. This fast-paced and vibrant debut is packed with twists and turns that lead to a satisfying conclusion. Ages 10–14. [em]Agent: Jaida Temperly, New Leaf Literary. (May) [/em]