Flowers in the Sky

Gr 8 Up—This story of family secrets, friendships, and a love of nature is a compelling read. Fifteen-year-old Nina's life in the Dominican Republic suits her just fine. Despite being poor, Nina has her garden, school, friends, and a mother with whom she is very close. But when Mami catches her flirting with an older boy, she is sent to live with her brother in New York City. Mami insists that going to New York will give her daughter a better life and pays for a false passport. Once in the city, Nina discovers that her brother is involved in something illegal and that he has lost interest in gardening, a passion that they once shared, even though he buys her orchids to raise on the fire escape. She realizes how hard he struggles to make enough money to send back to their mother. When she meets handsome Luis, her brother demands that she stop seeing him, but she disobeys. Nina is a strong heroine, and Joseph does an exceptional job of portraying flawed but sympathetic characters. The descriptions of life in the Dominican Republic and New York City provide interesting and realistic contrasts and show how immigrants keep much of their culture in a new environment as a matter of survival. This title fills a need for Latino literature, but it also tells a universal story with touches of mystery and romance.—Janet Hilbun, Texas Women's University, Denton, TX