Flowers in the Attic
Andrews, V.C
ISBN-13 978-0671729417
ISBN-10 0671729411
Publisher: Pocket Books, 1990
Genre: Adult Crossover Fiction- Horror
Reading Level: 9th and up
Interest Age: 9th and up
Reader's Annotation:
Cathy, Chris and their twin siblings have a great life when suddenly their father dies and they must move with their mother. They are promised happiness, but is anything as it seems?
Plot Summary:
When their father dies, Cathy, Chris and the twins move with their mother to their grandparents mansion. This sounds like a wonderful thing, but when they arrive the children are told they must stay in the attic where their grandfather cannot find them. The children's mother assures them it will only be a short while because their grandfather is on his death bed. Mother comes to visit the children regularly at first and then less and less as time goes on. The children have to start fending for themselves in this attic alone. Olivia, the grandmother, hates the children and emotionally abuses them throughout the book.
After years of this, Cathy and Chris assume the roles of mother and father in their new family. Their mother has remarried and yet the children are still locked in the attic. They start to plan their escape all the while enduring the wrath and starvation from their grandmother. Will these children get out?
Critical Evaluation:
This book is the first of a series started by V.C. Andrews. It is not the best literary work but it is a compelling story about how life is not always as it seems. The twists in the story keep the reader turning the pages from start to finish. The descriptions are one of the better qualities of this book. The reader feels as though they can see the scene playing out in front of them. Because the story is the beginning of a series, this book leaves the reader wanting more. Andrews knew what she was doing when she wrote a book for the everyday reader. This book is published by Pocketbooks and was sold in many places other than the book store. In order to appeal to the masses, Andrews needed to provide the readers with a fast paced and thrilling story.
About the Author:
Virginia C Andrews (V.C. Andrews) was born in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1923. She grew up there with her parents and two other siblings. In high school, Andrews fell down the stairs and severely injured her back. Because of this she spent most of her life in crutches or a wheelchair. When her father died, Andrews went to work as a painter to support the family. She began writing to release her creative energy.
Flowers in the Attic was originally titled The Obsessed but changed with editing. Once she began writing, Andrews released many books and series. At 63, Andrews died of breast cancer. Her family worked with a ghost writer to continue her stories. V.C. Andrews is now a different writer but her legacy remains.
http://completevca.com/bio_bio.shtml
Curriculum Ties:
N/A
When their father dies, Cathy, Chris and the twins move with their mother to their grandparents mansion. This sounds like a wonderful thing, but when they arrive the children are told they must stay in the attic where their grandfather cannot find them. The children's mother assures them it will only be a short while because their grandfather is on his death bed. Mother comes to visit the children regularly at first and then less and less as time goes on. The children have to start fending for themselves in this attic alone. Olivia, the grandmother, hates the children and emotionally abuses them throughout the book.
After years of this, Cathy and Chris assume the roles of mother and father in their new family. Their mother has remarried and yet the children are still locked in the attic. They start to plan their escape all the while enduring the wrath and starvation from their grandmother. Will these children get out?
Critical Evaluation:
This book is the first of a series started by V.C. Andrews. It is not the best literary work but it is a compelling story about how life is not always as it seems. The twists in the story keep the reader turning the pages from start to finish. The descriptions are one of the better qualities of this book. The reader feels as though they can see the scene playing out in front of them. Because the story is the beginning of a series, this book leaves the reader wanting more. Andrews knew what she was doing when she wrote a book for the everyday reader. This book is published by Pocketbooks and was sold in many places other than the book store. In order to appeal to the masses, Andrews needed to provide the readers with a fast paced and thrilling story.
About the Author:
Virginia C Andrews (V.C. Andrews) was born in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1923. She grew up there with her parents and two other siblings. In high school, Andrews fell down the stairs and severely injured her back. Because of this she spent most of her life in crutches or a wheelchair. When her father died, Andrews went to work as a painter to support the family. She began writing to release her creative energy.
Flowers in the Attic was originally titled The Obsessed but changed with editing. Once she began writing, Andrews released many books and series. At 63, Andrews died of breast cancer. Her family worked with a ghost writer to continue her stories. V.C. Andrews is now a different writer but her legacy remains.
http://completevca.com/bio_bio.shtml
N/A
Book Talking:
What does it mean to ghost write? White your own V.C. Andrews inspired story.
Challenging Issues:
If this book were to be challenged, I would go through the selection process with the challenger as well as explain the rationale for the book. There are many good qualities in this book that could be reason to have it in a collection. This book has some incest in it, but the reasons to keep it in the collection far outweigh the challenging issues.
Why Read this Book:
I chose to include this book because it is a great book for adults and teens. I first read this book at 14 and loved it. I have since read it as an adult and enjoyed different pieces of it. There is something wonderful about a horror story that is not of today's generation.
What does it mean to ghost write? White your own V.C. Andrews inspired story.
Challenging Issues:
If this book were to be challenged, I would go through the selection process with the challenger as well as explain the rationale for the book. There are many good qualities in this book that could be reason to have it in a collection. This book has some incest in it, but the reasons to keep it in the collection far outweigh the challenging issues.
Why Read this Book:
I chose to include this book because it is a great book for adults and teens. I first read this book at 14 and loved it. I have since read it as an adult and enjoyed different pieces of it. There is something wonderful about a horror story that is not of today's generation.
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