White Oleander
Fitch, Janet
ISBN-13 978-0316284950
ISBN-10 0316284955
Publisher: Back Bay Books, 2000
Genre: Adult Crossover Fiction
Reading Level: 9th and up
Interest Age: 9th and up
Reader's Annotation:
Astrid's mother has taught her to be strong and that weakness is unacceptable, but what happens when Astrid is left alone. Her mother is in prison for murder and she has to travel this world alone.
Plot Summary:
White Oleander starts with the story of a thirteen year old girl Astrid and her mother Ingrid. Ingrid is a woman who believes weakness is unacceptable and her daughter needs to be strong always. When Ingrid's boyfriend leaves, she hunts him down and kills him with Oleander flowers. Because of this murder, she has a life sentence in prison. Astrid must face the world in front of her alone. She bounces from foster home to foster home in the dirty city of Los Angeles. All through the different battles, Ingrid has influence on Astrid's actions. Each home is not the right one for one reason or another, but ultimately, none of the homes is close to being with her mother.
In the first home, Astrid learns to paint by her foster mother's boyfriend. He becomes her lover and the home is no longer a safe place to be. One of her other foster families have so many rules that Astrid cannot tow the line. Through dumpster diving and running from danger, Ingrid gives advice that is not very helpful all along the way. When Ingrid has the chance to be released from prison, she asks Astrid to lie on the witness stand. Will the bond between mother and daughter override the truth?
Critical Evaluation:
This is Fitch's first novel and she has written it spectacularly. Astrid is a child who is thrown into adulthood way before her time. Her voice is clear from the very start of the book. She is extremely loyal to her mother who is more worried about poetry then her daughter. This story has a rawness to it that is not easily accomplished. The reader will follow Astrid through the life she did not choose to live. Fitch writes with such detail that the reader feels like they are part of the scene. The plot takes a turn when Ingrid has the chance to get out of jail. Astrid is forced to make a decision about what happened in her past. She is asked to make adult decisions again. Fitch crafts these two characters with such care, that the reader may question which is the right decision for Astrid to make. When an author can create a dilemma in the reader's mind, there is much to be said for their writing.
About the Author:
Janet Fitch was born in Los Angeles and has written two novels based out of this city. She has loved reading from a young age. Fitch attended Reed College. She was interested in history, and was particularly interested in Russian history. She attended Keele University in the United Kingdom as an exchange student. She continued to pursue her studies in Russian history.
Janet Fitch states in her blog that on her 21st birthday she woke up realizing she wanted to be a writer. The stories in history fascinated her and she wanted to create her own. She now works as a professor for a graduate program at Southern California University and is working on her third book set in Russia.
http://janetfitchwrites.wordpress.com/about/
Curriculum Ties:
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White Oleander starts with the story of a thirteen year old girl Astrid and her mother Ingrid. Ingrid is a woman who believes weakness is unacceptable and her daughter needs to be strong always. When Ingrid's boyfriend leaves, she hunts him down and kills him with Oleander flowers. Because of this murder, she has a life sentence in prison. Astrid must face the world in front of her alone. She bounces from foster home to foster home in the dirty city of Los Angeles. All through the different battles, Ingrid has influence on Astrid's actions. Each home is not the right one for one reason or another, but ultimately, none of the homes is close to being with her mother.
In the first home, Astrid learns to paint by her foster mother's boyfriend. He becomes her lover and the home is no longer a safe place to be. One of her other foster families have so many rules that Astrid cannot tow the line. Through dumpster diving and running from danger, Ingrid gives advice that is not very helpful all along the way. When Ingrid has the chance to be released from prison, she asks Astrid to lie on the witness stand. Will the bond between mother and daughter override the truth?
Critical Evaluation:
This is Fitch's first novel and she has written it spectacularly. Astrid is a child who is thrown into adulthood way before her time. Her voice is clear from the very start of the book. She is extremely loyal to her mother who is more worried about poetry then her daughter. This story has a rawness to it that is not easily accomplished. The reader will follow Astrid through the life she did not choose to live. Fitch writes with such detail that the reader feels like they are part of the scene. The plot takes a turn when Ingrid has the chance to get out of jail. Astrid is forced to make a decision about what happened in her past. She is asked to make adult decisions again. Fitch crafts these two characters with such care, that the reader may question which is the right decision for Astrid to make. When an author can create a dilemma in the reader's mind, there is much to be said for their writing.
About the Author:
Janet Fitch was born in Los Angeles and has written two novels based out of this city. She has loved reading from a young age. Fitch attended Reed College. She was interested in history, and was particularly interested in Russian history. She attended Keele University in the United Kingdom as an exchange student. She continued to pursue her studies in Russian history.
Janet Fitch states in her blog that on her 21st birthday she woke up realizing she wanted to be a writer. The stories in history fascinated her and she wanted to create her own. She now works as a professor for a graduate program at Southern California University and is working on her third book set in Russia.
http://janetfitchwrites.wordpress.com/about/
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Book Talking:
Are there any times when lying is OK?
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.
Why Read this Book:
This book examines control as opposed to care and an emotional bond. Teens who have gone through something hard will appreciate the honesty and raw emotions in this book. Those who have not will enjoy the story for something they know nothing about. This book is powerful and not easily forgotten.
Are there any times when lying is OK?
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.
Why Read this Book:
This book examines control as opposed to care and an emotional bond. Teens who have gone through something hard will appreciate the honesty and raw emotions in this book. Those who have not will enjoy the story for something they know nothing about. This book is powerful and not easily forgotten.
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