First published 2001
Olivia and Nellie arrive at their great aunt's house carrying grief and uncertainty. Their mother has died, and now they must build a new life in an unfamiliar place. Their great aunt's property holds secrets buried beneath years of neglect. The garden sprawls wild and choked with weeds. What was once carefully tended has grown into a tangle of forgotten plants and overgrown paths. The sisters begin the hard work of clearing away the mess. They pull weeds, trim branches, and discover what lies beneath the chaos. As they restore the garden to its former beauty, something shifts inside them too. The physical labor of gardening becomes a way to process their grief. Each plant they save, each bed they clear, helps them find their footing in this new chapter. The garden's transformation mirrors their own healing as they learn to call this place home.
Genres: fiction, family-life, grief, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate
Tropes: found-family, healing
Setting: Great Aunt's House
188 pages · Hardcover · Thorndike Pr