Things That Grow

February 1, 2021
A grandmother's last request leads to an unconventional garden tour. When Lori's maternal grandmother, Sheryl--with whom she had been living in Massachusetts for several years--dies unexpectedly, Lori loathes the idea of moving away to Maryland to live with her flighty mom and mom's latest boyfriend. Not wanting to be uprooted, she's intent on finding a way to stay put to complete her senior year of high school, especially since she's secretly in love with her neighbor and best friend, Chris. Meanwhile, Sheryl's will requests that she be cremated, an unusual directive because they are Jewish, a plot point inspired by the author's own late mother. Sheryl wished for her ashes to be distributed among things that grow--and she included a list of suggested gardens. Lori's uncle Seth helps with the arrangements, and they travel to all four locations to discreetly scatter her ashes--but of course not everything goes as planned. The romance takes an agonizing slow-burn back seat through much of the book, but eventually it all comes together in a satisfying conclusion. Sharp wit and clever details pull this story out of the weeds of becoming just another grief narrative, and Goldstein's writing blossoms in its portrayal of messy, complicated relationships. Lori is White, and Chris is Black. A charming story that promises to delight. (Fiction. 14-18)

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March 1, 2021
Grades 9-12 After Lori's grandmother, also her guardian, passes away, Lori reluctantly returns to stay with her mother in an unstable lifestyle, leaving her friends--and the boy she wishes were more than a friend--behind. As she prepares to spread her grandmother's ashes in the gardens the woman loved, Lori must learn about love, life, and family before she's able to move on. Goldstein (Chemistry Lessons, 2018) offers doses of humor amid a story that explores grief and growth. Readers with an interest in literature and gardening will be especially delighted by the details that fill out Lori's experiences as she navigates relationships and unexpected challenges with her mother, uncle, and best friend. Lori's strong moral compass adds an air of maturity, while a strong sense of place brings realism and spirit to the novel. Readers with an interest in complicated relationships, grief, and contemporary stories of the heart, like Morgan Matson's Since You've Been Gone (2014), will cherish Things That Grow.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2021

Gr 7 Up-In the summer before her senior year of high school, Lori's world turns upside down when she loses her favorite person: her Dorothy Parker-enthusiast, retired English teacher, garden-loving Grandma Sheryl. Lori has lived with her grandmother since her mom spends much of her time bouncing from job to job. Her grandma's last wish? To be cremated and scattered near things that grow. Accompanied by her fun-loving writer uncle, Seth, and her best friend and object of her affection, Chris, Lori is determined to honor her grandmother by visiting all of her favorite gardens. Meanwhile, she tries to figure out a plan to stay in Massachusetts after her mom insists she move with her to Maryland for her senior year. Full of emotion and, at times, surprisingly humorous, this novel explores the devastating impact of loss and the different ways people are affected by grief. While serving up an honest depiction of loss, this novel provides the perfect balance between the serious and the lighthearted. The principal characters of Lori, Seth, and Chris are all well written, and their interactions with one another are genuine. Despite a lackluster conflict between Lori and Seth, it's interesting to see the characters develop throughout. While imperfect, Goldstein creates a memorable story with a massive amount of heart. Lori is white and Jewish, and Chris is Black. VERDICT A strong contender for those seeking meaningful stories about love, loss, and grief.-Amanda Harding, Elmwood Elem. Sch., Wauconda, IL

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