Irises

Jan 23, 2013 Sue rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: real-life, i-own, 5-stars, a-must-read-books, epic-win, favourite

S pokojným svedomím už teraz môžem Irises od Francisca X. Storka označiť za najemotívnejšiu knihu, ktorú tento rok prečítam. Po pravde si naozaj neviem predstaviť, čo by bolo emotívnejšie ako príbeh Kate a Mary.

Autor nám naservíroval príbeh plný snov a nájdenej slobody, ale aj beznádeje a ťažkých rozhodnutí. Keď už sa zdalo, že vznikne iskra nádeje na lepšie dni, Stork svojim postavám pridal ďalší životný údel. A tu sa to všetko začína. Po smrti otca zostávajú Kate a Mary samy, iba s matkou, kto...more S pokojným svedomím už teraz môžem Irises od Francisca X. Storka označiť za najemotívnejšiu knihu, ktorú tento rok prečítam. Po pravde si naozaj neviem predstaviť, čo by bolo emotívnejšie ako príbeh Kate a Mary.

Autor nám naservíroval príbeh plný snov a nájdenej slobody, ale aj beznádeje a ťažkých rozhodnutí. Keď už sa zdalo, že vznikne iskra nádeje na lepšie dni, Stork svojim postavám pridal ďalší životný údel. A tu sa to všetko začína. Po smrti otca zostávajú Kate a Mary samy, iba s matkou, ktorá je po vážnej autonehode už dva roky v bdelej kóme. Odkázané samy na seba sa pokúšajú vykľučkovať z tejto nepriaznivej situácie.

Keď som začala čítať túto knihu nečakala som od nej nič. Ale čím viac stránok mi ubúdalo, tým viac som sa zažrala do deja a nechcela som knihu odložiť, pokým neprečítam epilóg. Niekedy, takmer počas po čas celého čítania, som hľadela na stránky cez slzy. Kniha vás vtiahne a začína sa emočný kolotoč, ktorý neskončí, pokiaľ neprečítate posledné slovo. Autor vety skladá tak precízne, že aj najbanálnejšia situácia vo vás vyvolá explóziu pocitov.

Kate a Mary osud nadelil príliš. Každá sa s tým snaží vyrovnať po svojom, hoci nie vždy to vypáli tak ako si to predstavujú.

Zo začiatku som im obom držala palce, aby sa ich situácia zlepšila a ich život nebol taký krutý, aký ho autor vykreslil. Avšak už po niekoľkých stranách som si viac obľúbila Mary, pretože ona bola tá láskavá, tá, ktorá by sa najradšej aj rozkrájala, len aby všetci okolo nej boli spokojní. Od malička rada maľuje, ale to sa zmenilo po matkinej nehode. Akoby z nej vyprchalo to svetlo, ktoré videla, vždy keď na štetec nabrala farbu. Miestami som mala pocit, že Mary bola tá staršia a dospelejšia. Myslela skôr na ostatných ako na seba. Musela sa vzdať toho o čom snívala, len aby ulahodila Kate a tu je ten kameň úrazu. Mary sa musela vzdať prakticky všetkého, na rozdiel od Kate, ktorá sníva svoje sny a pevne verí, že sa všetko stane tak, ako si to predstavuje. Mary je tá, ktorá sa stará o ich matku. Snaží sa udržať sestry pokope, pretože má pocit, že sa jej Kate stále viac a viac vzďaľuje.
A je tu Kate, osemnásťročná študentka, ktorej najväčším snom je byť lekárkou a je ochotná pre to urobiť všetko. Najskôr som si myslela, že si obľúbim aj Kate, ale nebolo to tak. Po smrti otca je tá, ktorá má právo rozhodovať o všetkom, keďže je dospelá. Nie vždy boli tieto rozhodnutia správne, takmer nikdy. S klapkami na očiach si ide za svojím a občas som mala pocit, že jej je ukradnuté komu tým ublíži. Svojím egoistickým prístupom odohnala od seba nielen svoju najlepšiu kamarátku, ale aj priateľa, ktorý ju mal rád. Nedokázala som si k nej vybudovať pozitívny vzťah a často som nad jej konaním krútila hlavou, či to skutočne myslí vážne. Nemyslela na nikoho iného okrem seba, nebola schopná sa vzdať toho, o čom snívala, hoci to vyžadovala od Mary.

V knihe nebolo veľa postáv, ktoré by som si obľúbila, celkovo postáv bolo oproti iným knihám málo, ale aj tak niektoré stoja za spomenutie. Traja muži v životoch Mary a Kate, mi boli sympatickí. Marcos, Simon a Andy. Prvého z nich som mala najradšej. Hoci mal nepeknú minulosť a život sa s ním tiež zhral po svojom, dokázala som si ho obľúbiť, i keď v knihe sa nevyskytoval často. Najskôr som nevedela, čo si o Simonovi myslieť. Prišiel mi taký nijaký, ale ku koncu knihy som si ho celkom obľúbila hlavne, pretože povedal Kate pravdu o tom aká v skutočnosti je. A potom je tu Andy, ktorému som ani za ten svet neprišla na chuť a vždy vo mne vzkypela žlč, keď tlačil Kate do hlavy tie svoje kaleráby. Nakoniec je tu teta Julia, o ktorej som si takmer počas celej knihy nevedela, čo myslieť, pretože sa k dievčatám nesprávala práve ukážkovo. Ale ako sa vraví, za všetkým treba hľadať dôvod a ani pri tete Julii to nebolo inak. Hľadela som na stránku, či si zo mňa autor nestrieľa. Bohužiaľ, nestrieľal.

Všetky postavy boli reálne, čo Storkovi naozaj kvitujem, pretože v dnešnej dobe som našla len málo kníh, kde boli postavy takéto reálne. Lepšie som sa s nimi dokázala zžiť a prežívať ich údel.

Irises vám dá veľa. Hoci je kruto reálna, pretože udalosti v nej sa stávajú aj v normálnom živote, nájdete v nej štipku nádeje. A kúsok romantiky. V takmer beznádejnej situácii vám tieto pasáže prídu ako balzam na dušu. Priznám sa, že pri knihe som naozaj veľa plakala. Pre mňa nebola depresívna, len ako som už písala, kruto reálna. I keď musím sa priznať, že by mi nevadilo, ak by kniha bola o niekoľko desiatok strán dlhšia. Niektoré veci, ktoré ma zaujímali autor neopísal a skočil rovno do epilógu. Možno to je tak lepšie. Ani táto skutočnosť neubrala knihe na geniálnosti.

Francisco X. Stork má dar slova a pri ňom každá veta vyznie akoby kúzelník čaroval. Kniha sa aj napriek ťažkej téme číta ľahko a rýchlo. Zhltla som ju za dva dni a to som sa snažila čítať pomaly, aby mi vydržala, čo najdlhšie.

Irises odporúčam všetkým, ktorí majú radi príbehy z reálneho života a nevadí im, keď si pri knihe poplačú.
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Jan 05, 2012 Hafsah Laziaf rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally Posted on IceyBooks

Irises was a book I picked up because of the cover. A hazy image of two girls, possibly sisters, overlooking moving water. Now that I've flipped over the last page, I've realized the cover depicts a type of sorrow that lingers through the pages.

Irises is a tale of love and hope. Two normal girls, sisters two years apart, left alone with nothing but their broken hearts and a shaky future. Irises is a type of story that would bring a smile to your lips while tears...more

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May 30, 2012 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: death, families, faith, ncbla2013

When their minister father dies unexpectedly, sisters Kate and Mary must figure out a way to take care of their mother who is in a persistent vegetative state as well as themselves. Kate has a scholarship to Stanford, and Mary is a talented painter, but their lives have been restricted by their controlling father and their concern for their mother. As with Stork's previous two titles, this one explores questions about family, faith, and joy, but the exploration seems a bit more heavy-handed than...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Stephanie A. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-ya, illness-and-injury, sisters, girl-protagonists, grief

I came in with high hopes, but those crashed down after a few pages due to the simplistic writing style - telling-a-series-of-events style rather than making me feel like I was there with the characters. I also found the peculiar cultural expectations inaccessible. It was ludicrous to me that any father would raise his daughters like that, or that anyone would even consider getting married at 18 "just because," or that it would be a problem to go to college out of state. And I certainly don't kn...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Karin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio-edition, borrowed-from-the-library, realistic, young-adult-fiction, adult-ya-crossovers, sisters, families, terminal-illness, death-of-parent-or-parents, relationship-problems, relationships

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 04, 2012 Lbshurtleff rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: english-420

STORK CATEGORY
Kate is eighteen and wants to go to Stanford to become a Doctor. Mary is sixteen and has gift for painting, but she hasn’t felt like painting much since the accident that left their mother in a permanent vegetative state and their father overly protective and stern. One afternoon, their Father, the reverend at the Church of God, passes away from a heart condition leaving the two sisters to try and figure out what to do next. Kate’s boyfriend Simon offers to marry her, but does Kate...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reading through the reviews here, I'm surprised by how many adults read teen fiction. I'm not sure how many people are teachers, or parents, or librarians. Maybe because the teenage years are so difficult and still so vivid to us adults? But this is a book that I believe will only appeal to quite mature, thoughtful teens - and adults. Stork's storytelling is slow and measured. I like his writing - I like the simplicity of his words, which still manage to get across emotion and to move the plot f...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Brianna rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 05, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Kate and Mary are not your typical sisters. They have been raised by a very strict religious father. Their clothes are old fashioned, they don't drive, aren't allowed to speak slang, and are discouraged from following their dreams. This life was manageable until their mother was involved in an accident that put her in a persistent vegetative state. Now they have added caring for her to their list of concerns along with having no one to help them deal with their father.

Kate dreams of going to St...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Christina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobooks, realistic, read-in-2012

I wanted to like this better, because I really loved the author's Marcelo in the Real World. But this one left me a little flat. It's about 2 sisters who must deal with the sudden death of their minister father, while continuing to care for their comatose mother and trying to figure out what their future is going to hold. The older sister, Kate, is 18, about to graduate from high school, but the younger sister, Mary, still has a couple of years of school left. Kate has always dreamed of going to...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Julie Graves rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

As Mary and Kate's mother lays in a vegetative state once again the girls are faced with tragedy. Their minister father has now passed away and they are left with decisions too difficult for them to face.

Mary is an artist, but once her mother's accident happened the light has gone out of her paintings. Mary has devoted her life to taking care of her mother. Now she must give up her extra art class after school in order to be more available to care for her mother.

Kate has always dreamed of going...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Krissie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I rounded up from 3.5 stars. Also, I read an uncorrected proof copy that someone added to the book exchange shelf at work. One of the things I think I liked best about this book is that the characters are religious, but not in-your-face preachy about it; they don't walk around going "God will show me the way"; they don't run from the mall shrieking that make-up is a sin (though I avoid it myself, I don't think it's sinful; just impractical); and they don't strike me as snooty in their religiosit...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Jill rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have read everything Stork has written, and this is the first book of his that didn’t have me gasping with love and admiration for his writing and his characters.

The story is about two sisters: Kate who is 18, and Mary who is 16. They are daughters of a preacher who has always been very strict with them. At the onset of the book, the dad dies of heart failure, and Kate and Mary have to cope on their own. Their mother is still home, but has been in a vegetative state on a feeding tube ever sin...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Kat Alexander rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, books-i-own, read-2011, figment-review, reviewed

With their father recently dead and their mother in a permanent vegetative state for the third year with no hope of waking up, just paying rent is a challenge for sisters Kate and Mary. Kate is graduating this year, and has dreams that extent out of El Paso--she's applied for Stanford, though everyone expects her to stay home and attend UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso for all you non-Texan folks) and marry her long-term boyfriend Simon and look after her sister and mother. Mary just wants t...more With their father recently dead and their mother in a permanent vegetative state for the third year with no hope of waking up, just paying rent is a challenge for sisters Kate and Mary. Kate is graduating this year, and has dreams that extent out of El Paso--she's applied for Stanford, though everyone expects her to stay home and attend UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso for all you non-Texan folks) and marry her long-term boyfriend Simon and look after her sister and mother. Mary just wants to be able to paint, wherever she is. Their father's retirement money is running out fast. Their lease from the church is running out, too, with a new minister ready to move in. Something has to be done, and soon.

The blurb on the inside flap touts an intense romantic subplot, one for each of the sisters: Kate torn between the new minister Reverend Andy Soto and good old Simon, who has proposed and will offer much-needed stability for the family with the restaurant he owns; Mary drawn to Marcos, but conflicted as, well, he's in a gang and sort of sketchy (see, that was another pun, because they're artists--I'll stop now). Most of this whole subplot felt as canned as the inner flap would suggest, unnatural--like the author decided each sister needed to have a man in their life now that their (vastly overprotective) father had died. Kate's dilemma I'll buy. Andy might be older, but he has an understandable appeal--whereas everyone else tries to put her down and say it's selfish for Kate to even think about going to college anywhere but UTEP, Andy feeds her ambition and opens her eyes to possibilities her family, best friend and Simon would never suggest. Andy becomes her confidant, and his non-traditional approach of leaving God out of the equation ends up bringing her closer to the faith she's left behind. Mary's situation, not so much. She's warm to most everyone we see, but abruptly cold and hard when she meets Marcos, something he hints is normal. Either the author was remarkably subtle about it, or half of Mary's deal with not dating anyone or whatever was made up to give her something to grapple with. Neither of these issues are really resolved, either, contributing to their tacked-on, half-hearted feel.

A definite high point for Irises is the dialogue. Each character speaks in a distinct style, but it doesn't feel put-on or fake. Bonnie, Kate's best friend, speaks in a vastly different tone from Mary, but each sounds genuine--or at least not so fake I noticed. Subtly is also a strong point, writing-wise, and though there is a line to be drawn between 'subtle' and 'leaving it out but mentioning it later so it looks like you just forgot about it' (see: Mary's deal with boys), Stork usually leans towards the former. We find out the details of the girls' mother's accident slowly, as well as their father's life. It cuts out the long, boring explication passages I abhor, which makes reading much more pleasant and keeps my walls from receiving unnecessary dents. Overall, reading the book was pretty pleasant, really.

Except that while I wasn't throwing the book across the room, I did have to let out some verbal frustration as the "problems" piled on. This book, like so many others, suffers from what I have decided just now to call Excessive Setback Syndrome (if you have a better name, please tweet me--@maybealivecat). ESS is characterised by the plot involving minor issue after minor issue piled on, which causes the characters to all freak out and the reader to sigh in defeat because while these "problems" keep coming up, nothing bad ever happens. Often symptoms include characters who are completely overwhelmed and minor issues blown up to an enormous scale by the characters who aren't. For example, Kate going to college. I can understand her family not being terribly supportive of the idea. But it wasn't consistently spread--some people, like Simon and her Aunt Julia, decided that it was the most horribly selfish thing she could ever come up with, akin to, I don't know, selling Mary to a circus. Perhaps I lack perspective, not being a first-generation college hopeful, but it wasn't so much the negative reactions as the inconsistency of the reactions. Some people were excited for her. Kate's mother was the one who suggested she go to Stanford rather than UTEP. And then a few characters decided wanting to go to Stanford on full scholarship was like wanting to sell her sister to the circus. The characters who reacted negatively often lacked groups to their claims of selfishness, nor did those who reacted positively.

Though labelled for grades nine and up, I'd widen that up to middle school. It's a decent read, tame (the romance frustratingly so) and family-friendly. The most controversial thing, I think, would be the heavy Christian focus, which seems at times out-of-place and deliberate. Overall, three stars, and a recommendation to pick it up if you're bored, but not go search on Amazon to get it here by Christmas.(less)

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Nov 22, 2011 Richie Partington rated it 5 of 5 stars

Richie's Picks: IRISES by Francisco X. Stork, Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic, January 2012, 304p., ISBN: 978-0-545-15135-1

"Every night, before Kate went to sleep, she poured rubbing alcohol on her palms and massaged Mama's legs so they would not atrophy. When she first started doing this, she kept expecting Mama to open her eyes, to sit up, say thank you, hug her. But as time went on, the nightly hope gave way to a sense that the limbs she was touching were devoid of energy, that life would never...more

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Sep 02, 2012 bjneary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, multicultural-fiction, kindle, realistic-fiction

I just love Francisco Stork's style of writing and this 3rd book was moving, difficult, and you so want Kate and Mary to survive what life is throwing at them. Kate and Mary are two sisters with a strict minister father they love and a mother who has been in a vegetative state for two years since a car accident. Kate and Mary's lives are changed after their mother's accident and when her father refuses to keep her in a facility, she comes to their home; with some outside help to care for their m...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Tamara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, ya-fiction, audiobook

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Technically this is a YA fiction book, but probably should be classify as a Young Adult Christian fiction book. I was not expecting that because neither the book description nor any of the genres that this book was placed on goodreads.com gave any indication. I don't have an issue reading religious books, but I like to know what I'm getting into before I begin. I listed to this on audio over several days. It was entertaining and the story was light enough that I could listen and do other tasks....more Technically this is a YA fiction book, but probably should be classify as a Young Adult Christian fiction book. I was not expecting that because neither the book description nor any of the genres that this book was placed on goodreads.com gave any indication. I don't have an issue reading religious books, but I like to know what I'm getting into before I begin. I listed to this on audio over several days. It was entertaining and the story was light enough that I could listen and do other tasks. I picked up a free audio download courtesy of Sync (http://www.audiobooksync.com/) via Overdrive.

In El Paso Texas two sisters Kate & Mary Romero, 18 and 16 respectively, lives change drastically after this Pastor father dies. After their father passes they really only have each other. Thier mother has been in a persistant vegetative state for some years and requires a nurse to help care for her.

Both sisters are extremely sheltered. They don't know how to drive, don't have cell phones, have old clothes. I'm was shocked that Kate even was allowed to have a job! They were raised very different than the average child. Even their father didn't drive. In a lot of ways the girls are naive and ill prepared for the road that lies ahead. It was sad to learn that they were taught that having ambition is bad and one should basically be a martyr. It's very unfortunate for girls to be taught this.

Yes, Mary has her faith which helps her keep a level head, but Kate struggles with her faith. There were lessons they needed to be learned and some hard decisions that needed to be made. All the situations were discussed with grace and without being overly preachy. They had to deal with the state of their mother, being forced out of their home owned by the church, issues with insurance money, an seemingly despondent aunt, Kate's college situation and Mary's guardianship. On top of all those external situations, they had to come to terms with their own personal issues and growth.

With their friends and some advice from sounds sources, Kate and Mary navigate their way through becoming independent young women and learning how to communicate and trust each other. In the end, all worked out of course, but it was a rocky road getting there. I was happy to hear that both Kate and Mary got not only what they needed but what they wanted also. All in all, the book was good. I'd give it a chance if you're looking for something quick and easy.

Because this was audio, I must speak on the narrator's voice. I personally think they could have selected a better reader, her voice is so child like. At first I thought I was listening to a MD (Middle Grade) book, I almost cut it off after 15 minutes. But then I realized the story was a little bit older, so I hung in there. Listening to the narrators voice improved, but maybe that is only because I got used to it. It would have been nice to have a more mature sounding reader or to possibly have two different readers. One for Mary and one for Kate.(less)

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Mar 27, 2012 Justin rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was really intrigued by this book when I had came across it awhile back. From the description, it really sounded like it would be a great story. In some ways it was, but it just wasn't what I had pictured it being. I didn't really have high hopes, because I am so use to that backfiring on me.. But I did hope it would live up to my thoughts of the description of the book, since it's essentially a basic overview of what you will be reading. This isn't going to be a very long review, just want to...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Nicola rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-audio-books, 2012-books, challenge-books

3 1/2 stars
Kate and Mary have been brought up by a very strict religious family, and struggle to live the way they want to in a world filled with rules. rules that make it difficult for these girls to fit in, or to follow their dreams.
Mary, a gifted painter, has lost the light in her painting since her mother was in a car accident and ended up in a persistant vegetative state. Kate's dream of going to Stanford goes against her father's ideals, as he feels she should not be ambitious nor leave h...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Kay Mcgriff rated it 4 of 5 stars

I first discovered Francisco X. Stork when I read and loved Marcello in the Real World, so I was excited to download Irises from the Sync YA website to listen to this past week. Irises is a very different kind of book from Marcello. It is a quiet book, but it has power in the questions it explores. I am still mulling over those questions of love and ambition days after finishing the story.

Kate and Mary, sisters, are left alone after the death of their strict father, a minister in the Church of...more I first discovered Francisco X. Stork when I read and loved Marcello in the Real World, so I was excited to download Irises from the Sync YA website to listen to this past week. Irises is a very different kind of book from Marcello. It is a quiet book, but it has power in the questions it explores. I am still mulling over those questions of love and ambition days after finishing the story.

Kate and Mary, sisters, are left alone after the death of their strict father, a minister in the Church of God. Just before his death, Father told Kate that "love makes everything that is heavy light." Kate struggles to understand and apply these words as she faces impossible choices that could tear her apart from her sister for good. Kate has dreamed of going to Stanford to become a doctor, but everyone expects her to marry her responsible boyfriend Simon, who offers to take care of them all. The church wants to evict them from the parsonage, but the new minister, Andy, tempts Kate to pursue her ambition no matter the cost to others. Driven by her ambition, Kate doubts and questions the faith she was brought up in.

Mary, a talented painter, faces her own struggles. She no longer has to fight her father to paint, but she's not even sure she can paint anymore. Ever since her mother's accident, she has lost the joy she once found in painting. No longer can she see, much less capture, the light she once saw flow from other people. Again and again she turns to her study of Van Gogh's painting of two irises, but her colors seem lifeless. Then there is Marcos. This onetime gang member has raw artistic talent and keeps coming around to offer and ask for help. Through it all, Mary turns to her faith for comfort.

Then there are the choices Kate and Mary must face regarding their mother, who has been in a permanent vegetative state following a car accident two years ago. Should she live with them or in an institution? How will they be able to pay for her care? Would the most loving act be to let her go? These two sisters are very different in how they face the death of their father and the choices they must make in their lives. Will their choices bring them closer together or drive them completely apart?

First published on my blog at http://kaymcgriff.edublogs.org/?p=4201 (less)

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Oct 01, 2012 Alicia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

FRANCISCO X. STORK

Kate and Mary are sisters and best friends. Kate wants to leave Texas to go to Stanford and fulfill her dreams of becoming a Dr. Mary just wants to stay home and paint. Then, their strict and loving father dies. Kate and Mary must find a way to support themselves and their mother who is on life support. Three men influence the girls’ lives as Kate’s boyfriend, Simon, proposes and offers to support Kate and Mary. This is the logical thing to do as Simon is a good, strong young m...more FRANCISCO X. STORK

Kate and Mary are sisters and best friends. Kate wants to leave Texas to go to Stanford and fulfill her dreams of becoming a Dr. Mary just wants to stay home and paint. Then, their strict and loving father dies. Kate and Mary must find a way to support themselves and their mother who is on life support. Three men influence the girls’ lives as Kate’s boyfriend, Simon, proposes and offers to support Kate and Mary. This is the logical thing to do as Simon is a good, strong young man, but Kate’s heart isn’t in it. Aunt Julia, their only living relative, is visiting from California and encourages the match. Kate and Simon end up breaking up as Kate can no longer hide her true feelings (or lack thereof) for Simon. Kate also has another man who is interested in her life—Reverend Andy Soto. Andy takes over the church when Kate’s dad dies, and pushes the girls to make a hard decision about their mother by forcing them out of the church house. Mother suffered in a terrible car crash and has been on life support in the home for two years. Their father would never allow their mother to be released from life support. The simple solution would be to have Aunt Julia come live with the girls in Texas. However, they discover that Aunt Julia has breast cancer and cannot take care of the girls. Tensions mount as Kate sees that they don’t have the income to continue supporting mother and she believes that mother has already moved on. Mary is convinced that mother might still wake up and her soul is still with them. This difference threatens to divide the sisters forever. Ultimately, Kate postpones her admittance and scholarship to Stanford and pushes the Reverend to give them more time at the church’s house. At the end, Kate overcomes her selfishness and relentless ambitions to save her relationship with her sister. Mary eventually sees Kate’s point and is able to let her mother go. Through this grieving Mary finds the joy in painting again. The sisters both move to California; Kate goes to Stanford and Mary lives with Aunt Julia to help out and be close to her sister. This is a trying story about family relationships. Realizing that in every relationship sacrifices must be made; Kate and Mary grow up and manage to maintain their close relationship. I thought this was a cute story about the struggles between dreams and reality. I also appreciated the strong family values presented in this novel. I would suggest this book to a middle young adult reader. (less)

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Mar 28, 2012 Jinky rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

I'm a sucker for sister stories because my sister and I are tight so I am intrigued about portrayals of sisters. This one was tender. I was attracted to the struggle these two sisters Kate and Mary found themselves to face at a fairly young age. Raised strict by a preacher father who soon dies at the beginning of the book. Left with a vegetative mother to take care. Kate and Mary had to be adults rather quickly (though Kate at 18yo was technically an adult). Making hard decisions for the welfare...more

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Feb 21, 2013 jv poore rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: buried-under-books, young-adult

Some people are raised to believe that all matters are black and white. This is good, that is bad. This is acceptable, that is not. Someone is either alive, or he is dead. From the outside looking in, this may appear to be oppressive. On the other hand, these people already have all of the answers, they know what they can do, and what they cannot---it is that simple. Until it isn’t.

Kate and Mary are sisters, raised by a very strict Protestant Reverend and his dutiful wife. In their mother, they...more Some people are raised to believe that all matters are black and white. This is good, that is bad. This is acceptable, that is not. Someone is either alive, or he is dead. From the outside looking in, this may appear to be oppressive. On the other hand, these people already have all of the answers, they know what they can do, and what they cannot---it is that simple. Until it isn’t.

Kate and Mary are sisters, raised by a very strict Protestant Reverend and his dutiful wife. In their mother, they found joy. Kate and her mother shared a special, secret dream. Together, they talked of Kate attending Stanford and becoming a doctor. Mary also shared her dream with her mother, only it was no secret. Mary is an extraordinary artist, particularly for her young age. She sees a light around people and is able to subtly work that into her paintings. Mother is proud of Mary and she enthusiastically supports her younger daughter. Father thinks painting is a waste of time and he simply assumes that Kate will follow his plan; stay active in church, get married and raise a family. So, for a while, Kate and Mary have the simplicity of knowing what is acceptable and what is not and they experience joy and fantasies with their mother.

A terrible accident leaves their mom in a vegetative state with only a part-time nurse to help the girls care for her needs. Poor health has father meeting his maker while sixteen year old Mary sits by his side. Two years her senior, Mary looks to Kate to figure out how they will get by. Their house belongs to the church, Kate has Stanford waiting and Mary is too young to be on her own; but finding someone to take her and her mother in seems impossible.

Mr. Stork masterfully captures the stoicism and detachment that, at first, encompass the household. By sprinkling in bits of family history, he coaxes empathy from the reader. The girls’ characters develop as they struggle to leave the confines of their black and white world and make decisions they’ve never imagined. Kate’s use of her newfound freedom may amplify their troubles. The choices they are faced with could bring them closer, or forever rip them apart.

I found this story to be enlightening and compelling. I will certainly pick up another Francisco X. Stork book.

3.5 stars(less)

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Feb 27, 2013 Renae M. rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2013, contemporary-or-realistic-fiction, published-2012

I honestly don’t know what to make of Irises. Undeniably, Francisco X. Stork doesn’t really “get” the teenage demographic, but at the same time I had a huge emotional investment in the story. My feelings regarding this book are conflicted at best, and indifferent at worst. In any case, Irises is a book that didn’t quite live up to its potential, though (I think) I liked it anyways.

Initially, I was really excited to read book because it deals with subjects not often touched on in YA—namely, relig...more I honestly don’t know what to make of Irises. Undeniably, Francisco X. Stork doesn’t really “get” the teenage demographic, but at the same time I had a huge emotional investment in the story. My feelings regarding this book are conflicted at best, and indifferent at worst. In any case, Irises is a book that didn’t quite live up to its potential, though (I think) I liked it anyways.

Initially, I was really excited to read book because it deals with subjects not often touched on in YA—namely, religion and faith. Irises is about two sisters, Kate and Mary, who were raised by their stifling minister father and how they deal with themselves after his death. I thought Stork handled religion very well, offering a realistic view into what that looks like and how it affects your personality. I thought the topic was tastefully done, though others might find it to be mildly preachy, perhaps.

The other issue Mary and Kate have to face is what to do with their mother, who’s in a persistent vegetative state. They can’t afford to hire a nurse for her, and a facility won’t take her since she’s considered brain-dead. Either sacrifices have to be made, or the sisters have to let their mother go, which is the biggest sacrifice of all.

Yet though I loved the plot and the themes Stork attempted to play with in this book, I don’t think he had a good grasp on his characters or teenagers in general. Mary and Kate sounded like they were five years old, and, unhelpfully, their narration was mostly juvenile “telling” with very little “showing.” Irises also attempts to realistically portray teen sex, but in that area it failed massively. Considering Kate and Mary’s conservative upbringing, I was willing to be open-minded, but when Stork used the phrase “made love” seven times in one paragraph, I about lost it. And then there’s a scene where Kate gives her boyfriend a handjob, and…no. The most ridiculous “romantic” scene I’ve read all year. The long and short of it is this: Francisco X. Stork does not understand his audience or the age-group he is writing about.

Stork’s writing, also, was fairly immature. This read very much like a younger middle grade novel, which didn’t work well at all when dealing with things like cutting off life-support and handjobs, etc. There are cases where “show vs. tell” is a bunch of nonsensical rigmarole, but not in Irises. While reading this, I felt like I was five years old and in a Sunday school class with a white-haired old lady. NOT the kind of novel I like to read.

In the end, I think Irises was written by the wrong author. The story was good and interesting, but the characters were difficult to connect with and some subjects were looked at through rose-colored glasses. I think Stork is probably a good author, but this just isn’t the kind of thing he’s meant to write. I hate it when an author underestimates my intelligence, and I think that’s what this author did here. So in the end, Irises was only okay.

Read more reviews at Respiring Thoughts.(less)

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Jul 09, 2012 Terri rated it 4 of 5 stars

I actually give "Irises" a 3.5. I have loved Francisco X. Stork's work in the past; however, this was my least favorite of his novels.

"Irises" is really the story of the love between two sisters, despite what the inside of the book jacket says. The book begins with a scene from their past, an easy time of love and light. In the next chapter, we step into the present and listen in on a conversation between Kate (age 18) and her father, a minister. He tells her,"You are the oldest in the family. I...more I actually give "Irises" a 3.5. I have loved Francisco X. Stork's work in the past; however, this was my least favorite of his novels.

"Irises" is really the story of the love between two sisters, despite what the inside of the book jacket says. The book begins with a scene from their past, an easy time of love and light. In the next chapter, we step into the present and listen in on a conversation between Kate (age 18) and her father, a minister. He tells her,"You are the oldest in the family. If something ever happens to me, you will need to put the family first. You'll think it's not fair for such a burden to be placed on you, but the burden will fall on you nevertheless...Without love, the burden will be too heavy for you to bear...Love makes everything that is heavy light." Soon after, he dies. Kate and her younger sister Mary have already suffered with the "loss" of their mother who lives in their home in a vegetative state after being involved in an accident several years earlier. This is only the beginning of their troubles. The insurance company calls their death benefit claim fraudulent and denies in. The church deacons deliver the news that they must be out of their house in two months. The list goes on and on. The two must figure out how to survive, how to care for their mother, how to follow their dreams, and how to (above all else) preserve their relationship. Stork bites off a lot here. But he somehow manages to pull it all together into a believable and satisfying ending.

"Irises" is heavy on thematic content as well as plot. Points for thought and discussion include: end of life issues, loss of a parent, love and light, the healing power of art, love between sisters, love between children and their parents, romantic love, dreams, religion and faith issues, relationships, honor, and on and on. There is much complexity here that requires a mature, thinking reader - which has been true in Stork's other works, but not to this extent.

This is a character driven book. All of the characters are complex and well-developed. There are no stereotypes here. The characters grow and change as the story develops.

Pair this with books like Nina LaCour's "Hold Still" (the healing power of art), James Proimos's "Twelve Things To Do Before You Crash and Burn" (loss of a parent) and Jodi Picoult's "Lone Wolf" (end of life issues).(less)

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Dec 10, 2011 Krystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

This a book many teens will want to find under the Christmas tree or, since it comes out January 1st, as a last present to open. The two main characters in this book are sisters, Kate and Mary. Both are gifted in their own way. Kate is a super student and Mary is an impressive artist, especially with painting. Their father is a reverend whose strict views can sometimes hinder his daughters' dreams. Their mother, due to a horrible accident, was left in a vegetative state with her daughters to car...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Jenna Cooper rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, english-420

Francisco X. Stork requirement
Irises by Francisco X. Stork is a novel about two sisters--Kate, striving to become a doctor, and Mary--an artist finding her way back to painting. When their loving but restrictive father dies, leaving the sister to care for their vegetative mother, Kate and Mary have to figure out what they want out of life, what sacrifices they must make, and what they're willing to do and give up for to make the best out of their lives.
This book explores the differences between...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Alysia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook

I got this free copy from Audiobooksync.com last summer when they were giving away two new audiobooks a week. I had no idea about this book or the author. I just wanted a free audiobook and I don't think I even read the synopsis either.
The story of two sisters Mary and Kate takes place in El Paso, Texas and during their high school years. The plot is overall really interesting, and I was held in by wanting to know what happens to the sisters after their father passes away.
Don't worry that is n...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Donna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: tweens, teens

This book offers a lot to teen readers who are not into the typical trends of teen fiction (paranormal romance, etc.). Teenagers Kate and Mary have grown up in a protective, enclosed environment intended by their minister father to keep them on the right path. Added to this is the responsibility of caring for their mother, who has been living at home in a persistent vegetative state for the last two years. When their father dies, Kate and Mary must reevaluate their priorities, their ambitions, a...more

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Dec 01, 2012 Patrice rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: english-420

Category: Francisco X. Stork

This is the story of two sisters, Kate and Mary. Their father dies at the start of the book, and they are left to care for themselves and for their mother, who has been in vegetative state for the last two years. Kate and Mary have to decide what to do as far as college decisions, marriage decisions, and family decisions. The main themes of this book focus on trust, family, love. The book asks what these things are and challenges the sisters' assumptions. Kate and Mar...more

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