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Early Spring #2
Scattered Leaves
She was supposed to be hidden away. But when the truth is exposed, she can't stay silent....
After tragedy tears her family apart, Jordan March is shipped off by her domineering Grandmother Emma to live with Emma's long-forgotten sister. Shuttered in a rundown farmhouse, Aunt Frances is the strangest person Jordan has ever met. Why has Grandmother hidden away this fragile, harmless woman did Frances grow up much too fast, like Jordan did? In the shadows of the farmhouse, Jordan is about to unearth the shattering truth and the March family will never be the same...
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
V.C. Andrews
369 books9,221 followersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
July 11, 2011
My thoughts on the first book of this series was that the little girl, Jordan, had everything being done around her and she didn't do anything. She was just a witness. I thought perhaps it would be more interesting to be in her brother, Ian's head than in Jordan's.
I was hoping this book would be better, but I feel there was a lot lacking from the story.
Jordan goes to stay with grandmother's sister, who loves to live in stories and play pretend. While there, Jordan is influenced by a "bad girl next door" who teaches Jordan to drink, how to flirt with boys and so on. Much of the story was confusing. There was a boy in 8th grade that the girls flirted with, why a boy in 8th grade pays attention to 3rd and 4th graders is beyond me.
Also, do 8th graders have licenses and have jobs? When I was in 8th grade, I remember being 14. Maybe I was young, but really?
Mostly, I was sad to see Jordan just being listless and uninvolved in any decisions. The only decision she made was to get along with everyone, mostly by not standing up for herself and what she was really thinking.
To note, the most interesting part of this story was of Emma and her sister about 40 some odd years ago. It would have been better if the story was told by Emma or her sister, and not of Jordan discovering this 'secret'. I wanted to know what happened in the attic, and the changes that went through the family. *spoiler* The secret of Jordan's father being (+*spoiler) Emma's sister's and not her own son* was not as interesting as the fact that *spoiler* Emma locking her sister in an attic. That shows some cruelty that didn't come out later on which I would have expected of a VC Andrews novel. This whole thing was downplayed so much.
By the end of the story it seemed like Jordan turned into a flirting with boys, popular type of girl at her school, which was so odd. Was that really what she wanted? I don't know, this story put me in a weird, "Why am I reading this?" type of mood. I finished it just to move on to the next book.
Here's hoping the next series is better.
I was hoping this book would be better, but I feel there was a lot lacking from the story.
Jordan goes to stay with grandmother's sister, who loves to live in stories and play pretend. While there, Jordan is influenced by a "bad girl next door" who teaches Jordan to drink, how to flirt with boys and so on. Much of the story was confusing. There was a boy in 8th grade that the girls flirted with, why a boy in 8th grade pays attention to 3rd and 4th graders is beyond me.
Also, do 8th graders have licenses and have jobs? When I was in 8th grade, I remember being 14. Maybe I was young, but really?
Mostly, I was sad to see Jordan just being listless and uninvolved in any decisions. The only decision she made was to get along with everyone, mostly by not standing up for herself and what she was really thinking.
To note, the most interesting part of this story was of Emma and her sister about 40 some odd years ago. It would have been better if the story was told by Emma or her sister, and not of Jordan discovering this 'secret'. I wanted to know what happened in the attic, and the changes that went through the family. *spoiler* The secret of Jordan's father being (+*spoiler) Emma's sister's and not her own son* was not as interesting as the fact that *spoiler* Emma locking her sister in an attic. That shows some cruelty that didn't come out later on which I would have expected of a VC Andrews novel. This whole thing was downplayed so much.
By the end of the story it seemed like Jordan turned into a flirting with boys, popular type of girl at her school, which was so odd. Was that really what she wanted? I don't know, this story put me in a weird, "Why am I reading this?" type of mood. I finished it just to move on to the next book.
Here's hoping the next series is better.
December 19, 2010
Liked this even more than the first one and am very disappointed that this is only a two part series. It had something abit 'Secrets of the Morning' about it. I thought Great-aunt Frances was very much like Charlotte Booth. Jordan seemed older than 7, much more so in the last part of the book, which I felt was a little unrealistic. I couldn't decide if I liked Alanis or not. On one hand she was quiet nice to Jordan but most of the time she just seemed to be getting her into trouble and using her. She should have known better than to get a little girl drinking booze. At the end of the book it says Ian is coming home. Why does he get to come home? He murdered someone and from his letters he seems to have gone nuts. I want to know what happens to the family now! Why have they stopped doing family sagas? Bring them back!
September 7, 2015
Okay okay...this book is better than first one. But it is still weird to me >,>
Lot of secrets with Jordan's grandmother Emma and Great Aunt Frances!
Lot of secrets with Jordan's grandmother Emma and Great Aunt Frances!
September 15, 2009
I read this since I had already read the 1st book to it which by the way BIG disappointment it was. Well this one was even worse. I don't know what is going on with V.C Andrews but I remember her books being one of my favorites but this series just made me question anything else she puts out.
October 31, 2012
I loved this book and the first one. It held my interest all through out, and I could not put it down. I know some members posted that this book was just trying to copy Flowers in the Attic, but I complete disagree, and I have read both series to the end. I can kind of see some similarities, but I think that some people were way over thinking it, or "nuking it." As a coming of age story, I would have to say this one was in my top 3 maybe number one? If it wasn't so sexual or had sexual situations I think I should say, this would been an awesome young adult book but alas people are to easily up in arms about dumb stuff. So what do I think? I think you should read this book, but make sure you read Broken Flower first. Also it has very sweet ending, so you won't be disappointed!
April 11, 2014
This is relatable,because I am precocious too. Yet, I do not understand all the madness she had to endure just because she is. I guess it's Emma's... I don't know... insecurity issues? But it doesn't explain the other elders' opinions about her. Anyway, the story was okay, although I didn't like it much that she was beginning to be badly influenced by Alanis, but meh. No one's parfait. ;) I found Ian's letters creepy, but I like his analogies of people to the insects. Kinda learned a lot from that. One good point of this is that they all had a happy ending, even Emma. Or so I think hers were happy.
July 25, 2007
I read this because it too, was left at my house. Same autor as "Flowers in the Attic". It was deplorable. Questionable story content, uncomfortable story lines and a very unsatisfying ending. I felt dumber after reading it.
September 14, 2009
Bad, bad, bad... Characters were totally unbelievable and unlikable! I only read it because I remembered that I liked some of her books when I read them in high school. Now I know why I read them back then and liked them.
April 21, 2011
Quick read. I know what to expect in a V.C. Andrews book. I wasn't disappointed.
January 20, 2014
V.C. Andrews... same type of story.. meh..
January 31, 2016
What the heck was this? This is one of the worst books I ever read. Nothing ever seemed to happen. It dragged on forever. Bad developed characters, poor plot, bad everything.
August 16, 2017
Highly unlikely tale with an even more unlikely ending.
February 4, 2022
Tells the story of Jordan March who’s sent off by her controlling Grandmother Emma to live with her great-aunt Frances Wilkens, Emma’s sister.
Jordan’s brother Ian was institutionalized because he poisoned Miss Harper, Emma’s minder. After her parents got into an accident, Harper came to live with them. She was mean to Ian and Ian put rat poison in her glass of water which killed her.
On her way to her Aunt Frances’s farmhouse Jordan ponders what she’d do when she got there. Would she gather eggs? Would she plant vegetables? Perhaps pick wild berries for jams.
She also wonders what her great-aunt would look like. Would she be elegant and aristocratic? Would everything be as formal in her house? Did she bark orders at servants like her Grandmother Emma?
When Jordan arrives at the farmhouse she’s appalled by the sight. The house is literally rundown and neglected. Everything thing in the house is in a state of disarray.
Jordan eventually settled in and spends more time with Aunt Frances whom she finds weird. AsJordan gets glimpse into her strange aunt’s life, more secrets come to light. Secrets that would change the March family forever.
Jordan’s brother Ian was institutionalized because he poisoned Miss Harper, Emma’s minder. After her parents got into an accident, Harper came to live with them. She was mean to Ian and Ian put rat poison in her glass of water which killed her.
On her way to her Aunt Frances’s farmhouse Jordan ponders what she’d do when she got there. Would she gather eggs? Would she plant vegetables? Perhaps pick wild berries for jams.
She also wonders what her great-aunt would look like. Would she be elegant and aristocratic? Would everything be as formal in her house? Did she bark orders at servants like her Grandmother Emma?
When Jordan arrives at the farmhouse she’s appalled by the sight. The house is literally rundown and neglected. Everything thing in the house is in a state of disarray.
Jordan eventually settled in and spends more time with Aunt Frances whom she finds weird. AsJordan gets glimpse into her strange aunt’s life, more secrets come to light. Secrets that would change the March family forever.
June 23, 2011
I knew what I was getting into with this series, considering these books were written by a ghostwriter and not Andrews herself, but all in all I was pretty disappointed. That being said, I think the second novel of the series is much better than the first. While it was a bit slow-moving at the beginning, it picked up around the halfway point and really sparked my interest toward the end. (In my opinion, the writing became better toward the end as well!)
There are certain aspects which never came together for me, though. The first book magnified Jordan's "condition" and built it up so much that I thought it would surely continue into the second, but "Scattered Leaves" hardly touched upon it. I mean, yeah, a few of the characters made cracks about her looking older while still acting so young, but it seemed to fade into the background. I also had trouble believing that a girl so young could have all of those complex thoughts, even if she was more developed for her age. And Ian's letters were just ridiculous to me. I get what the writer was going for with all of the insect metaphors, but it missed the mark for me.
However, I did like how Jordan was removed from the March household for the majority of the novel; it made her feelings about her return more authentic. And the plot twists at the end finally added some excitement to the series!
There are certain aspects which never came together for me, though. The first book magnified Jordan's "condition" and built it up so much that I thought it would surely continue into the second, but "Scattered Leaves" hardly touched upon it. I mean, yeah, a few of the characters made cracks about her looking older while still acting so young, but it seemed to fade into the background. I also had trouble believing that a girl so young could have all of those complex thoughts, even if she was more developed for her age. And Ian's letters were just ridiculous to me. I get what the writer was going for with all of the insect metaphors, but it missed the mark for me.
However, I did like how Jordan was removed from the March household for the majority of the novel; it made her feelings about her return more authentic. And the plot twists at the end finally added some excitement to the series!
July 30, 2017
I honestly finished this book needing more. I think this is the first V.C. Andrews series that I have truly liked in a while. I just think that I need to know what happens next. Nice epilogue but what about the rest of the stories. I need Emma's story and I need to know what happens with Jordan's condition. I felt like the author left out a few things and I feel as though the whole point of a V.C. Andrews series is getting the story to the entirety.
August 21, 2014
As with the first book in this series it disturbs me to have a main character so young. At the start of the 1st book she is 7 years old and not much time passes by the end of the entire series.
I liked this book and some of the characters in it. I did feel like the ending wasn't quite what it could have been. All in all its a good series.
I liked this book and some of the characters in it. I did feel like the ending wasn't quite what it could have been. All in all its a good series.
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May 3, 2009not bad and not good as her original books.. the ghostwriter has the same writting aspect.deep and exciting where her books and it does intial feel like this when reading but somehow in the middle you loose interest.....
January 2, 2012
This one has more of a happy ending than most of what I have read from V.C. Andrews. It was very well written but the charactors at times really ticked me off. It is not one of the better written books from the V.C. Andrews collection but it is interesting light reading on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
February 1, 2014
Strictness is usually the norm in VCA-world, but this time the seven-year-old has to guardian the elderly, which is an interesting subversion. Did Frances become how she is due to precocious puberty, or something else? Also, teenagers try to get a seven-year-old laid, which is all kinds of wrong.
January 13, 2008
Seriously, what is it with V.C. Andrews and incest?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2008
This book was completely different than all of the other books that has been written. Still predictable in some aspects though.
October 27, 2008
I read it merely to satisfy my curiousity as to whether or not book 1 was worth my time. Nope! The second book blows too!
September 30, 2010
It was good. very hard to getinto the first chapters
May 21, 2011
Such a scandal!
July 25, 2011
I really liked it, though i was surprised at the end, how frances was her grandma and the grandma was actuallly the aunt and everything after that. other than that, it was awesome.
August 10, 2011
Another great VA book
December 4, 2011
The book is good, its hard to put down.
April 17, 2012
V.C. Andrew books has always been one of my little guilty pleasures!
April 23, 2012
these books are like a train wreck- it all horrible, but you cant help but watch and you have to know what happens
April 29, 2012
Another great book by V.C. Andrews.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews