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Wildflowers #1-4
Wild Flowers
All Misty ever wanted was a normal family. But like so many others, Misty's parents split up. Now they use their daughter to hurt each other, to deliver tiny cruelties in an endless stream. Misty knows her parents love her. But she has an unspeakable secret that burns in the core of her she hates them. Star, too, is hiding her pain. Only when she decides to reveal her secret, will she be able to face the nightmares of her past. But Misty and Star are nothing like Jade. They don't know what it's like to be a pawn in a courtroom battle, or to be lured into an ordeal too traumatic ever to forget. Then there's Cat, who has the darkest, most horrifying secret of all. One by one, in Dr Marlowe's group therapy sessions, the Wildflowers tell their shocking stories. Some things, however, should be left buried forever...
Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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1631 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
370 books9,124 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 71 reviews
December 16, 2017
This book was a bit boring despite claiming that the characters have deep dark secrets. No they don't, except for Cat, and it was a predictable secret, especially if you've read V.C Andrews before. The writing was incredibly unrealistic; everyone spoke the same and used the same terminology even though the ages of the characters varied. The bickering of the girls was really tiresome and got annoying really quickly.
June 28, 2021
My rating is for nostalgia more than for content quality. I first read this book when I was going through stuff as a young teen. This book made me feel less alone. Cat and I, unfortunately, had something in common. And while my family wasn't the same as hers, I never felt I could confide in them. I still don't when it comes to the details of my past. So, four stars for being a weird companion in hell for an 11-year-old.
August 25, 2019
I mean, we all knew the twist for Cat's story from page one but ick V, did you have to go there? I mean, I know you did, and I know it wouldn't be a VC Andrews book if we didn't get every lurid detail but ick .
I am still trash for this woman's books, though. Guess I'm just always ready to go for the gross-out.
I am still trash for this woman's books, though. Guess I'm just always ready to go for the gross-out.
March 6, 2008
I hate ghost writers. And you can definitely tell that this wasn't written by the originial V.C. Andrews. All of the books written by her ghost writer are pretty terrible. You can't just throw some incest in a book to make it "V.C. Andrews".
March 14, 2025
This is a compilation of four novels in one. The first book within the book was good but the second one seemed like a repeat of the first in a lot of ways so I didn't bother finishing since I figured the whole thing would just be wash and repeat.
May 19, 2019
3 stars for all 4 books, though Cat’s maybe edges into a 4-star. (Maybe.)
February 25, 2025
This is my 2nd time reading this book. A solid read. This writer does not hide from the brutal reality what kids face when parents use them like pawns. A SOLID read!
June 2, 2013
As a teenager I loved the dark smut of V. C. Andrews books, but haven't read any since then, until now. Having worked with teenagers in crisis for several years I was surprised how often these girls reminded me of girls I had known. So the book was less entertaining for me and almost clinical - of course the setting fed into that. I might try another quick read series and see how that sits in comparison.
June 14, 2015
I got bored reading this series. I don't know, maybe because of the therapy session the characters had. I am not use to the scene where they just have to narrate everything (especially the past) in one sitting. But somehow, I managed to finish this book in a month (yeah, a month, that is how slow I read). What can I do, I have the whole series in one book!
May 5, 2010
Don't judge me.
February 26, 2017
Awful. Bad writing, bad lay out, bad jokes, bad everything. 16 years old girls do NOT talk like that. Hated this book.
April 20, 2013
My favorite story was Star and Cat. The part where Jade went to meet that guy she met online was so intense. And I hated that Guy that Misty went out with, I think his name was Shane.
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April 1, 2025Book Review: The Wildflowers Series by V.C. Andrews
V.C. Andrews’ The Wildflowers series, consisting of four novels (Misty, Star, Jade, and Cat), is a poignant exploration of the complexities of adolescence, trauma, and the intricacies of female friendships. Published in the late 1990s, these novels delve into the lives of four young women, each grappling with their troubled pasts and seeking solace and understanding among one another. Through rich character development and thematic depth, Andrews constructs a narrative that resonates with readers and addresses critical issues relevant to young adults.
Narrative Structure and Style
Andrews employs a first-person narrative technique, which grants readers intimate access to the thoughts and experiences of each protagonist. This approach fosters deep emotional connections, allowing for a nuanced understanding of their struggles. The writing is characterized by vivid descriptions and a strong sense of atmosphere, effectively conveying the weight of the characters’ challenges. The novels also utilize a blend of present-day events and flashbacks, which serve to illuminate the characters’ backgrounds and the roots of their traumas.
Character Development
The main characters—Misty, Star, Jade, and Cat—are richly developed, each representing different facets of the adolescent experience.
Misty, the first protagonist, grapples with her family’s neglect and seeks escape through her identity as an artist.
Star faces the struggles of familial expectations and her own aspirations, embodying the conflict between duty and desire.
Jade navigates the shadow of her privileged upbringing, revealing how wealth does not shield one from emotional pain.
Cat confronts her history of trauma and the search for forgiveness, ultimately illustrating the importance of resilience.
Their journeys are intertwined, and Andrews expertly portrays the dynamics of friendship as a pivotal source of support and strength, demonstrating how shared experiences can foster profound connections.
Themes of Trauma and Resilience
A central theme in The Wildflowers series is the exploration of trauma and its lasting impact on identity. Each character confronts her unique struggles—whether it be emotional neglect, familial pressures, or the scars of past abuse. Andrews addresses these issues with sensitivity, illustrating how trauma can shape one’s worldview and relationships. The series emphasizes the importance of resilience and the transformative power of friendship, suggesting that through mutual support and understanding, individuals can find healing and strength.
Societal Context and Educational Implications
The themes presented in The Wildflowers series are particularly relevant in discussions about mental health, the effects of family dynamics, and the challenges faced by young women today. Andrews invites readers to reflect on their own experiences, fostering a greater awareness of the importance of empathy and connection in the healing process. The novels can serve as a springboard for educational discussions about the psychological impacts of trauma and the value of supportive relationships in overcoming adversity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, V.C. Andrews’ The Wildflowers series is a compelling exploration of the complexities of trauma, friendship, and identity. Through the richly developed characters and their intertwining narratives, Andrews crafts a powerful message about resilience and the importance of community in the face of hardship. The series stands as a significant contribution to young adult literature, engaging readers with its emotional depth and encouraging them to reflect on the complexities of their own lives. The Wildflowers ultimately offers hope, suggesting that through understanding and connection, healing is not only possible but achievable.
V.C. Andrews’ The Wildflowers series, consisting of four novels (Misty, Star, Jade, and Cat), is a poignant exploration of the complexities of adolescence, trauma, and the intricacies of female friendships. Published in the late 1990s, these novels delve into the lives of four young women, each grappling with their troubled pasts and seeking solace and understanding among one another. Through rich character development and thematic depth, Andrews constructs a narrative that resonates with readers and addresses critical issues relevant to young adults.
Narrative Structure and Style
Andrews employs a first-person narrative technique, which grants readers intimate access to the thoughts and experiences of each protagonist. This approach fosters deep emotional connections, allowing for a nuanced understanding of their struggles. The writing is characterized by vivid descriptions and a strong sense of atmosphere, effectively conveying the weight of the characters’ challenges. The novels also utilize a blend of present-day events and flashbacks, which serve to illuminate the characters’ backgrounds and the roots of their traumas.
Character Development
The main characters—Misty, Star, Jade, and Cat—are richly developed, each representing different facets of the adolescent experience.
Misty, the first protagonist, grapples with her family’s neglect and seeks escape through her identity as an artist.
Star faces the struggles of familial expectations and her own aspirations, embodying the conflict between duty and desire.
Jade navigates the shadow of her privileged upbringing, revealing how wealth does not shield one from emotional pain.
Cat confronts her history of trauma and the search for forgiveness, ultimately illustrating the importance of resilience.
Their journeys are intertwined, and Andrews expertly portrays the dynamics of friendship as a pivotal source of support and strength, demonstrating how shared experiences can foster profound connections.
Themes of Trauma and Resilience
A central theme in The Wildflowers series is the exploration of trauma and its lasting impact on identity. Each character confronts her unique struggles—whether it be emotional neglect, familial pressures, or the scars of past abuse. Andrews addresses these issues with sensitivity, illustrating how trauma can shape one’s worldview and relationships. The series emphasizes the importance of resilience and the transformative power of friendship, suggesting that through mutual support and understanding, individuals can find healing and strength.
Societal Context and Educational Implications
The themes presented in The Wildflowers series are particularly relevant in discussions about mental health, the effects of family dynamics, and the challenges faced by young women today. Andrews invites readers to reflect on their own experiences, fostering a greater awareness of the importance of empathy and connection in the healing process. The novels can serve as a springboard for educational discussions about the psychological impacts of trauma and the value of supportive relationships in overcoming adversity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, V.C. Andrews’ The Wildflowers series is a compelling exploration of the complexities of trauma, friendship, and identity. Through the richly developed characters and their intertwining narratives, Andrews crafts a powerful message about resilience and the importance of community in the face of hardship. The series stands as a significant contribution to young adult literature, engaging readers with its emotional depth and encouraging them to reflect on the complexities of their own lives. The Wildflowers ultimately offers hope, suggesting that through understanding and connection, healing is not only possible but achievable.
August 10, 2018
This is my favorite series published under V.C. Andrews’ name. (Pretty sure her ghost writer did these, but still) Why are these my favorite? I’m not all that sure. My mom bought them when I was around 11 or 12 and I’d sneak into her bathroom and take them when she wasn’t home so I could read them and for some reason I just really loved them. I’ve been reading her stories ever since. The wildflowers, The Runaways, Shooting Stars, The Landry Series, My Sweet Audrina, And I recently started The Cutler Family Series. Something about them just draws me in and always has and I can’t seem to get enough. I didn’t much care for the shooting stars series and so far the cutler family series has me hooked but I’m not loving it. The Landry family was great. It was so screwed over and kept getting more and more interesting with each new book. Anyways, this was supposed to be a review about this particular series, but I got carried away. This series is my favorite I definitely recommend it. Yes, it is kind of predictable, but it’s still a great series. Into The Garden (The last book in the series) is also really really good. (:
August 28, 2021
In „Das Haus im Nebel“ werden wir Beobachter einer Gruppentherapie von vier Mädchen, die eine Gemeinsamkeit haben. Eine verdammt schwere Kindheit dank ihrer Eltern. Jedes der Mädchen erzählt seine Geschichte und muss sich vor den anderen öffnen.
Wow, ein wirklich heftiges Buch. Es ist definitiv keine einfache Lektüre. Die Schicksale der Mädchen sind belastend und auch wenn es nicht auf wahren Begebenheiten basiert, weiß man doch, dass all diese Geschichten für irgendjemanden Realität sind.
Die Mädchen entwickeln in ihrem Teil der Geschichte alle eine tolle Persönlichkeit und vor allem durch das was sie erlebt haben werden ihre Aussagen und ihr Verhalten immer verständlicher. Die Teile unterscheiden sich alle stark, auch wenn bei allen die Problematik bei den Eltern liegt.
Was mir besonders gefallen hat war, die Dynamik zwischen den Mädchen zu beobachten. Was am Anfang mit Zickenkrieg und einer Menge Argwohn begonnen hat endet mit einer besonderen Freundschaft und ganz viel gegenseitiger Unterstützung.
Ein tolles Buch, wenn man sich etwas Zeit dafür nimmt.
Wow, ein wirklich heftiges Buch. Es ist definitiv keine einfache Lektüre. Die Schicksale der Mädchen sind belastend und auch wenn es nicht auf wahren Begebenheiten basiert, weiß man doch, dass all diese Geschichten für irgendjemanden Realität sind.
Die Mädchen entwickeln in ihrem Teil der Geschichte alle eine tolle Persönlichkeit und vor allem durch das was sie erlebt haben werden ihre Aussagen und ihr Verhalten immer verständlicher. Die Teile unterscheiden sich alle stark, auch wenn bei allen die Problematik bei den Eltern liegt.
Was mir besonders gefallen hat war, die Dynamik zwischen den Mädchen zu beobachten. Was am Anfang mit Zickenkrieg und einer Menge Argwohn begonnen hat endet mit einer besonderen Freundschaft und ganz viel gegenseitiger Unterstützung.
Ein tolles Buch, wenn man sich etwas Zeit dafür nimmt.
July 14, 2021
Ich habe bisher nur ein einziges Buch von Andrews gelesen und das fand ich echt klasse, das hier war auch nicht schlecht, denn ich war neugierig auf die 4 Schicksale der Mädchen, man konnte sich ganz gut in das jeweilige Mädchen hineinversetzen, die sich selbst als
WmE (Waisen mit Eltern) nennen. Zeitweise war ich echt entsetzt was diese jungen Mädchen alles miterleben mussten, am schlimmsten für mich hat mich das Schicksal der jungen Cat getroffen. Im Endeffekt haben alle 4 Mädchen eben die Scheidung ihrer Eltern unterschiedlich aufgenommen und auch mitgenommen, Jede einzelne von ihnen musste es anders verarbeiten und jede von ihnen erzählt ihre eigene Geschichte in dieser besonderen Therapiestunde von der Therapeutin. Ich fand es interessant und erschütternd zugleich was ich hier lesen musste, aber ich konnte es bei manchen Geschichten schon voraussehen was passiert. Trotzdem ist es gut geschrieben und ich war gut unterhalten.
WmE (Waisen mit Eltern) nennen. Zeitweise war ich echt entsetzt was diese jungen Mädchen alles miterleben mussten, am schlimmsten für mich hat mich das Schicksal der jungen Cat getroffen. Im Endeffekt haben alle 4 Mädchen eben die Scheidung ihrer Eltern unterschiedlich aufgenommen und auch mitgenommen, Jede einzelne von ihnen musste es anders verarbeiten und jede von ihnen erzählt ihre eigene Geschichte in dieser besonderen Therapiestunde von der Therapeutin. Ich fand es interessant und erschütternd zugleich was ich hier lesen musste, aber ich konnte es bei manchen Geschichten schon voraussehen was passiert. Trotzdem ist es gut geschrieben und ich war gut unterhalten.
January 25, 2025
The latter stories were more interesting than the beginning stories. Star, the only Black girl in the series, seemed very stereotypical. A line about fried chicken made me roll my eyes so hard. And her favorite kind of music was hip-hop 🙄🙄🙄. Sometimes non Black authors can write characters without lazy stereotypes but this wasn’t one of those times.
Each story dealt with a teenage girl who had major issues. Jade and Cathy stories were the most suspenseful to me. I know the ghost writer is a man, but I still think the stories were told well and never thought that the girls said anything out of character for a teen.
In my opinion the first two stories were cash grabs and this could have been a dualogy. We’ll see how my VC Andrews deep dive goes for the remainder of the year.
Each story dealt with a teenage girl who had major issues. Jade and Cathy stories were the most suspenseful to me. I know the ghost writer is a man, but I still think the stories were told well and never thought that the girls said anything out of character for a teen.
In my opinion the first two stories were cash grabs and this could have been a dualogy. We’ll see how my VC Andrews deep dive goes for the remainder of the year.
January 13, 2018
This book combines the stories of the four protagonists of their lives before they were put in therapy. It’s the first VC Andrews novel in this format that I read, and it’s possibly the best because of the gothic twists. The characters aren’t the most sympathetic because of the way the book is styled, so they come across as spoiled brats. But I didn’t mind too much.
February 25, 2023
Everyone has problems. The four girls in these stories just need to learn that. Some problems may seem big & some small but they are still
Problems & how they affect each person is different. These stories were heartbreaking & scary because there is a chance that for someone somewhere the stories are true. I really liked this book. Once again Andrews takes her readers to the depths beyond.
Problems & how they affect each person is different. These stories were heartbreaking & scary because there is a chance that for someone somewhere the stories are true. I really liked this book. Once again Andrews takes her readers to the depths beyond.
August 12, 2025
I know you should never judge a book by its cover but I would never have usually picked up this book. The book was dark and I felt myself wondering how Virginia Andrew’s came up with the plot, despite it being a dark and serious read, the ending was strangely comforting. May just have to add some more Virginia Andrew’s to my Bookshelf.
November 25, 2023
Read Misty. In an attempt to expand my reading horizons I tried a V.C. Andrews though I didn't realize this was one of the ones written after she passed away. It wasn't horrible and I felt it wasn't for me.
January 12, 2024
This book took me a 2nd try to get into, but once I was in it I read it pretty quickly. I have the sequel and will probably read it next. Not my favorite V.C. Andrews book, but it does feel more realistic than a lot of her other books’ plots.
September 11, 2018
The sad part is V.C. Andrews herself could have made each one exciting and heartwarming. I only wish she was around to do the honor. This book was just OK nothing exciting.
August 17, 2021
kind of frustrating, kind of triggering
June 4, 2025
Very good. Different from anything i've ever read and i loved it. The characters are very relatable and i love the continuous dark theme
November 19, 2021
This was a very good series. Perfectly put together, each following book better than the last. I've definitely recommended this to friends and will continue to do so!
February 3, 2022
‘Misty’ is the beginning of a series that I read many years ago. Despite the time, I recall enjoying the series and can remember bits and pieces of it. I do remember that there is a darkness about all of the stories, but it’s realistic and, to some point, relateable.
The look into Misty’s life is a good launching point for the rest of the series. The before and after is different, but it is a slope between them, not a clear dividing point as often is the case in real life. This peek into the life of a child affected by a divorce, and a nasty one at that, is heartbreaking, yet it feels undeniably real, which makes it all the more tragic.
‘Star’ is another well-written entry to the Wildflowers series. Whereas the first book explored divorce, money, and being used against the other parent, this book explores a darker side of parental disagreement that ends with more physical consequences.
Just like with ‘Misty’, the best part of this is the look into the mind of somebody who is broken yet who refuses to give up. The way the character’s POV is written, as well as her reactions in ‘Misty’ help to paint a more complete picture of her personality.
The darkness continues to grow deeper in this third installment in the Wildflowers series. Whereas the last two were purely domestic in nature, this one selves deeper into the more disturbing things that can affect a child who is embroiled in a bitter divorce and being forced to choose sides.
Just like with the first two parts, this one has excellent character development and delves deeply into the thoughts and feelings of one particular character. Seeing how Jade views the others, especially the ones we’ve already heard from, shows clearly how different people have different points of view.
This story does mention a suicide attempt and has other dark elements, so I would not recommend it to younger people or those who have sensitivities to such things, but it is a great continuation of a fascinating story.
Saving the hardest therapy session for last, V.C Andrews digs deeply into the mind of a girl broken, as the others were, by somebody else’s bad decisions. However, her story is the worst in some ways just because of who did it. The characterization of this book series is so heartfelt, and ‘Cat’ in particular really made you feel the pain that the character has gone through.
The Wildflowers is wonderful and sheds some light on divorce, feuding parents, abandonment, suicide attempts, mental anguish, trauma, and more, as well as helping to show what the children caught in the situations feel like.
This book series deals with such heavy subject matters, and it is clearly meant for younger adults and older. I would recommend this series for those who were affected by divorce and thought they were alone. Those who enjoy character driven stories would also enjoy the series. It is well-written and easy to read, and I just want to read the next part to learn more about each character. So, iif you’re interested in psychology and how the mind works, this is an excellent look into it.
The look into Misty’s life is a good launching point for the rest of the series. The before and after is different, but it is a slope between them, not a clear dividing point as often is the case in real life. This peek into the life of a child affected by a divorce, and a nasty one at that, is heartbreaking, yet it feels undeniably real, which makes it all the more tragic.
‘Star’ is another well-written entry to the Wildflowers series. Whereas the first book explored divorce, money, and being used against the other parent, this book explores a darker side of parental disagreement that ends with more physical consequences.
Just like with ‘Misty’, the best part of this is the look into the mind of somebody who is broken yet who refuses to give up. The way the character’s POV is written, as well as her reactions in ‘Misty’ help to paint a more complete picture of her personality.
The darkness continues to grow deeper in this third installment in the Wildflowers series. Whereas the last two were purely domestic in nature, this one selves deeper into the more disturbing things that can affect a child who is embroiled in a bitter divorce and being forced to choose sides.
Just like with the first two parts, this one has excellent character development and delves deeply into the thoughts and feelings of one particular character. Seeing how Jade views the others, especially the ones we’ve already heard from, shows clearly how different people have different points of view.
This story does mention a suicide attempt and has other dark elements, so I would not recommend it to younger people or those who have sensitivities to such things, but it is a great continuation of a fascinating story.
Saving the hardest therapy session for last, V.C Andrews digs deeply into the mind of a girl broken, as the others were, by somebody else’s bad decisions. However, her story is the worst in some ways just because of who did it. The characterization of this book series is so heartfelt, and ‘Cat’ in particular really made you feel the pain that the character has gone through.
The Wildflowers is wonderful and sheds some light on divorce, feuding parents, abandonment, suicide attempts, mental anguish, trauma, and more, as well as helping to show what the children caught in the situations feel like.
This book series deals with such heavy subject matters, and it is clearly meant for younger adults and older. I would recommend this series for those who were affected by divorce and thought they were alone. Those who enjoy character driven stories would also enjoy the series. It is well-written and easy to read, and I just want to read the next part to learn more about each character. So, iif you’re interested in psychology and how the mind works, this is an excellent look into it.
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August 26, 2015Hmm ok so a few days ago I added this book to my "to-read" shelf on this site. Next thing I find it I randomly while browsing at my favourite book shop in town. It was reduced to 1 euro so I bought it. I haven't read something so ordinary in a while. By ordinary, I mean a story without a supernatural or fantasy element to it. This omnibus is a collection of 4 different novels, each written in the first person narrative mode. I know we are dealing with troubled teenagers here who hate their parents and we really are meant to be getting an exact insight into how they think, without any airbrushing but I dunno. I've just started reading the 1st story - Misty - and some of her mental comments on others bug me a bit. Like when she meets Star, she feels that the psychiatrist should have mentioned that this girl was BLACK! What the hell? I'm not that far into the book and her skin colour has been mentioned twice as if it's a problem, yet she has been described as attractive also. Then there's her description of her psychiatrist...at first she tells us that she isn't married and that she is not so unattractive that men wouldn't want her. Then a few pages later when the psychiatrist enters the room where the girls are she critiques her facial features and calls her quite unattractive! What the hell? Maybe I'm just too used to vampire and fantasy books where when the protagonist speaks or thinks unfavourably of their foe, they are greatly justified in doing so because they have killed their family or keep slaves or whatever.
June 1, 2022
v.c. andrews’i ilk defa ortaokulda çatı serisiyle tanımıştım. çoğumuz için de durum böyledir diye tahmin ediyorum. çatı beni o kadar şok etmişti ki, tüm o entrika ve “bu kadarı da olmaz” derken öncekinden daha kaotik yeni bir olayın yaşanması. bu yaşıma kadar kaç kere baştan okumuşumdur bilmiyorum. diğer romanlarının konularına göz gezdirince hep benzer konular gördüm. baskıcı ve aşırı dindar dedeler ile nineler, tekerlekli sandalyeler, yangınlar, aşırı güzel ailelerin çarpık ilişkileri, güzelliğe ve statüye takıntılı kadınlar. sonra kendisinin de tekerlekli sandalye kullandığını ve ailesiyle yaşayıp öldüğünü, hayatı hakkında çok az şey bilindiğini öğrendim. insanların bu tekrar eden konuların aslında kendi hayatından alıntılar olduğuna dair teorilerini okudum. çok ilgimi çekince bütün kitaplarını toplamaya karar verdim. geneli artık satışta olmadığı için ikinci el olarak yirmiden fazla kitabını topladım.
size üzülerek söylüyorum ki hepsini toplayınca bir çatı etmiyor. anlatımlar çok sığ, konular çarpıcı olmaktan ziyade klişe, hatta çoğu kötü kitaplar. tabii artık ortaokulda olmamamın da etkisi vardır muhakkak ama okuyunca farkı görebiliyorsunuz.
daha sonra bu kitapların çoğunun ailesinin isteği üzerine, andrews’in ölümünden sonra notlarından derlenerek bir ghostwriter tarafından yazıldığını öğrendim. belki sebep budur. ama her halükarda v.c. andrews ile aramda bir aşk nefret ilişkisi var. aynı anda hem bayılıyorum hem da inanılmaz hayal kırıklığına uğruyorum. yine de baş koyduğum bu yoldan vazgeçmiyor ve kitaplarını toplamaya devam ediyorum.
size üzülerek söylüyorum ki hepsini toplayınca bir çatı etmiyor. anlatımlar çok sığ, konular çarpıcı olmaktan ziyade klişe, hatta çoğu kötü kitaplar. tabii artık ortaokulda olmamamın da etkisi vardır muhakkak ama okuyunca farkı görebiliyorsunuz.
daha sonra bu kitapların çoğunun ailesinin isteği üzerine, andrews’in ölümünden sonra notlarından derlenerek bir ghostwriter tarafından yazıldığını öğrendim. belki sebep budur. ama her halükarda v.c. andrews ile aramda bir aşk nefret ilişkisi var. aynı anda hem bayılıyorum hem da inanılmaz hayal kırıklığına uğruyorum. yine de baş koyduğum bu yoldan vazgeçmiyor ve kitaplarını toplamaya devam ediyorum.
April 23, 2009
One of THE best books by this author. I actually read the four seperate books, Misty, Star, Jade & Cat. All four books are about 150 pages each, this book is a combination of all 4 books in one publication.
To summarize this book, it is about 4 girls who all go into therapy due to the circumstances of their parents splitting up and divorcing. Each girl has quite a different story about how they ended up in therapy.
Misty, who's mother cares about nothing more than looking good and not aging. Her father left for a younger woman and an apartment. What happens to Misty is something you'll have to read, I won't ruin it.
Star is a girl from the poor side of town. With an alcoholic mother and a father who walked out on the family, Star had a hard time trying to raise her little brother while her mother whores herself out and drinks herself into oblivion.
Jade is the richest girl of all. Unfortunately, her parents use her as a pawn, a reason to fight in court over her just so the other doesn't have her. Because of her parents, Jade puts herself in danger just looking for someone who cares for her.
Lastly ther is Cat, the most psychologically scarred of them all. A mother that doesn't have a nice bone in her body and her father who is a little "too nice." It took me 4 days to read these books. I highly recommend them.
To summarize this book, it is about 4 girls who all go into therapy due to the circumstances of their parents splitting up and divorcing. Each girl has quite a different story about how they ended up in therapy.
Misty, who's mother cares about nothing more than looking good and not aging. Her father left for a younger woman and an apartment. What happens to Misty is something you'll have to read, I won't ruin it.
Star is a girl from the poor side of town. With an alcoholic mother and a father who walked out on the family, Star had a hard time trying to raise her little brother while her mother whores herself out and drinks herself into oblivion.
Jade is the richest girl of all. Unfortunately, her parents use her as a pawn, a reason to fight in court over her just so the other doesn't have her. Because of her parents, Jade puts herself in danger just looking for someone who cares for her.
Lastly ther is Cat, the most psychologically scarred of them all. A mother that doesn't have a nice bone in her body and her father who is a little "too nice." It took me 4 days to read these books. I highly recommend them.
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