Heaven (Casteel, #1) in V.C. Andrews

May 03, 2015 Leigh rated it it was amazing

Shelves: old-favourites, 2015, 2019, favorites, mini-series-trilogies, 2017, audio, 2018, 2022, kindle-or-ebook

Before now I had only read the Casteel series once when I was about fourteen unlike the Dollangangers and even Audrina. Frankly I'd forgotten about it in that time and had only vague memories of a poor family in a shack, crazy step parents and a portrait doll. The only thing that truly stood out to me was that the middle name of the main character and the first name of her mother is the same as mine, even the spelling which for me is rare. I wasn't really looking forward to re-reading the series Before now I had only read the Casteel series once when I was about fourteen unlike the Dollangangers and even Audrina. Frankly I'd forgotten about it in that time and had only vague memories of a poor family in a shack, crazy step parents and a portrait doll. The only thing that truly stood out to me was that the middle name of the main character and the first name of her mother is the same as mine, even the spelling which for me is rare. I wasn't really looking forward to re-reading the series. But now, at least after book one, I am glad that I am. The main character Heaven Leigh is very relatable, proud, stubborn, aware that she has flaws and frustrated about them. Throughout the book you keep wondering what else can happen to her or her family. A stillborn baby, a second death that occurs soon afterward, one parent vanishes never to be seen again. They have to resort to stealing at times to survive and occasionally are lucky enough to accept kindness others, namely their school teacher Miss Deale. Their father when he reappears has a scheme that seemed horrible on the surface but to me I do believe he was doing what he thought was best for his family and in the cases of the younger children he was correct. Heaven finds herself living in Atlanta, essentially a slave for her foster mother and the object of her foster father's affection whether she wants it or not. It is heartbreaking to read as Heaven wonders why no one is able to love her and care for her, her mother dead soon after her birth and her father who rejected her all her life, her foster mother abuses her and the man she thought cared about her was only using her. In the end she clings to the hope of seeing her lost siblings again and meeting her mother's family in Boston. By the end of the book Heaven learns the fate, good and bad of her other siblings and continues to refuse to meet with her father despite his pleas that he has changed. In a way I wished she had at least confronted him here, but I can understand why she felt so angry with him. The book ends with Heaven boarding a plane to Boston on her way to at last meet the family of the mother she never knew. As mentioned I truly enjoyed this book, I had forgotten how good it is and at times I had trouble putting it down leading to many late nights and some slightly longer lunch and coffee breaks. As I can't remember most of what happens in the next book I can't wait to get started on that one. ...more

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Jun 27, 2017 Janet rated it really liked it

I read this book when I was a teenager and thoroughly enjoyed it so I decided to read it again years later as an older reader. The story is told through the eyes of Heaven Leigh Casteel. It is very easy to relate to this character. This is certainly not a story that is predictable or like any other book that I have read. I wanted to progress through the book to discover what would happen next in Heaven's life.

I am hooked on this series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the Flo ...more

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