Language of Flowers/Vanessa Diffenbaugh/332 pgs.

Victoria Jones has been in foster care all of her life. At the age of 18, she is emancipated--no plans, no future, no hope. In alternating chapters, Victoria reveals her past, which leads up to her present. It is in her telling, that Victoria gives the reason for her interest in flowers--and the reader begins to understand the impact the flowers (and their meanings) have had in shaping Victoria. It's a powerful story, giving a fictionalized account of what happens when a "child" outgrows the foster care system. The journey through Victoria's trials and triumphs is well worth the read. Highly recommended.