White Oleander by Janet Fitch (2000, Paperback, Media Tie-In)

I bought this book not long after it was first released, on my quest to conquer all the books in Oprah's book club.

Janet Fitch could not have written a better book to debut her abilities with. White Oleander is pure genius! I found the book hard to put down, even though it has almost 500 pages. The book presents the story in such a living, breathing manner that the characters are easily brought to life in your mind.

The story is about a young girl whose mother has been imprisoned for murdering an ex-boyfriend. This mother is particularly strange to me; she's very eclectic and poetic. Her daughter is quite like her, but has grown to stand in her mother's shadow. When the mother is imprisoned, Astrid, the young girl, must learn to live in a series of foster homes around the area with all types of people trying to tell her how to behave and what to believe. Astrid has few friends and becomes somewhat alienated. Gradually, she comes to live with herself and grows away from her mother.

This is a typical novel of self-discovery with some odd twists and turns along the way. The voice of this book will leave a lasting impression on you long after you've finished reading, which is partly what makes it so special. It also presents controversial issues and brings awareness to alternative living conditions, such as foster care, in a very human, engrossing way.

A must for anyone seeking a great, long book with amazing emotional power.