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{"id":1939,"date":"2020-02-09T10:45:40","date_gmt":"2020-02-09T10:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lonestar.a1professionals.net\/?p=1939"},"modified":"2020-02-09T11:28:13","modified_gmt":"2020-02-09T11:28:13","slug":"lone-star-review-we-wildflowers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lonestar.a1professionals.net\/?p=1939&lang=ar","title":{"rendered":"Lone Star Review: WE, THE WILDFLOWERS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Review of We, the Wildflowers<\/em>, YA fiction by L. B. Simmons<\/p>\n

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The Wildflowers are four: Genesis (\u201cGenny\u201d), Adam, Chloe, and Lukas. They live with Mrs. Rodriguez, who opens her home as long-term foster placement for the Sacred Heart organization. Genny is a former heroin addict; Adam was kicked out of his home when his parents discovered that he is gay; Chloe attempted suicide when sixteen years of parental neglect reached critical mass; and Lukas is a mystery. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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From these horrific pasts, the Wildflowers, with the loving and generous but firm acceptance of Rodriguez; the help of Sally, their young therapist; and the toughly compassionate safety net they\u2019ve made of themselves, have worked hard to reach a new, hopeful equilibrium. When a tragedy occurs, the Wildflowers\u2019 strength is tested like never before.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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We, the Wildflowers<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/a> is the new young-adult novel from Texas author L. B. Simmons. The prologue engages immediately and dramatically with Chloe\u2019s suicide attempt. Adult readers may respond to the prologue\u2019s prose as melodrama, but remember that we are dealing with teenagers here, for whom so many things are seemingly a matter of life and death, and this time, they truly are. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The tale unfolds in Chloe\u2019s first-person narration, beginning a year after her placement with Rodriguez. The wildflowers\u2014symbols of freedom and resiliency\u2014that inspire Genny\u2019s philosophy and the group\u2019s name are white, symbol of new beginnings and fresh starts. The Wildflowers are compelling characters, each of them an individual with a back story well-integrated with the present, informing their actions and re-actions. Yet these sharply drawn characters are afforded further development, and it is a pleasure to witness. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Genesis, living up to her name, is the wellspring for the energy infused in every page of this book. \u201cWith her hot-pink hair, light dusting of freckles, and luminous green eyes, [Genny] looks like a very pissed-off version of Strawberry Shortcake \u2026\u201d Simmons\u2019s themes are dark throughout the book, but she leavens the heavy atmosphere with Genny\u2019s unapologetic, challenging wit. She vows to free Chloe\u2019s \u201cbitch mode\u201d: \u201cI will find it. I will expose it. I will nurture it.\u201d For Chloe\u2019s part, she wants to be \u201cdistinct in [her] edges,\u201d not some \u201cfiller piece\u201d in the puzzle. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Simmons is adept at a teenage sensibility. Chloe describes Adam and Lukas as \u201cYin and yang. \u2026 Light and dark. Skinny jeans and boot cut.\u201d Chloe\u2019s crush on Lukas is particularly well done in its youthful sweetness and hormonal electricity. She\u2019s afraid of \u201cpulling a Yoko,\u201d and frustration makes her snarky with him: \u201cI\u2019m Lukas. I\u2019m broody and detached. I offer little breadcrumbs of hope with my dimples\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Before the next printing, a light copy edit is a good idea, but the errors aren\u2019t numerous enough to be distracting. There is a lot of therapy-speak, and the book could be tighter\u2014some unnecessary repetition explains the almost four hundred pages. The bad guys sometimes come across as cartoonish, but others are rendered in their full humanity and allowed redemption. These are quibbles and not enough to detract from the enjoyment of a very good novel. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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We, the Wildflowers<\/span><\/span><\/em> is a harrowing story of damaged youth and gut-wrenching violence, redeemed by empowerment, the benediction of forgiveness (of others and ourselves), discovery of commonalities, and celebration of differences. The Wildflowers are more than the sum or their parts, stronger together. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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