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 Green Angel(Scholastic) by Alice Hoffman Reading level: Young Adult As with the seasons, death follows birth, winter follows spring. So has this author brilliantly used the seasonal metaphor to portray the journey of a young woman through the death of her innocent childhood to the birth of the woman she is to become. Green, a girl of fifteen, in the springtime of her life, is catapulted into a dark, cold, barren, and lonely winter. A winter brought on by a catastrophic fire that destroys the city and leaving her an orphan. The loss of her family plunges Green into the deepest pain of despair. Named for her connection and understanding of nature and the plants in her garden, Green changes her name to Ash, reflecting her grief over the devastation that remains. Believing that her life is over and this winter will last forever she takes refuge in the ruins of her garden. With the help of a ghostly dog, a wise woman, and a mute boy, she finds new meaning in life and begins the slow healing of her heart and soul. Seldom does writing of this caliber come along. The emotional impact and the message that no matter how dark the day may be, there will be sunshine tomorrow. As surely as there is winter, spring will follow bringing new life to the world. Alice Hoffman’s concise, yet poetic, prose carries the impact of life’s harsh reality in a fairy tale that so captivates the reader escape from its pages is impossible. The story of this young woman’s transformation and journey transforms the reader as well. This novel will appeal to adult, as well as young adult readers. The more sophisticated readers, however, will appreciate the author’s use of vivid imagery, tone, and pace. I look forward to more great works from this author. — H. B. STARKEY, Member SCBWI
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