Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: March 2013
Categories: Family Life, Coming of Age, India
Description:
Orphaned at birth, seventeen-year-old Korobi Roy has enjoyed a sheltered childhood with her adoring grandparents. But she is troubled by the silence that surrounds her parents’ death and clings fiercely to her only inheritance from them: the love note she found in her mother’s book of poetry. Korobi dreams of one day finding a love as powerful as her parents’, and it seems her wish has come true when she meets the charming Rajat, the only son of a high-profile family.
But shortly after their engagement, a heart attack kills Korobi’s grandfather, revealing serious financial problems and a devastating secret about Korobi’s past. Shattered by this discovery and by her grandparents’ betrayal, Korobi undertakes a courageous search across post-9/11 America to find her true identity. Her dramatic, often startling journey will, ultimately, thrust her into the most difficult decision of her life.
My Thoughts:
I love stories about India. I love coming of age stories. I love rich and luscious tales that take you somewhere you wouldn’t otherwise go. This book contained all of that and more.
Korobi’s life is seemingly headed in a happy, though predictable, direction. A family secret comes to light that throws her onto a different path. Her desire to learn more about her parents sends her on a journey of self-discovery that compelled me to keep reading.
The subplots and minor characters in Oleander Girl were captivating. There is Rajat’s mother who is desperately trying to hang on to a way of life that might be finished. Korobi’s grandmother is ashamed of her role in keeping secrets from Korobi. Asif, a driver, finds himself in a position to help and/or harm the relationships around him. Sonia, a girl from Rajat’s past is as dangerous as she is beautiful.
I highly recommend this book. Highly.
The Relentless Reader 