Official Review: Iris by Toni Owen-Blue

Please use this sub-forum to discuss both middle-grade and younger children's books, including picture books, easy readers, and children's chapter books. Topics for books aimed at children 12 and under go in this forum.
Forum rules
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
User avatar
babika1962
Posts: 30
Joined: 03 Nov 2015, 08:24
Bookshelf Size: 14
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-babika1962.html
Latest Review: "Eros of the Senses" by Ada Ardor

Official Review: Iris by Toni Owen-Blue

Post by babika1962 »

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Iris" by Toni Owen-Blue.]
Book Cover
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review


Iris by Toni Owen-Blue is a touchingly poignant tale of middle-grade fiction that is sure to pull on a reader’s heartstrings as it deals with what can only be described as difficult subject matter. What makes this story all the more poignant is the fact that it’s told in first person, from the perspective of the main protagonist, young Iris.

As the story begins, we are introduced to Iris, holding an umbrella, wishing she can fly like the fabled Mary Poppins. She appears to be a typical pre-teen, given to flights of fancy and whimsy but as we quickly learn, Iris isn’t like most girls her age at all. Despite several elliptical references to “Dad”, we are never introduced to Iris’ father, only to her younger brother Walter (“Waltz”) and to Iris’ mother and it quickly becomes apparent that while Iris may be the older sibling in the house, she has duties and responsibilities that would normally fall on someone much older. Waltz is a typical younger brother; getting into all sorts of mischief and driving Iris crazy while at the same time, exhibiting the vulnerable qualities of a young child eager for attention and love. Iris loves her brother dearly but can’t help feeling angry at Waltz’ innate ability to annoy her.

On the face of it, Iris appears to be the perfect daughter – too perfect in fact. She looks after Waltz, feeds him, bathes him, makes sure he does his homework, tidies the kitchen, does her homework, puts her brother to bed – and then stays awake until her mother gets home at all hours of the night. We are told Iris doesn’t like her subjects in school and doesn’t do well in them. She loves to read, with English being her strongest subject and hates Maths, definitely her worst subject. What quickly becomes disturbing after the first few pages of the book is that no matter what Iris does, she doesn’t believe she does it well enough. In fact, what is particularly alarming is the frequency with which she refers to herself as being stupid. It’s not until we’re introduced to Iris’ mother, the absentee parent who puts in an occasional appearance, that we quickly understand where Iris’ inferiority complex stems from. In her mother’s eyes, Iris can do nothing right and her mother makes no bones about pointing this out to Iris every chance she gets.

Thanks to her mother’s incessant conditioning, Iris’ defeatist persona also has a negative effect on her social interactions with both her schoolmates and her teacher. She doesn’t socialize with other kids and they keep her at arm’s length while Iris’ relationship with her teacher isn’t much better. All this appears to change with the arrival of the new student, Lotus. Lotus is unlike anyone Iris has ever met. She’s way cooler than the other kids, both in attitude and in looks, with tattoos along her arms and blue-tinged hair, and from the first moment her eyes lock onto Iris, Lotus sets out to win Iris over, slowly pulling her out of her shell. Iris is impressed when she learns that Lotus’ mother is an artist and that Lotus wants to be a tattoo artist. Lotus is everything that Iris’ wishes she could be and it doesn’t take long for the two to become fast friends. Despite Iris’ mother being off-put by Iris’ new friend, she nevertheless allows Iris to invite Lotus home and then amazes Iris when she prepares an impressive spread for the young girls, doing their hair and makeup afterwards. However, Iris quickly realizes that with her mother, nothing comes without a steep price…

What makes the book Iris equal parts effective and ever so disturbing is the fact that Iris’ family unit of Dad, Mom, Waltz, Iris and the family pet, Tango, all appear to be the perfect family unit, living in a nice house with a nice backyard that has nice flowers in the flowerbeds but as Iris quickly admits at the beginning of the book, “…I know our family isn’t quite like other families you see…”. It’s only once the outer shell is stripped away that we see first-hand the dysfunctional and abusive relationship Iris’ mother has with her children. While the father is mentioned, he’s a non-presence in the book. The lack of parental presence and food in the house to the lack of affection and back-handed compliments edged with censorship and put-downs leave indelible scars that eat away at the psyche and are far more hurtful than any physical abuse – although that also comes as Iris takes a stand against her mother. The author’s choice to tell the story in the first person is the best way to tell a story such as this as Iris bares open her soul to us. We witness her struggles to rise above her mother’s taunts and harsh reprimands, vacillating between believing her mother’s cruel put-downs to trying to find value in her own self-worth. Even at her lowest point, Iris wants nothing more than her mother’s approval and affection, scarce commodities to be sure, and most ironic of all, when others begin to suspect that all is not as it seems in Iris’ life, she cannot trust herself to confide in anyone – even if it means losing a very special friend. Iris is one of those books that weighs heavily on the heart and is sure to touch the reader’s soul. I know that it did mine which is why I’m giving Iris 4 out of 4 stars.

******
Iris
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Like babika1962's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: "Eros of the Senses" by Ada Ardor
User avatar
bluemel4
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 5222
Joined: 01 Mar 2015, 14:43
Favorite Author: Anne Bishop
Currently Reading: The Dark Tower, Books 1-3
Bookshelf Size: 466
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bluemel4.html
Latest Review: "Severed Threads" by Kaylin McFarren
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
fav_author_id: 6086

Post by bluemel4 »

Fantastic and touching review. My eyes welled up while reading about poor Iris. This sounds like a great book. Congratulations to the author!
"Life is a journey, not a destination" --Ralph Waldo Emerson
Latest Review: "Severed Threads" by Kaylin McFarren
MotherTheresa
Posts: 34
Joined: 17 Feb 2016, 11:02
Currently Reading: Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle in Your Mind
Bookshelf Size: 13
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-mothertheresa.html

Post by MotherTheresa »

Sounds like a very touching book
User avatar
babika1962
Posts: 30
Joined: 03 Nov 2015, 08:24
Bookshelf Size: 14
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-babika1962.html
Latest Review: "Eros of the Senses" by Ada Ardor

Post by babika1962 »

Thank you all for the compliments on my review. My appreciated!
Latest Review: "Eros of the Senses" by Ada Ardor
User avatar
Blue Books
Posts: 1
Joined: 05 Apr 2016, 06:14
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by Blue Books »

Thanks for your beautiful review Babika!
User avatar
babika1962
Posts: 30
Joined: 03 Nov 2015, 08:24
Bookshelf Size: 14
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-babika1962.html
Latest Review: "Eros of the Senses" by Ada Ardor

Post by babika1962 »

Thank you, Blue Books!
Latest Review: "Eros of the Senses" by Ada Ardor
User avatar
Anjum
Posts: 245
Joined: 05 Jun 2017, 09:49
Bookshelf Size: 18
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-anjum.html
Latest Review: "The Elf Brief" by Jordan David

Post by Anjum »

I really want to cry after reading your review. I can understand that the book has touched your heart from the review itself. I am definitely gonna read the book someday. Thanks for the review.
Latest Review: "The Elf Brief" by Jordan David
User avatar
KeriCraven
Posts: 142
Joined: 11 Apr 2016, 20:35
Bookshelf Size: 31
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kericraven.html
Latest Review: "Life Before" by K.L. Romo

Post by KeriCraven »

I am at a loss for words. (and not in the bad way) Thank you for your beautiful review
Latest Review: "Life Before" by K.L. Romo
User avatar
Mercelle
Posts: 1348
Joined: 31 May 2017, 03:44
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... 10262">The Wisdom and Peace of the Teachings of the Tao Te Ching</a>
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 204
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-mercelle.html
Latest Review: The Future of Finance and Money by K. Braeden Anderson

Post by Mercelle »

I already had this book in mind until you said iris is being abused. What s shame. I like that such a touchy subject is tackled in a children's book.
"The minimum requirement for a dream is a safe place to lay your head."
~OluTimehin Adegbeye
User avatar
Greencar1
Posts: 1
Joined: 16 Nov 2017, 15:50
Currently Reading: The Message?
Bookshelf Size: 2

Post by Greencar1 »

A memorable book to get a hold on. It gives significant on day to days modern world. One hopes to achieve their dreams, but there is one person who is holding us back. Iris is a dreamer. Never give up.
User avatar
Gunnar Ohberg
Posts: 153
Joined: 13 Nov 2017, 18:08
Currently Reading: The Nix
Bookshelf Size: 48
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gunnar-ohberg.html
Latest Review: Lemoncella Cocktail by Rene Natan

Post by Gunnar Ohberg »

I'm hesitant. This sounds like a book with a lot of gravitas and difficult subject matter. However, as soon as the part with Lotus happens (as you described it) I lost interest. Lotus is cool because she has tattoos and blue hair? Maybe I'm getting old and ornery, but it just seems like this is such a played out trope. Good girl from a tough background befriends the lovable pixie bad girl? Pass.
User avatar
Nanig83006
Posts: 130
Joined: 14 Feb 2018, 06:51
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 44
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-nanig83006.html
Latest Review: Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner

Post by Nanig83006 »

This is a lovely review on a heavy topic. I'm confused on Lotus having tattoos. Are they not young teens? Either way, Iris seems to be an appropriate read for middle-school aged children to show them how abuse comes in many different forms.
User avatar
crediblereading2
Posts: 996
Joined: 19 Jan 2018, 13:32
Currently Reading: Bitroux
Bookshelf Size: 32
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-crediblereading2.html
Latest Review: SSN Seadragon by J P Ronald

Post by crediblereading2 »

Thank you for your very thorough review. I must say that Iris's sad experiences are shared by many unfortunate young people in today's world who honestly need our prayers.
User avatar
Ericanielsen
Posts: 26
Joined: 16 Apr 2018, 17:14
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 11
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ericanielsen.html
Latest Review: Toni the Superhero by R.D. Base

Post by Ericanielsen »

What a nicely written review. Iris and her struggles sound relatable to many middle grade children. This sounds like it would be a fantastic read for any preteen.
User avatar
Jackie Holycross
Posts: 1622
Joined: 15 Apr 2018, 23:16
Currently Reading: The 7 Experiment
Bookshelf Size: 306
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-teacherjh.html
Latest Review: 20 World Religions and Faith Practices by Robyn Lebron

Post by Jackie Holycross »

It sounds sad and touching.
Post Reply

Return to “Children's Books”