Review of Where the Orchard Ends
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[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Where the Orchard Ends" by Sefi Wells.]
Sefi Wells has chosen a perfect title for her book, "Where the Orchard Ends," because it symbolizes for Wren Harper the wilderness that lies beyond her grandmother's apple orchard. Because of the tragedy of finding her mother dead from an overdose, Wren now suffers from selective mutism. She has not spoken since her mother's death. The story opens in medias res with 12-year-old Wren arriving at her grandmother's house.
Although I love all the characters in this book, Mimi is my favorite. Her compassion in dealing with her granddaughter, Wren, is wonderful. She listens to what Wren is saying even though Wren is temporarily nonverbal. I have had middle school students with selective mutism and was impressed with how realistically it was portrayed.
In addition to Wren's grandma, Wren's healing is helped by the beautiful Appaloosa horse that Wren rescues and saves from an abusive owner. By teaching the horse to trust her, Wren learns to trust others. This lesson is conveyed throughout the story as Wren must rely on new neighbors and friends for help. The importance of community is presented in a way that young adults will accept. Wren's struggles to save the horse are fueled by her belief that she is at fault for not being able to save her mother.
Remarkably, there were no grammatical errors in the twenty chapters of this book. There were a few discrepancies regarding the role of the grandmother, but they did not disrupt the flow of the narrative. I am rating this book a five out of five stars.
I recommend "Where the Orchard Ends" to teens and preteens who feel estranged because they will find hope. Young horse lovers will connect with the equine descriptions and learn by Wren's example. Adults will benefit from remembering the difficulties of being twelve years old and be thankful that they survived.
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Where the Orchard Ends
View: on Bookshelves |
Sefi Wells has chosen a perfect title for her book, "Where the Orchard Ends," because it symbolizes for Wren Harper the wilderness that lies beyond her grandmother's apple orchard. Because of the tragedy of finding her mother dead from an overdose, Wren now suffers from selective mutism. She has not spoken since her mother's death. The story opens in medias res with 12-year-old Wren arriving at her grandmother's house.
Although I love all the characters in this book, Mimi is my favorite. Her compassion in dealing with her granddaughter, Wren, is wonderful. She listens to what Wren is saying even though Wren is temporarily nonverbal. I have had middle school students with selective mutism and was impressed with how realistically it was portrayed.
In addition to Wren's grandma, Wren's healing is helped by the beautiful Appaloosa horse that Wren rescues and saves from an abusive owner. By teaching the horse to trust her, Wren learns to trust others. This lesson is conveyed throughout the story as Wren must rely on new neighbors and friends for help. The importance of community is presented in a way that young adults will accept. Wren's struggles to save the horse are fueled by her belief that she is at fault for not being able to save her mother.
Remarkably, there were no grammatical errors in the twenty chapters of this book. There were a few discrepancies regarding the role of the grandmother, but they did not disrupt the flow of the narrative. I am rating this book a five out of five stars.
I recommend "Where the Orchard Ends" to teens and preteens who feel estranged because they will find hope. Young horse lovers will connect with the equine descriptions and learn by Wren's example. Adults will benefit from remembering the difficulties of being twelve years old and be thankful that they survived.
******
Where the Orchard Ends
View: on Bookshelves |
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