New friends these days so often mean new stories. It’s one of the thrills of belonging to creative communities – sharing in others’ creative works, getting glimpses into their lives through their books. No less than three author friends gave me copies of one of their books whilst visiting Nevada and California last month and I was, of course, not in the last disappointed and will be reviewing all three starting today with one from my dear friend, Linda Boyden.
THE BLUE ROSES
Written by Linda Boyden, illustrated by Amy Cordova
Published by Lee and Low, 2002, published in 2011 in paperback
Ages: 6-10
Themes: Grandparent/grandchild relationships, death, grief, gardens, native Americans
Linda Boyden’s website: www.lindaboyden.com
First Lines/Synopsis:
Momma said on the day I was born my grandfather planted a rosebush under my bedroom window.
Rosalie’s grandpa, on old retired fisherman, spends his days tending his garden and raising his granddaughter. He shows her how to plan a vegetable garden and every spring Rosalie and her grandfather sow seeds that blossom into bright flowers. Her grandfather planted a red rosebush under Rosalie’s bedroom window when she was born, and this is later joined by pink and yellow rose bushes “to make a sunset”. Rosalie wants to plant blue roses, to symbolize the sky, but Papa (her grandpa) explains that roses do not come in blue.
When he dies the following winter, Rosalie struggles to come to terms with the death of this close and gentle relation. She has a vivid dream one night and in it her grandfather appears to her in a garden with a blue rosebush, symbolic of love, memory, and transcendence.
The blue roses make one more appearance at the end of the book!
Why I like this book:
This is a beautiful story of warm family relationships across the generations, of love of loss and dreams. It is a native American story in a very contemporary setting, where the family lives in a small town, where the Mom is the breadwinner. While I imagine that some of the symbolism is specific to native American culture, and this is a multicultural picture book, the setting and sentiments are universal and this is a wonderful story to help any child understand the death of a grandparent. It brings a great sense of closure yet continuity, that death is indeed just a part of life and our loved ones do live on in our hearts. The illustrations are vibrant, vivid and yet fluid, much like the story! The prose is lengthier than typical of today’s picture books, but very lyrical and with some wonderful similes, which make it a beautiful read.
I think the story is especially poignant, as Linda, who is 1/8 Cherokee, told me that it is based on a dream she had after her own grandfather died.
The Blue Roses was Lee and Low’s first New Voices award winner! It also received the 2003 Patterson Prize for Books for Young People.
Resources:
Helpful page on helping young children deal with the death of a grandparent with a suggested reading list that includes The Blue Roses.
I think group and individual discussion should sensitively follow the reading of this story, as seen fit.
To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books. Or click on the Perfect Picture Book Fridays badge in the right sidebar.
Thank you, Joanna, for such an insightful review of my first book, merci beaucoups!
Thank you for this gift, Linda.
This sounds like a sad but meaningful story. I am very close to my grandparents and my great-grandfather (who is 94). I don’t like to think about them dying.
Erik, wow, how wonderful that your great grandpa as well as your grandparents are still around. I think you should just continue to enjoy every precious moment you have with them.
A beautiful book that touched my heart. As a child growing up there always was a garden of rose bushes under my bedroom window, and I was very very close to my grandparents. I love this must read book, thanks Joanna.
Diane, how lovely that you had that rose bush underneath your window.
This topic touches families on so many levels. Thanks for sharing it.
Yes, this one is a story for adults and kids, Stacey!
Love your choice. It has so many wonderful themes, relationships with grandparents, aging, and dealing with grief. Beautiful Native American story. Lovely to have a child plant a rose bush in memory of a loved one. Great choice.
Yes, Pat, there is a lot of depth to this story and a lot of themes weaving together.
My grandma passed in 1996 and I still miss her, but the stories she told me make her come alive. One of my PB ideas this week is about she and her siblings growing up. This book sounds lovely, Joanna.
Laura, I am so glad that your grandma’s stories are living on through you.
What a great choice. Sounds very touching. I’m adding this to my list.
It’s a moving read, Penny.
First off – your review today just gave me a wonderful PB idea, so thanks for that! Sounds like a wonderful pick.
Yay, for a new picture book idea!
What a poignant story, Joanna. It tackles so many strong but familiar emotions at the same time. Thanks for sharing it here.
Richa, Losing ones grandparents is a rite de passage for so many children.
This sounds like a beautiful book, Joanna. I’m glad you are including something that is on the longer side — my son is 7 and still loves picture books, but the ones coming out these days are way too short for him, for the most part.
Carrie, you don’t know how thrilled I am to hear that your son still loves picture books, and yes, for older children I usually find myself picking less recent and therefor lengthier books!
This sounds like such a wonderful book, Joanna — and it is so good to see a book by Linda being reviewed!
It’s a thrill to be able to review friends’ books, Beth.
This sounds like a very sad, but lovely story. Thanks for sharing.
It is sad and yet optimistic, Rhythm.
What a lovely review of a wonderful book! I didn’t know you knew Linda! And although she has participated in Would You Read It, I have yet to read this book! Definitely something I must fix immediately! I think it’s always great to be able to ad a book like this to our list – losing a grandparent is so hard, and a book that helps in any way is a blessing. Thanks Joanna!
I had the great opportunity of meeting Linda when I was in Northern California last month, Susanna.
This book has so many “hooks.” Grandparents as parents is such a current trend, and I’m not sure many people stop to ponder what might happen when a grandparent who is raising a child dies.
Kristen, thank you for pointing out this trend and theme, you are so right, and we need more books on this subject to help children and families, I think.
Beautiful review, Joanna! It makes me want to rush out and buy the book. And I will!