HOTHOUSE FLOWER

Home-schooled Chloe Wells doesn't understand how isolated she's been until she's struck by a bus and is hospitalized. There she makes the first friends of her life. The always-perfect Sophie Aldred brings charm, warmth, and bittersweet emotion to this unusual story. As Chloe realizes her parents have kept her like a hothouse flower, she begins to question why. Aldred presents excellent transitions from Chloe to her elderly granddad and her emotionally fragile mother. When her parents finally reveal an important family secret, Chloe gains independence and true friendship while maintaining strong ties with her family. This engaging story will have special appeal to questioning kids and those most comfortable with adult companionship. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]