I bought this book on Audible almost as soon as it was released because I loved Diffenbaugh's debut, The Language of Flowers, so incredibly much. That book felt like a hand that reached inside my body and rested its fingers on my heart, transferred its words into my veins so that they have flowed through my bloodstream ever since I first read it. I knew that this book would be different (and I have also learned from experience that books with pretty language are better read than listened to), but I hoped it would be just as wonderful.

Because I was so excited to read another novel by Diffenbaugh, I don't even think I read the description of this book before I started listening to it. That made the story unfold quite organically for me, because I really had no idea what it was even about. I had expectations regarding the writing and the quality of the book, but not regarding its actual content, and that was both a small blessing and a curse. Near the beginning (in the first few hours of listening) I wasn't sure where the book was going. I have something sort of inherently against books that begin with an end, that barely introduce a lovable character and then take them away so suddenly. That's how I felt at the start of this novel. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the relationship between the kids and their grandparents before they were separated.

I kind of got lost in the middle somewhere, unsure of where the book was going. The relationship that begins to develop between Alex and Wes is nice; the family moving to Mission Heights is wonderful. However, these victories seemed quite small, minor, not all that important or interesting, and I just didn't see where they were all leading to. I suppose the main 'event' of the book was supposed to be the part when Alex gets arrested, and then the ensuing difficulties with Yesenia, but I still didn't find this part of the book all that interesting.

I did, however, appreciate some of the themes and how each character had a unique story and experience. For Alex, this felt like a coming-of-age story, his first time getting into trouble, his first time falling in love, his first time learning to connect with his parents while in the midst of growing up. For Letty, this book was about parenting, unconditional love, regrets, and memories. The common theme of wanting more for your children than you had is also prevalent, along with larger topics such as bullying, teenage pregnancy, and immigration. The arguably most important theme, relating to birds and migration patterns, was sort of lost on me. I can see how it vaguely relates to the story but I think it was a bit of stretch.

It's interesting how different each author and each novel is. Some of my favorite authors start off with their best work, and follow it up with mediocrity (Janet Fitch). Others get off to a rough beginning and then blossom into a wonderful author (Lionel Shriver). Others are so consistent it hurts (Jodi Picoult). I guess for me, I have to put Diffenbaugh in the first category, at least based on the mere two novels she has published so far. I just fell in love with The Language of Flowers so truly, and maybe it's not fair to hold a writer on such a pedestal just because of one touching novel, but that's what I did, and this book let me down. I would definitely call it good, but it was missing the sort of spark I was looking for. I will still continue to read Diffenbaugh's future novels and I really do hope to come across something as wonderful as her debut again.

“'I love it,' Letty said, kissing Luna's cherry lips and wondering how a half-eaten lollipop could somehow taste like a reason to stay.”