The daisy children

Title:

The daisy children

Author:

Summary:

When Katie Garrett gets the unexpected news that she's received an inheritance from the grandmother she hardly knew, it couldn't have come at a better time. She flees Boston -- and her increasingly estranged husband -- and travels to rural Texas. There, she's greeted by her distant cousin Scarlett. Friendly, flamboyant, eternally optimistic, Scarlett couldn't be more different from sensible Katie. And as they begin the task of sorting through their grandmother's possessions, they discover letters and photographs that uncover the hidden truths about their shared history, and the long-forgotten tragedy of the New London school explosion of 1937 that binds them.

General Note:

Includes reading group guide.

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

407, 9 pages : genealogical table ; 21 cm

Genre:

Domestic fiction.

Subject Term:

Inheritance and succession -- Fiction.

Family secrets -- Fiction.

Cousins -- Fiction.

Tragedy -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

Texas -- Fiction.

Publisher:

William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers,

Publication Date:

2018

ISBN:

9780062693440

Publication Information:

New York, NY : William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2018]

Call Number:

GRANT

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003332080	Adult Fiction	GRANT	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Inspired by true events, in Sofia Grant's powerfully moving new novel a young woman peels back the layers of her family's history, discovering a tragedy in the past that explains so much of the present. This unforgettable story is one of hope, healing, and the discovery of truth.

Sometimes the untold stories of the past are the ones we need to hear...

There, she's greeted by her distant cousin Scarlett. Friendly, flamboyant, eternally optimistic, Scarlett couldn't be more different from sensible Katie. And as they begin the task of sorting through their grandmother's possessions, they discover letters and photographs that uncover the hidden truths about their shared history, and the long-forgotten tragedy of the New London school explosion of 1937 that binds them.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

In this evocative novel, Grant (The Dress in the Window) blends a contemporary story of a woman trying to reconnect to her family history with the historical account of a 1937 elementary school explosion in New London, Tex. Katie Garrett never really knew her grandmother, Margaret Pierson, and is pleasantly surprised to learn she was left an inheritance. Katie heads to Texas with every intention of returning to Boston as soon as possible. She is welcomed to New London by her distant cousin Scarlett, whose energy and optimism strike a contrast to Katie's dour attitude. As Scarlett helps Katie claim her inheritance, the two bond over their family connections, and Scarlett tells Katie about Margaret's status as a Daisy Child-one of the children born to parents who had lost a child during the horrific gas explosion. While they sort through their grandmother's possessions, Katie and Scarlett uncover family secrets pertaining to the Daisy Children and the school explosion that will shape their lives in ways they never expected. While Grant nicely weaves in historical flourishes, occasional over detailing and chapters that alternate between the present and the 1930s make transitions sometimes clunky and hard to follow. Despite this, Grant's moving book is a multilayered story of heartache, hope, and healing. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Library Journal Review

Grant's second novel (after The Dress in the Window) sees Katie Garrett taking off for rural Texas after hearing that her grandmother has died and left her an inheritance. It's the perfect opportunity for Katie to flee a stifling marriage with a philandering husband. Once in Texas, she encounters a distant cousin, Scarlett, whom she initially can't relate to, and a handsome man who stirs long-dormant feelings in her. As they go through her grandmother's possessions, Katie and Scarlett uncover details of a 1937 explosion that changed their grandmother's life and now affects Katie's life as well. Grant's attempts at conveying a heartfelt story about finding oneself through family is commendable. However, Katie comes across as a simpleton who after rightly condemning her husband for his affairs turns around and engages in one herself. There's no real depth to either her character or her intentions. Scarlett is as lively as Katie is bland, but her spirit doesn't save a sadly underdeveloped narrative. VERDICT This might appeal to readers looking for an uncomplicated, effortless story. Those seeking a profound literary journey of self-discovery should look elsewhere.-Adriana Delgado, West Palm Beach, FL © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.