The Flourishing of Floralie Laurel

Gr 5–8—From debut author Moser comes a Secret Garden—like tale that blends fairy-tale elements with an adventuresome mystery. Evil Grandmama wants to whisk young Floralie Laurel away from her brother's care in London to the Adelaide Laurel Orphanage for Unfortunate Children in order to mold her into a "proper young lady." Hoping to help Floralie avoid this fate are an orphan boy, Nino, who has selective mutism; his pet mouse that is known for stealing paper; and a blind librarian. Floralie finds a hidden box of dried flowers that may contain clues to the whereabouts of her missing mother, which leads the group on a journey to Monet's house in France. Nino expresses himself through poetry, while Floralie finds a creative outlet in painting flowers. Among the whimsy, somber elements emerge in the depiction of Floralie's father, who is an alcoholic and is verbally abusive. The luscious descriptions and light touch of fantasy make this an appealing tale for a wide variety of young readers.