Review: Far from the Tree by Robin Benway

Far from the Tree by Robin Benway       

Published: October 3, 2017

Publisher: HarperTeen

Format: via Audiobook

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

A contemporary novel about three adopted siblings who find each other at just the right moment.

Being the middle child has its ups and downs.

But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including—

Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs.

And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he’s learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can’t hurt anyone but him.

My Thoughts

Far from the Tree is a touching novel about three siblings who once they find out about each other try and form some sort of relationship. Each sibling is going through their own problems, some more than others but all of them thought they were alone soon discover they have more family than they ever expected. Once they met they wonder if they should try and find their birth mom, while Grace and Maya want to their brother Joaquin has his mindset and doesn’t want anything to do with that.

Of all the sibs Joaquin is the hardest, having never been adopted and grew up in the system his outlook on life and love is none existent. He has his walls put up and doesn’t let anyone close to him in fear that they will just leave him but his latest set of foster parents want to change all that, they love him and want to adopt him. Maya has always known she was adopted and her family is going through hard times, she and her adopted sister are facing their parent's divorce and she wonders if this will change how they feel about her. And Grace, she is the one who is driving this search since she recently gave up her own daughter for adoption she is craving a real family connection and wanting to know who she is and where she came from.

This is an emotional read in wanting to know your roots and finding your true self. Each of the sibling's story is heartbreaking in their own right and you can't blame them for wanting to know who they are. In trying to find their mother they establish some bumps in the road and might not find what they looking for but might just find something just as good. Far from the Tree is one read that will touch your soul and make you grateful and feel blessed for all you have, this is one read that I highly recommend.

Review: Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway

Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway

Expected Publication: June 23, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

Format: via NetGalley

Challenge: 2015 NG/EW

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis

Emmy just wants to be in charge of her own life. She wants to stay out late, surf her favorite beach—go anywhere without her parents’ relentless worrying. But Emmy’s parents can’t seem to let her grow up—not since the day Oliver disappeared.

Oliver needs a moment to figure out his heart.

He’d thought, all these years, that his dad was the good guy. He never knew that it was his father who kidnapped him and kept him on the run. Discovering it, and finding himself returned to his old hometown, all at once, has his heart racing and his thoughts swirling.

Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. In Emmy’s soul, despite the space and time between them, their connection has never been severed. But is their story still written in the stars? Or are their hearts like the pieces of two different puzzles—impossible to fit together?

My Thoughts

I just loved and adored this book! While the subject matter –kidnapping- might seem grim this read isn’t all about that. It focuses on the friendships and relationships that were put on hold for 10 years until the day Oliver is found and returns. We get to see and hear both sides of the outcome when Oliver is returned to his mother. Everyone seems to think that everything will get back to normal but to Oliver these people are the strangers. He comes back to a mother whom he thought abandoned him and a stepfather and twin sisters. He also has friends who have been waiting for him especially his best friend Emmy. She has been waiting and hoping that her friend would come back one day and never lost hope.

Oliver isn’t the only one who has suffered during his kidnapping. Emmy has been subjected to her parents being overbearing and fearing that she will be kidnapped as well. So what is a girl to do? Lie of course. However she lies about the simplest thing such as surfing and applying to college. When Oliver comes back there are a few bumps but their friendship comes back seamlessly. And of course friendship soon turns to romance, they are two pieces that just click together time nor could distance change that.

While the book is about Emmy and Oliver I love that we get the whole backstory of his kidnapping. I started out feeling one way about his father and by the end my opinion did change a bit. Loved that this read is just easy breezy and I mean that as a compliment. This is one of those books that you simply don’t want to stop reading. It’s cute funny and one I highly recommend to anyone who wants and needs a good read.