How to Talk to Your Succulent
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- USD 8.99
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- USD 8.99
Publisher Description
After the loss of her mother, Adara struggles to communicate with her family about her grief. When a sympathetic ear arises in an unlikely place, Adara can finally find her words — but can she find the time to listen? A stunning graphic novel for middle-grade readers about family, friendship and magic in unlikely places, for fans of The Witches of Brooklyn and Raina Telgemeier.
Eleven-year-old Adara and her dad are moving from California to the cold and flat lands of Michigan . . . and it sucks. After Mom's recent passing, it seems way too soon. Talking to Dad has always been harder than with Mom, but now it's like walking on eggshells. And why did Dad bring so many of Mom's houseplants across the country? Her mother might have been called the "plant whisperer" back home, but Adara is beginning to wonder if there is something more to it. But when she meets a little succulent named Perle, she unlocks the same magical ability her mother had: talking to plants!
But taking care of Perle isn't as easy as it seems — the environment isn't suited for her, and Adara doesn't know how to meet her needs. Kind of like the situation Adara herself is in. If only Perle could ask Adara for help . . . and Adara could ask her dad.
With a touch of magic, this debut middle-grade graphic novel explores loneliness, mental health and empathy, and shows how communication, openness and a willingness to listen can help young people — and older people — and plants! — navigate their mental well-being and heal from loss, individually and together.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
During Thanksgiving break, 11-year-old Adara and her father move from California to Michigan to live with her grandmother. Adara misses her late mother, who could communicate with plants, and tries talking to her mother's plants herself, but it doesn't feel the same. Despite her grief and loneliness, she soon befriends classmate Winnie, an artist, whom she meets after following a mysterious creature into nearby woods. When her dad takes her to get a plant, Adara chooses a pink succulent, which she names Perle, and her own latent ability to converse with plants awakens. Perle provides her with new avenues through which Adara develops friendships and processes her feelings. But her experience taking care of her mother's houseplants doesn't translate as well to caring for Perle. As Adara advocates for her needs, she also learns how to show up for the people—and plants—she loves. Persico (Georgia's Terrific, Colorific Experiment) pairs bold colors, lively botanicals, and visual allegories for grief and disillusionment with swift dialogue and Adara's introspective first-person narration, resulting in a gentle graphic novel about loss and connection. Characters are depicted with varying skin tones. Ages 8–12.
