Review of If Everyone Knew Every Plant And Tree
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- Nonso Samuelson
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Review of If Everyone Knew Every Plant And Tree
All is well and rosy with the Campbells. They share a special bond filled with laughter, joy, and love in their household. This is especially evident in Oliver Campbell's powerful bond with Lily, his little sister. But this close-knit family is about to experience a tragedy that will shake their unity to its very foundations. What is this tragedy that threatens to pull this family apart at the seams? How will they respond individually and collectively to this event?
If Everyone Knew Every Plant and Tree by Julia Johnston is a touching story. It excellently encapsulates the dynamics of a family in times of sadness and sorrow. I enjoyed reading about fourteen-year-old Oliver Timothy Campbell, his personality quirks, and his struggles and evolution resulting from grief. It was also interesting to read about how he found meaning, expression, and solace in gardening—a hobby he inherited from his father. This hobby was also common ground and a source of bonding between him and his friend, Poppy Teasdale, who manned her mother's gardening shop. The tragedy that befell the Campbell family reminded me of similar real-life situations where tragedy caused all those affected to try to deal with it in their own way, often making decisions that had far-reaching ramifications for themselves and everyone else. This story was a potent reminder that grief is a powerful phenomenon, and how we process it can make or mar us and those we care about.
The best relationship in this story, in my opinion, was that between Oliver and Lily. It was heartwarming the way they played and shared experiences together. Like Oliver, Lily also had a thing for gardening. "Oliber," as she would fondly call him, went to great lengths to prove his love and devotion to his sister.
Oliver's mum, Anna, seemed to be the most problematic person where it concerned Oliver. She always seemed to be at odds with her son. As I read along, I got the feeling that Anna Olivia Campbell misunderstood or could not be bothered to take the time and effort to understand her teenage son. As much as he yearned for her acceptance, his mum always made him feel inadequate, unloved, and unwanted. For a child to grow up with such a pervading sense of rejection does emotional damage that may not always be immediately obvious or easily repairable.
This story was relatable, and I have nothing negative to report. It was also exceptionally well edited—I found no grammatical or typographical errors. The characters were well accounted for, and the story developed nicely. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars and recommend it to anyone who has dealt with or is currently dealing with any grief on a personal or family level.
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If Everyone Knew Every Plant And Tree
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