Review: Far from the Tree by Robin Benway

Collaborative feature with Alexa. We read ARCs together and post our reviews on the same date.

Far From the Tree by Robin Benway
pub 10/3/17 by HarperTeen
Young Adult - Contemporary
Received from pub via Edelweiss

Plot • After Grace, an old child adopted at birth, goes through the experience of putting her own baby up for adoption, she decides to see out her biological family. But the last thing she expects is to find out that she has two half-siblings, both in close proximity to her home. She meets Maya, her younger snarky sister, who often finds herself feeling out of place in her adopted family, and Joaquin, her guarded older brother, who’s had it rough with the foster care system and remembers more about their mother than either of them (and wants nothing to do with her). We follow all three siblings throughout their individual struggles and then the moving way in which they begin to open up to one another.

Characters •  I love stories that have to do with family and the relationships between Grace, Maya and Joaquin tugged at my heart SO much. (There were a lot of tears, my friends. A LOT.) Each sibling is struggling with something different but at the end of the day, it comes down to the bond they feel for one another, the wonderful people who took them in, and what it means to belong. I genuinely enjoyed each of their stories but I connected to Grace the most, maybe because she’s the glue that brings them all together and the driving force for wanting to face their past (aka their biological mother).

Writing • Robin Benway is one of those authors that I feel flies under the radar but every time I find out she has a new book coming out, it automatically goes on my TBR. And when I read said book? It reminds of what a wonderful writer she is and the distinct stories she tells. Far from the Tree had that exact effect on me.

Overall feelings • I five-star loved this book. So basically, you should read it.

What's your favorite movie with siblings? • Parent Trap! I loved that movie for such a long time and was the first movie that came to mind. (Followed closely by Practical Magic but I need to re-watch it. It's been too long!)