In "The Language of Flowers" we have a fantastic example of how well a divided storyline novel can work. We leap back and forth on the timeline of our heroine's life, between the current situation and the traumatic events that "now" is rooted in and never lose a moment of clarity. This is normally not a style of writing I enjoy, but here it is logical, clear, and the plot moves with every line rather than being a series of digressions. 
 Victoria Jones is a result of the failure of the foster care system, suspicious and isolationist. Finally at age 18, she is aged out of the system... and after a month in a halfway house she is expected to become fully independent and live on her own. Because turning eighteen magically makes you into an adult with all your shit together, right? Right? 
 A wonderful exploration of healing, communication and trust. A reminder that not all of us communicate the same way, and that for some, trust is the hardest thing they'll ever learn to do.