This is another book I came to from the film. I realize now the film (which I like very much but mostly for the performances, Michelle Pfeiffer in particular) is a bare bones version of the story and while it makes a good drama, it does not (cannot!) do justice to the language. Astrid's mother is a poet and the whole book is written from a poetic point of view. 
 The plot is the horrors of foster care, which...I'd really like to read a book about the wonders of foster care. But the book is not actually about the business of foster care. The book is about a girl on a journey to self-discovery and the many mothers, and the absence of fathers, that help her and hurt her along the way. 
 Astrid's natural mother, Ingrid, is an amazing character. She's a modern Norse Valkyrie and I found her more interesting than every other character in the book combined. I think the book's greatest strength is letting Ingrid be harsh and horrible and completely selfish. 
 Olivia, the well paid prostitute next door, was the other character that really stood out to me. Like Ingrid, she was allowed to make a lot of questionable choices and comments, and was never "saved" or made to apologize for it. 
 I liked this book a lot and Ingrid will stay with me a long time.