Monday, February 5, 2018

Review: Far From the Tree - Robin Benway

Far From the Tree
Robin Benway
Series: n/a
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: HarperTeen
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
A contemporary novel about three adopted siblings who find each other at just the right moment.

Being the middle child has its ups and downs.

But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including—

Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs.

And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he’s learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can’t hurt anyone but him.
This is one of the books for my #2017Throwback reading challenge, and I am kicking myself for missing the opportunity to read it last year. When I first saw this book for request, I read the blurb, and it sounded too emotional. I thought it would overwhelm me with sadness, but it had the exact opposite effect. This was an absolutely gorgeous and inspiring story of love, family, and healing, and I am so happy I read it.

Five things I love about this book
  1. This book incorporates so. Many. Issues. However, I never felt overwhelmed by any of them, because of the way Benway approached them. These issues were part of the story, but they were not the focus of the story. She also made sure that our protagonists had a support system in place, which alleviated my worry and woe, because I knew they would be ok. 
  2. This look inside three different families and then a blended family was very honest, but also, very heartwarming. Each family had a hurdle they needed to climb. They were flawed and imperfect, but they were working together to overcome the obstacles, and they never stopped loving each other. 
  3. Maya, Grace, and Joaquin were all so fully realized. They were multidimensional and layered, but most of all, they were so real. I found myself connecting on a different level with Grace, because I am a mother, who was once in her position, and I know her choice was very difficult. I think I shed the most tears for Joaquin though. *Crying right now* I was so grateful for the little things Benway did for his character. Each good thing she gifted him made my heart grow, and if that's not a testament to a phenomenally crafted character, I don't know what is. 
  4. Watching the bond grow from strangers to full-fledged siblings made my heart soar. Each little step they took and any progress they made caused the smile on my face to get bigger and bigger. 
  5. Benway knows how to wrap things up. I think I have a reputation for complaining about endings, but in all fairness, I will wield praise freely, when it is done properly, like with this book. Jump-aheads are one of my favorite things when it comes to endings, and we got a little bit of one here. I loved that she gave them some time to process everything that had happened, and also time to heal. She gave me closure and I could not stop the flow of happy tears. 
Now that I have read this wonderful book, I must say that I agree with all my blogger friends out there. This was an absolutely exquisite experience while delivered all the feels. I have already purchased two of Benway's other books and cannot wait to make my way through her backlist, because, as Nick has stated, she can do no wrong. 


My other #2017Throwback books read in January:


by Jason Reynolds
★ 1/2


by Rae Carson
★ 1/2


by R.S. Grey

by Mitali Perkins

by Tiffany D. Jackson
★ 1/2

by R.S. Grey
★ 1/2











Have you ever made an "insomnia" purchase?
Let us know in the comments!

32 comments:

  1. Man, I need some family goodness to escape into. Mine is driving me nuts right now. This threesome of siblings sound wonderful, but Joaquin breaks my heart. I'm so pleased the author just made them all work.

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    1. It was really such a lovely story about connection and family, and it was incredible that Benway could explore so many topics without it getting muddled.

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  2. Oh my, this does sound wonderful and so much more uplifting than I thought it would be. I've had it in my TBR pile as well and had put it off for the exact same reason you did. Making it a priority now. Great review!

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    1. I thought this would be all sad and depressing, but it wasn't. It was such a wonderful and lovely story of family. It hit me right in the feels.

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  3. Oooh so glad you enjoyed this--I've been seeing AMAZING reviews. I'm not really a fan of having multiple POVs/storylines in contemporaries, but I need more emotional and tear-jerking reads, so I'll keep this one in mind for when I'm in the mood for some cryin'. ;) Great review, Sam! <3

    - Aimee @ Aimee, Always

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    1. The nice thing, is that most of the crying in this book is the happy kind.

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  4. Yes! I'm so glad you loved this one. It's one of my favorites also. I loved watching the relationship between them grow as well.
    Great review!

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    1. It really was as good as everyone said it was. I never wanted it to end.

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  5. I still need to read this one! I'm so glad that you loved it though. It sounds like the characters are really well done, which is something I LOVE in books. I'm glad the ending was wrapped up a bit too - closure is always appreciated. :)

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. I think you will be happy if you read this. I am a character driven reader, so it's important for me to find some sort of way to connect or care, and I just grabbed on to these characters and never let go.

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  6. Yay glad you loved this one. I thought it was so good and gave me all the feels. Great review!

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    1. I loved all the happy feels it gave me and continues to give me when I think about it.

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  7. This one sounds interesting. I love that the author did a great job with tough topics I find it easier to read a book when the tough subject doesn't feel overwhelming and handled well. Great review!

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    1. Benway should be commended for the topics she addressed and the way she was able to weave them effortlessly into the story.

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  8. Really interested in this now. My kids have a complicated history and a bio sibling living in another country, so it hits close to home. Emmy & Oliver won me over despite my initial skepticism, so I have a lot of faith in Fenway too.

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    1. I have Emmy & Oliver and am super motivated to read it after finally reading this book. I bought Audrey, Wait! too. So, lot's of Benway in my future. That must be tough for your children having a sibling so far away.

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  9. This one is new to me, but you make it sounds so interesting. Glad you enjoyed it.

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    1. If you liked family stories (and YA), you would enjoy this.

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  10. I was scared to read this one too, because like you said: it sounds very emotional and intense. So I'm really happy to hear that it's also quite uplifting, and that the ending worked well for you. I may have to reconsider and pick this one up! I'm also quite intrigued by R.S. Grey, I haven't heard much about them but their covers are very eye-catching.

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    1. I swear, I was so happy reading this book. R.S. Grey is one of my romance go-tos. If you like contemporary romance, you should try Scoring Wilder. It's one of her most popular books.

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  11. I am so, so happy that you enjoyed this book so much - I loved it. I really loved the characters, they felt so real, three-dimensional and I found myself caring for all of them. I'm not a fan of multiple POV, usually, but there I found them distinct and unique and I loved it so much <3
    Great review! :)

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    1. I enjoyed it so, so much. Benway definitely gave each of the siblings a distinct voice. I liked that she gave them a traditional family role too. The protective older brother, the sometimes bratty little sister, and the caregiver. It was a really well written story.

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  12. Awesome review, Sam!! You covered so much of what I loved about this book. Namely, the fully realized main characters (each of them felt so completely authentic) and the fact that Benway touched on so many topics but it was balanced with the narrative and characterization so well that it never once felt like an “issue book.”

    My heart broke again and again for Joaquin and OMG the tears I cried for that wonderful boy. I wanted so uh for him to understand he was truly loved, that he was truly wanted, and that he was worthy of that love. His last chapter about broke me and I was reduced to heaving sobs. Loved Joaquin - so much.

    If you haven’t read Emmy & Oliver yet, that’s another one just had me feeling All The Feels. Highly recommend it!

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    1. Exactly! It had issues without having that issues book feel. That is an accomplishment. Joaquin earned the most tears from me as well. I am getting chills just thinking about the ending Benway gave him. *crying, again* I have Emmy & Oliver and I bought Audrey, Wait! too. I am very excited to read more Benway!

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    2. I liked Audrey, Wait! I loved Emmy & Oliver. And Far from the Tree... well, it's in a league of its own. :)

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    3. This was absolutely a very special book

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  13. I read Emmy & Oliver when it first came out and wow did I love that book. I bought this one as soon as it came out and it's still sitting on my shelf, unread. I forgot about it until now! I'm so glad you liked this one, and the cover is absolutely beautiful. Awesome review!

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    1. Read it! Read it! *peer pressure* Seriously, I was hesitant, and am so glad I made time for it.

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  14. I am so glad I bought this one. I wasn't certain but I was persuaded by all of the excellent reviews I saw. I'm glad this one was so good and you're just another blogger reminding I need to read this book!

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    1. Right? I wasn't sure about it, but I am so happy my blogger friends changed my mind. It was so good! Read it when you need a little more happy in your life. It left me so elated.

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  15. This is definitely on my tbr and I need to get to it. I love books about family and it sounds amazing!

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    1. It was beautiful and I hope it will make you as happy as it made me.

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