Walton, L. (2014). The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
This magically story a particularly usual family, the Roux, who immigrate to the United States during the 1920's in hope of a better future. Over the course of time the Roux family falls into great devastation; such as, their father is mistakenly murdered, the young siblings of Emilienne begin to meet their untimely death, and Emilienne's mother fades to dust. Through these strange events Emilienne weds a man, Conner Lavender, and moves to Seattle where he opens up a bakery to support his new family. Emilienne gave birth to a daughter, Viviane, who Mr. Lavender only got to see for a short time when all of a sudden he dies of a heart-attack. Everyone on Pinnacle Lane believes that Emilienne Lavender is a witch and she must choose to ignore these comments in order to make a living for her daughter and herself. Through the years, young Viviane falls in love with a young boy, Jack Griffin, but like her mother her love life doesn't end well. Viviane becomes pregnant with Jack's children, Ava and Henry, and they are an oddity among the town. Ava has wings and is considered a angel among the town members, and Henry doesn't like to talk or be touched. So, one can believe these events are leading to one ultimate event that includes Ava and her beautiful wings.
This story was really gut-wrenching with its sorrowful case of love and all of its untimely death because of love. I felt that the Roux family was cursed in love and I believed that love made them do crazy things. When Emilienne loved every time something always happened to the one she loved, so she stopped loving and she was distant with her daughter and hope she didn't fall prey to love too. Of course, we all know love can't be stopped or avoided, and the Lavender women did love regardless of heartbreak. After finishing this book I was glad that Viviane learned to let go of her past and finally love the one man who was always there for her and her children. Love does make people do crazy things after all, but one should not avoid it out of fear. This story is all about learning to overcome such obstacles and continue to be open to new experiences no matter the outcome.
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