Green Angel by Alice Hoffman came to me as a bookcrossing book ring book. I was actually quite excited, as the first Alice Hoffman book I ever read was the Norwegian translation of At risk. I can’t quite remember at what age I was, but my best guess would be early teens. Back then I loved the book, and I’m pretty sure I would at present day as well, though I’d prefer to read the original English one instead. But I digress.
This book is about the 15-year-old Green who loves to work in the garden. One day her parents and her beloved sister goes to the city, but they never return: They all die in a terrible fire, and Green is left on her own. Everything is covered by ashes, and Green struggles with both the pain of loosing her loved ones, and to survived in a gray environment. She does what she feel is the right way to protect herself, and starts to tattoo bats, vine of thorns and ravens onto her own skin.
I thought it was a beautifully written story, and I enjoyed Alice Hoffman’s poetic language. The book touched me, and made a great impression, even though it wasn’t very long. Some new characters are introduced along as we go, and even though you don’t feel as if you know then through and through, you start to love them. They are in so many ways some complicated and beautiful souls.
Have you read this book? If so, what do you think of it?