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How to Talk to Your Succulent
After the loss of her mother, Adara struggles to communicate with her family about her grief. When a sympathetic ear arises in an unlikely place, Adara can finally find her words — but can she find the time to listen? A stunning graphic novel for middle-grade readers about family, friendship and magic in unlikely places, for fans of The Witches of Brooklyn and Raina Telgemeier.
Eleven-year-old Adara and her dad are moving from California to the cold and flat lands of Michigan . . . and it sucks. After Mom's recent passing, it seems way too soon. Talking to Dad has always been harder than with Mom, but now it's like walking on eggshells. And why did Dad bring so many of Mom's houseplants across the country? Her mother might have been called the Plant Whisperer back home, but Adara is beginning to wonder if there is something more to it. But when she meets a little succulent named Perle, she unlocks the same magical ability her mother had: talking to plants!
But taking care of Perle isn't as easy as it seems — the environment isn't suited for her, and Adara doesn't know how to meet her needs. Kind of like the situation Adara herself is in. If only Perle could ask Adara for help . . . and Adara could ask her dad.
With a touch of magic, this debut middle-grade graphic novel explores loneliness, mental health and empathy, and shows how communication, openness and a willingness to listen can help young people — and older people — and plants! — navigate their mental well-being and heal from loss, individually and together.
Eleven-year-old Adara and her dad are moving from California to the cold and flat lands of Michigan . . . and it sucks. After Mom's recent passing, it seems way too soon. Talking to Dad has always been harder than with Mom, but now it's like walking on eggshells. And why did Dad bring so many of Mom's houseplants across the country? Her mother might have been called the Plant Whisperer back home, but Adara is beginning to wonder if there is something more to it. But when she meets a little succulent named Perle, she unlocks the same magical ability her mother had: talking to plants!
But taking care of Perle isn't as easy as it seems — the environment isn't suited for her, and Adara doesn't know how to meet her needs. Kind of like the situation Adara herself is in. If only Perle could ask Adara for help . . . and Adara could ask her dad.
With a touch of magic, this debut middle-grade graphic novel explores loneliness, mental health and empathy, and shows how communication, openness and a willingness to listen can help young people — and older people — and plants! — navigate their mental well-being and heal from loss, individually and together.
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2025
16 people are currently reading
2151 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
November 10, 2025
In a Nutshell: A beautiful middle-grade graphic novel about a young girl coping with grief and discovering something magical during the healing process. Great characters, touching storyline, nice medley of reality and fantasy, many thought-provoking lessons, fabulous illustrations. Much recommended.
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Plot Preview:
Sometimes, you don't need to read the blurb. You can take one look at the title and cover and know that the book simply HAS to be read! Yes, this is a risky strategy in these days of never-ending TBRs, but more often than not, it works for me in case of graphic novels as the cover gives a sneak peek at the inside art as well. This was one such successful endeavour of the intuition.
Adara is an endearing character. I love how she actually seems like a child her age, having heartbreak but not clear on how to heal, wanting to understand her father's grief but also frustrated with his avoidance of conversation, loving her grandmother and yet yearning for her old home, and most of all, not realising that she herself was doing what she didn't like others doing to her. It was a brilliant character portrayal, all the more for a graphic novel with so many disparate elements.
The other human characters aren't far behind in impact. The book keeps the number of active characters limited, so each of them gets a well-rounded development. Adara's grandmother is probably my favourite of this lot. I love how she embodies the old style of parenting, allowing freedom to grow and explore without constant monitoring. Adara's dad is also nicely written, though his grief and his anxiety affect his ability to be more open to his daughter, thereby limiting his likeability. That said, this is the first time I have read a children’s book where a father is shown having anxiety issues; usually, mental health problems are reserved only for mom characters. A third wonderful human character is Adara's new best friend Winnie. Quirky and chirpy, Winnie offers the perfect companionship to Adara. Adara's mom is also a memorable human, though in a small role coming through flashbacks.
If you are wondering why I said "human character", it's because this graphic novel has plenty of non-human characters as well. There's little Toby the dog who, though in a limited role, manages to influence the direction of the plot. And then there are the plants! So many wonderful, magical, talkative plants! I have had a fondness for talking plants ever since I read Sarah Beth Durst’s ‘The Spellshop’, and this graphic novel offers in the same delightful experience. Perle was the loveliest of the lot. Though the smallest in size, she had the largest, most compassionate heart.
The story initially seems like that of a family battling the loss of a cherished member and not being able to handle the grief. But we soon see that it encompasses several other topics such as loneliness, communication issues, parenting problems, and mental health (specifically, anxiety.) Perhaps the most important theme in the book is the importance of empathy, of not just being there but being actively there, of being open about your feelings if they are hurting you instead of keeping quiet to protect the other person. These are such important yet underrated values.
Adara initially seems like the victim of her surviving parent's inability to communicate well, but we soon see that she herself needs to learn better communication. Both of them learn that healing together is always better than struggling alone. The plants have an important role to play in this process of learning and mental rejuvenation.
The story also demonstrates the procedure of propagating succulents. This hit me really hard because it's something I've never been able to do. I love succulents, but I've single-handedly killed so many of them that I'm never going to buy them again as I can't stand their loss. (I am on Stage Five of grief when it comes to ‘Death of Succulents’. 😭)
The illustrations in the book are as stunning as you can see on the cover. Though this is a debut graphic novel, the author is an experienced illustrator and has worked on several picture books. Her talent shows on every page, but most of all, in her depiction of the succulent Perle. Every single page is so vivid and colourful! I love the colouring scheme as well, with each page clearly indicating Adara’s emotions, going darker when she is in a stormy mood. I also loved those little thorn-like appendages. (You’ll know what I mean when you read the book.) Every single character has a strong personality, and the graphics highlight this well. Adara’s dad even has tattoos!
There's a lovely section at the end where the author and Perle take us through the process of making this graphic novel through digital art. A delight to read!
All in all, while this book went a bit heavier than I had guessed from the cover, it is still a beautiful read, with the story, the characters, the themes, and the illustrations all working well in sync with each other.
Definitely recommended. This would be a great option for tweens as well as teens and even older readers who are still kids at heart as the message offered by the story is beyond age limits.
4.5 stars.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Eleven-year-old Adara hates that her father has decided to uproot them from sunny California and move to cold Michigan to stay with his mother for emotional support. Adara thinks it's too soon after her mom's death to be making such a drastic change, and she's even more annoyed that he doesn't want to talk about his one-sided decision.
Adara's mom had been called the Plant Whisperer, and Adara assumed it was only because she was always talking to her plants. But now, she learns that the plants were also talking back to her mom. When Adara gets a beautiful succulent of her own, she names her ‘Perle’, delighted in her new plant friend. But is Perle equally delighted in her?
The story is written in Adara's first-person perspective.
Sometimes, you don't need to read the blurb. You can take one look at the title and cover and know that the book simply HAS to be read! Yes, this is a risky strategy in these days of never-ending TBRs, but more often than not, it works for me in case of graphic novels as the cover gives a sneak peek at the inside art as well. This was one such successful endeavour of the intuition.
Adara is an endearing character. I love how she actually seems like a child her age, having heartbreak but not clear on how to heal, wanting to understand her father's grief but also frustrated with his avoidance of conversation, loving her grandmother and yet yearning for her old home, and most of all, not realising that she herself was doing what she didn't like others doing to her. It was a brilliant character portrayal, all the more for a graphic novel with so many disparate elements.
The other human characters aren't far behind in impact. The book keeps the number of active characters limited, so each of them gets a well-rounded development. Adara's grandmother is probably my favourite of this lot. I love how she embodies the old style of parenting, allowing freedom to grow and explore without constant monitoring. Adara's dad is also nicely written, though his grief and his anxiety affect his ability to be more open to his daughter, thereby limiting his likeability. That said, this is the first time I have read a children’s book where a father is shown having anxiety issues; usually, mental health problems are reserved only for mom characters. A third wonderful human character is Adara's new best friend Winnie. Quirky and chirpy, Winnie offers the perfect companionship to Adara. Adara's mom is also a memorable human, though in a small role coming through flashbacks.
If you are wondering why I said "human character", it's because this graphic novel has plenty of non-human characters as well. There's little Toby the dog who, though in a limited role, manages to influence the direction of the plot. And then there are the plants! So many wonderful, magical, talkative plants! I have had a fondness for talking plants ever since I read Sarah Beth Durst’s ‘The Spellshop’, and this graphic novel offers in the same delightful experience. Perle was the loveliest of the lot. Though the smallest in size, she had the largest, most compassionate heart.
The story initially seems like that of a family battling the loss of a cherished member and not being able to handle the grief. But we soon see that it encompasses several other topics such as loneliness, communication issues, parenting problems, and mental health (specifically, anxiety.) Perhaps the most important theme in the book is the importance of empathy, of not just being there but being actively there, of being open about your feelings if they are hurting you instead of keeping quiet to protect the other person. These are such important yet underrated values.
Adara initially seems like the victim of her surviving parent's inability to communicate well, but we soon see that she herself needs to learn better communication. Both of them learn that healing together is always better than struggling alone. The plants have an important role to play in this process of learning and mental rejuvenation.
The story also demonstrates the procedure of propagating succulents. This hit me really hard because it's something I've never been able to do. I love succulents, but I've single-handedly killed so many of them that I'm never going to buy them again as I can't stand their loss. (I am on Stage Five of grief when it comes to ‘Death of Succulents’. 😭)
The illustrations in the book are as stunning as you can see on the cover. Though this is a debut graphic novel, the author is an experienced illustrator and has worked on several picture books. Her talent shows on every page, but most of all, in her depiction of the succulent Perle. Every single page is so vivid and colourful! I love the colouring scheme as well, with each page clearly indicating Adara’s emotions, going darker when she is in a stormy mood. I also loved those little thorn-like appendages. (You’ll know what I mean when you read the book.) Every single character has a strong personality, and the graphics highlight this well. Adara’s dad even has tattoos!
There's a lovely section at the end where the author and Perle take us through the process of making this graphic novel through digital art. A delight to read!
All in all, while this book went a bit heavier than I had guessed from the cover, it is still a beautiful read, with the story, the characters, the themes, and the illustrations all working well in sync with each other.
Definitely recommended. This would be a great option for tweens as well as teens and even older readers who are still kids at heart as the message offered by the story is beyond age limits.
4.5 stars.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
April 30, 2025
Loved the art here, this was such a unique and beautiful story about grief, friendship, change, and supporting loved ones through something hard. So stunning and will be recommending this one to everyone.
April 24, 2025
I absolutely ADORED this book. It’s such an interesting intersection between taking care of a plant and taking care of yourself during times of grief. And what an incredible look at grief this was from both the child and adult perspectives.
And that author’s note! It was so beautiful.
And that author’s note! It was so beautiful.
September 14, 2025
A beautiful, heartfelt graphic novel about grief, friendship, and succulents. Loved everything about it.
January 6, 2025
Ughhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! How To Talk To Your Succulent was absolute magic! While I knew that the MC, Adara, would be able to talk to plants (well at least her succulent), I didn’t know the depth and complexities that the story would hold overall. This is a middle school graphic novel that deals with death, loss, and mental health so incredibly well.
When her mother suddenly passes away, Adara and her father move across the country from sunny warm California to dark and cold Michigan where her grandmother lives. Before they left, they got rid of a lot of belongings that they wouldn’t need anymore, but the one (well multiple) thing they couldn’t part with were her mother’s plants. She had such a special connection to them, always taking time to talk with them throughout the day.
Due to the grief, her father hasn’t been able to talk about anything with Adara, which has left her more confused and hurt. We see that pain reflected by thorny vines that are growing from her back that no one can see. When suddenly one morning, he decides to take her somewhere special: the plant nursery where he met her mother. And she gets to pick out a plant of her very own.
This moment sparks something special in her, just like her mom: her plant suddenly speaks to her.
I love a middle grade book that can weave an important lesson or meaning into words that may seem innocuous, but can be really impactful. In this book, for instance, the reader learns that having someone to talk to can really help them to grieve properly, or even vent when they need a friend. We also learned the importance of listening to your friends or family and being there for them.
And don’t get me starting on the truly memorable artwork of Zoe Persico. I can’t get over how absolutely breathtaking each and every page is. The colors, the characterization, it was all so incredible. I will be preordering a copy to own immediately.
Another thing I loved was that after the book finishes, there was information on the care and propagation of succulents explained in the back. It is really easy to grow them with the correct instruction and having it beautifully illustrated added another layer to it as a whole.
Thank you to the publisher for my early eARC.
When her mother suddenly passes away, Adara and her father move across the country from sunny warm California to dark and cold Michigan where her grandmother lives. Before they left, they got rid of a lot of belongings that they wouldn’t need anymore, but the one (well multiple) thing they couldn’t part with were her mother’s plants. She had such a special connection to them, always taking time to talk with them throughout the day.
Due to the grief, her father hasn’t been able to talk about anything with Adara, which has left her more confused and hurt. We see that pain reflected by thorny vines that are growing from her back that no one can see. When suddenly one morning, he decides to take her somewhere special: the plant nursery where he met her mother. And she gets to pick out a plant of her very own.
This moment sparks something special in her, just like her mom: her plant suddenly speaks to her.
I love a middle grade book that can weave an important lesson or meaning into words that may seem innocuous, but can be really impactful. In this book, for instance, the reader learns that having someone to talk to can really help them to grieve properly, or even vent when they need a friend. We also learned the importance of listening to your friends or family and being there for them.
And don’t get me starting on the truly memorable artwork of Zoe Persico. I can’t get over how absolutely breathtaking each and every page is. The colors, the characterization, it was all so incredible. I will be preordering a copy to own immediately.
Another thing I loved was that after the book finishes, there was information on the care and propagation of succulents explained in the back. It is really easy to grow them with the correct instruction and having it beautifully illustrated added another layer to it as a whole.
Thank you to the publisher for my early eARC.
January 24, 2025
After her mom's recent passing, Adara and her dad move from California to Michigan to start anew. She doesn't understand why they had to leave home and she feels more alone than ever as her dad avoids her attempts at talking to him about their loss.
When Adara gets a succulent, she soon discovers she can talk to plants and becomes friends with it. Navigating the struggles of moving to a new place, her grief, and the growing distance between her and her dad, Adara slowly finds herself suffocating from frustration and loneliness.
This book reminds us of the importance of advocating for ourselves, while also being present with our family and friends. There are heavy and tender moments, and overall it's a heartwarming story.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ARC to review. All opinions my own.
When Adara gets a succulent, she soon discovers she can talk to plants and becomes friends with it. Navigating the struggles of moving to a new place, her grief, and the growing distance between her and her dad, Adara slowly finds herself suffocating from frustration and loneliness.
This book reminds us of the importance of advocating for ourselves, while also being present with our family and friends. There are heavy and tender moments, and overall it's a heartwarming story.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ARC to review. All opinions my own.
July 12, 2025
Very sweet graphic novel about learning how to deal with grief and anxiety, for both children and adults. The illustrations are adorable, I love how they personify plants, and use them as a metaphor— you forget to take care of them and leave them in the dark, they begin to wilt and lose their color. Similar to people, if you forget to take care of yourself, you get lost in the dark and lose your spark.
July 11, 2025
As both a plant person and someone who lost a parent at age 12, it almost feels like this book was written just for me (except replace the succulent with lots of hoyas). It's all very sweet and relatable, and the anthropomorphized plants are utterly adorable.
September 16, 2025
3.75/5
incredible art!!! i love perle and the plants (im not even a plants person) a very timely library hold that came when i fell sick…
however i do feel like the artist could have better immersed us in the story. make use of your art adventurously!! the messaging felt too straight forward and the “conflicts” were rather monotonous.
looking forward to more by the artist since this is a debut.
incredible art!!! i love perle and the plants (im not even a plants person) a very timely library hold that came when i fell sick…
however i do feel like the artist could have better immersed us in the story. make use of your art adventurously!! the messaging felt too straight forward and the “conflicts” were rather monotonous.
looking forward to more by the artist since this is a debut.
October 10, 2025
So much love for this story 💚
May 16, 2025
“Humans are a lot like plants, we stand with confidence when we’re happy, we shrink and wither when we struggle.”
I'd like to thank Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: grief, loss of a parent
This was a great read! I absolutely loved the art style and found myself wanting to study every detail of each scene. The colour scheme and design perfectly fit the emotion of the plot. I enjoyed reading about our main character Adara, who after her mother's passing is struggling with her relationships with her family and herself. Her character development and growth was heartwarming to read about and her journey felt real and relatable. The magical elements were exciting and whimsical, with adorable plant characters that I couldn't get enough of! How to Talk to Your Succulent is a beautiful story of grief and love, accompanied with stunning illustrations. It's sure to steal your heart!
I'd like to thank Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: grief, loss of a parent
This was a great read! I absolutely loved the art style and found myself wanting to study every detail of each scene. The colour scheme and design perfectly fit the emotion of the plot. I enjoyed reading about our main character Adara, who after her mother's passing is struggling with her relationships with her family and herself. Her character development and growth was heartwarming to read about and her journey felt real and relatable. The magical elements were exciting and whimsical, with adorable plant characters that I couldn't get enough of! How to Talk to Your Succulent is a beautiful story of grief and love, accompanied with stunning illustrations. It's sure to steal your heart!
May 5, 2025
A heartwarming book about an eleven year old dealing with the loss of her mother and the slow distancing of her father. When Adara and her dad move in with her grandmother, she doesn’t understand why they had to move and why her dad is drifting from her - why he won’t just talk to her. When she begins taking care of a succulent she discovers she’s inherited her mother’s ability to talk to plants! Succulent Perle can’t live in darker conditions as the other plants do but she doesn’t know how to ask Adara for help. With a splash of magic, this graphic novel tackles grief, loneliness, mental health and empathy. Beautiful and tender, this story was a reminder that it’s okay to ask for help and the importance of community.
Thank you @penguinrandomca for a copy in exchange for a review, this was lovely, 5✨.
Thank you @penguinrandomca for a copy in exchange for a review, this was lovely, 5✨.
October 24, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Zoe Persico’s debut middle grade graphic novel is a poignant tale of the aftermath of a loved one’s death and finding courage to confront one’s own anxieties and insecurities. After her mother’s passing, Adara finds herself swept away by her father from sunny California to cold Michigan to live with grandma. Through beautiful illustrative panels and delightful character designs, the story navigates through Adara’s struggles at home trying to connect with her closed off father, at school with a new friend also dealing with an overbearing parent, all the while discovering that she could talk to plants just like her mother. It’s a story that would touch many hearts and help those who have lost someone dear to them.
Zoe Persico’s debut middle grade graphic novel is a poignant tale of the aftermath of a loved one’s death and finding courage to confront one’s own anxieties and insecurities. After her mother’s passing, Adara finds herself swept away by her father from sunny California to cold Michigan to live with grandma. Through beautiful illustrative panels and delightful character designs, the story navigates through Adara’s struggles at home trying to connect with her closed off father, at school with a new friend also dealing with an overbearing parent, all the while discovering that she could talk to plants just like her mother. It’s a story that would touch many hearts and help those who have lost someone dear to them.
June 22, 2025
3.75/5 I loved the art! This graphic novel also had some good messages about taking care of yourself but also making sure you are valuing your other friendships at the same time.
June 4, 2025
“How to Talk to Your Succulent” is a visually rich and emotionally powerful graphic novel that tenderly explores the quiet, complicated grief of a child navigating loss, change, and the yearning to connect. Zoe Persico delivers a deeply resonant story, one that balances heartbreak with hope and captures the healing potential of relationships—between people, and with nature.
Adara’s world has turned upside down. After the death of her mother, she and her father move in with her grandmother, far from everything familiar. Her father, consumed by his own grief, shuts down emotionally, leaving Adara feeling alone, confused, and increasingly frustrated. The emotional distance between them is painful—and it’s this silence that becomes the heart of Adara’s struggle.
One of the most striking elements of this story is how emotions are made visible through the artwork. Adara’s grief, anger, and isolation manifest as thorny tendrils creeping from her body—an evocative metaphor that externalizes the kind of pain that’s often invisible. These dark vines twist through the panels, a visual reminder of how unchecked emotions can consume and distort our view of the world around us. It’s a brilliant artistic decision that gives readers, especially young ones, a tangible image of what emotional overwhelm can feel like.
Adara’s relationship with her new friend, Winnie, and the discovery of her ability to communicate with plants—an inherited gift from her mother—become the seeds of healing. But even as she finds herself drawn to her mother’s succulents, her pain keeps her from truly caring for them. Just like people, the plants show signs of neglect when they’re not heard or tended to, becoming a living metaphor for the emotional toll of bottling everything up.
The turning point arrives when Adara’s father finally opens up. It’s a quiet but powerful moment that allows space for mutual understanding and shared healing. The message is clear: we all need someone to talk to, and while grief is deeply personal, we are not meant to carry it alone.
Persico’s storytelling is gentle yet profound, capturing the nuances of intergenerational relationships, the messy process of grieving, and the quiet beauty of reconnection. The artwork is stunning—lush, expressive, and filled with symbolism that adds emotional weight to the narrative without overwhelming it.
“How to Talk to Your Succulent” is more than just a story about grief. It’s about learning to speak your truth, learning to listen, and understanding that like plants, we all need sunlight, care, and connection to thrive. This is a poignant and hopeful book that reminds us that healing often begins with the courage to open up—and that we deserve help in order to bloom again.
Recommended for:
Middle-grade readers and up, especially those dealing with grief or emotional struggles; a meaningful read for families and classrooms looking to gently explore big feelings.
Adara’s world has turned upside down. After the death of her mother, she and her father move in with her grandmother, far from everything familiar. Her father, consumed by his own grief, shuts down emotionally, leaving Adara feeling alone, confused, and increasingly frustrated. The emotional distance between them is painful—and it’s this silence that becomes the heart of Adara’s struggle.
One of the most striking elements of this story is how emotions are made visible through the artwork. Adara’s grief, anger, and isolation manifest as thorny tendrils creeping from her body—an evocative metaphor that externalizes the kind of pain that’s often invisible. These dark vines twist through the panels, a visual reminder of how unchecked emotions can consume and distort our view of the world around us. It’s a brilliant artistic decision that gives readers, especially young ones, a tangible image of what emotional overwhelm can feel like.
Adara’s relationship with her new friend, Winnie, and the discovery of her ability to communicate with plants—an inherited gift from her mother—become the seeds of healing. But even as she finds herself drawn to her mother’s succulents, her pain keeps her from truly caring for them. Just like people, the plants show signs of neglect when they’re not heard or tended to, becoming a living metaphor for the emotional toll of bottling everything up.
The turning point arrives when Adara’s father finally opens up. It’s a quiet but powerful moment that allows space for mutual understanding and shared healing. The message is clear: we all need someone to talk to, and while grief is deeply personal, we are not meant to carry it alone.
Persico’s storytelling is gentle yet profound, capturing the nuances of intergenerational relationships, the messy process of grieving, and the quiet beauty of reconnection. The artwork is stunning—lush, expressive, and filled with symbolism that adds emotional weight to the narrative without overwhelming it.
“How to Talk to Your Succulent” is more than just a story about grief. It’s about learning to speak your truth, learning to listen, and understanding that like plants, we all need sunlight, care, and connection to thrive. This is a poignant and hopeful book that reminds us that healing often begins with the courage to open up—and that we deserve help in order to bloom again.
Recommended for:
Middle-grade readers and up, especially those dealing with grief or emotional struggles; a meaningful read for families and classrooms looking to gently explore big feelings.
July 1, 2025
Won a free copy of this in a giveaway!
An interesting portrayal of grief coupled with a parent’s avoidance issue. Adara misses her mom dearly, but her often anxious dad won’t even talk about it, and he overcompensates by being overprotective. It’s no wonder she finds talking to plants easier than her father, then to her surprise, the plants start talking back.
The artwork here is so colorful and rich. Each panel is a mini-painting. And the plant friends are adorable. A very cool visual cue here occurs when Adara feels turmoil or anxiety, thorns begin to entangle her.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this and the message of being there for your friends as well. If not careful, it’s easy to get consumed with our problems that we may neglect or even ignore our loved ones’ struggles. Magical realism at its best!
4.5
An interesting portrayal of grief coupled with a parent’s avoidance issue. Adara misses her mom dearly, but her often anxious dad won’t even talk about it, and he overcompensates by being overprotective. It’s no wonder she finds talking to plants easier than her father, then to her surprise, the plants start talking back.
The artwork here is so colorful and rich. Each panel is a mini-painting. And the plant friends are adorable. A very cool visual cue here occurs when Adara feels turmoil or anxiety, thorns begin to entangle her.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this and the message of being there for your friends as well. If not careful, it’s easy to get consumed with our problems that we may neglect or even ignore our loved ones’ struggles. Magical realism at its best!
4.5
August 4, 2025
This artwork is like my perfect cup of tea. So beautiful I want to hang it on the walls. I also loved the metaphors of everyone growing the red vines when they’re upset and hiding their feelings.
This is a super important message for tween readers as well. It’s important to be true to yourself, be honest, be open, and communicate when someone hurts you. Reach out to others when you need help. It’s okay to be vulnerable.
I would say the ending seemed a bit rushed with Adara making up with her dad, Pearl, and Winnie all in a few pages. But overall I definitely recommend this. Readers as young as upper elementary can benefit and appreciate this.
This is a super important message for tween readers as well. It’s important to be true to yourself, be honest, be open, and communicate when someone hurts you. Reach out to others when you need help. It’s okay to be vulnerable.
I would say the ending seemed a bit rushed with Adara making up with her dad, Pearl, and Winnie all in a few pages. But overall I definitely recommend this. Readers as young as upper elementary can benefit and appreciate this.
September 11, 2025
Stunning middle grade graphic novel about a family trying to heal after a loss with a touch of magic. Really powerful messaging around grief, anxiety, and balancing your own needs while also supporting the ones you love.
Adara and her father move from CA to MI after her mother's death, and Adara struggles with her own grief, trying to connect to her grieving father, being a good friend, and being a good plant parent. I liked the spiky vines visual representation of anxiety, and appreciated the ever knowing grandmother. My favorite part of this though is obviously all the adorable anthropomorphized plants. Too cute!
Adara and her father move from CA to MI after her mother's death, and Adara struggles with her own grief, trying to connect to her grieving father, being a good friend, and being a good plant parent. I liked the spiky vines visual representation of anxiety, and appreciated the ever knowing grandmother. My favorite part of this though is obviously all the adorable anthropomorphized plants. Too cute!
November 30, 2025
I mostly expected cute art and a fairly light story when I picked this up, but I was surprised by how well this book explores not just grief but how easy it is to block out other people when they could help you or when they need you, and how being a good friend takes actual effort. I loved seeing the lesson on giving people your time and care reflected in Adara, Winnie and Perle and how each of those situations were different but obviously connected. It keeps the story from feeling repetitive, while also making it easy to digest for the intended audience. Plus- cute plants!
May 5, 2025
This is a really great book about grief and part of the journey we go on. It has a little bit of magic/fanasty in it, as the main charcter can talk to plants! Different relationships are portrayed in this book; parent/child, grandparent/child, and friendships. This book has such beautiful art!! I read this book so quickly, I loved it so much!!!
May 14, 2025
I loved everything about this!!!
The art style is beautiful, the characters are wholesome, the concept is so sweet, and the themes are deep and hard, but addressed just right. Considering that I already talk to my plants, I love the idea of them being able to talk back. I would've been obsessed with this as a kid. I can't wait for more from this author.
The art style is beautiful, the characters are wholesome, the concept is so sweet, and the themes are deep and hard, but addressed just right. Considering that I already talk to my plants, I love the idea of them being able to talk back. I would've been obsessed with this as a kid. I can't wait for more from this author.
August 25, 2025
This book was a good start for me to get back into reading because of the illustrations and my love for art. It has a good message which is communication between your loved ones.
The main character was dealing with a lot of anxiety after the passing of her mom and a dad who was grieving and unable to express his feelings. She learned that caring for her plants is the same as caring for others.
The main character was dealing with a lot of anxiety after the passing of her mom and a dad who was grieving and unable to express his feelings. She learned that caring for her plants is the same as caring for others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2025
I would like to thank Jade for recommending this beautiful book!!!! This story was so emotional and lovely and the perfect reminder to always think about your well being. It is totally okay to put yourself first when times are tough!!! you don't always have to be a people pleaser!!!!
November 7, 2025
This book made me so emotional. The art is STUNNING, honestly just my style, and I loved the overall message of the story. Even though it wasn't particularly plot heavy and could have easily felt preachy, I did not get that vibe at all. The story was tender and so balanced about a difficult topic.
I think this would be a great conversation starter of a book as well. This was such a beautiful graphic novel debut and I can't wait to read more from Persico.
I think this would be a great conversation starter of a book as well. This was such a beautiful graphic novel debut and I can't wait to read more from Persico.
April 14, 2025
4.5 stars - An emotional yet hopeful story about grief and advocating for ourselves with a touch of magic!
April 15, 2025
Oh this book is so pretty and so relatable. Adara and her dad more from California to Michigan after Adara's mom passes away and both Adara and her Dad struggle to talk about it. Then suddenly Adara discovers that she can actually TALK to plants, which is something her mom could do. Through the story of discovering this magical ability the reader reads about Adara and her journey through discovery, grief, anxiety, and the struggles of being a kid.
There is something for everyone in this book and the art is simply gorgeous.
There is something for everyone in this book and the art is simply gorgeous.
May 6, 2025
I loved this! It was cute and heartfelt.
May 25, 2025
5⭐️ Super cute! I love all the plants and it is a very transformative story dealing with grief.
June 1, 2025
Such a cute graphic novel and I loved the illustrations!
June 11, 2025
This is such a cute book. I enjoyed the art work and the message within the storyline was expressed well through the visuals.
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