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Finding Maria #2
Orchids for Billie
There is more to a rare orchid, and to a family, than meets the eye.
It is the summer of 1955, and Jack Brandugan’s days are filled with baseball, fishing, and playing with his faithful dog Lady. Then the moving trucks arrive and eight-year-old Jack has to face the harsh realities of his family life: his mother is sick, his father is gone, and their house in the suburbs with its loft bedroom, winding banister and backyard ballfield would be for another family now. Their home will with his grandparents, hundreds of miles away.
On moving day, a surprise discovery in his backyard and an invitation into his Grandmother’s sanctuary – her beloved greenhouse – inspires Jack to trade baseball for gardening. If he could grow his mother a prize orchid, surely he could fix their broken family. Intent on his task, his grandmother’s greenhouse becomes a classroom for growing flowers and for building faith in a world full of change, chaos, and endless surprise.
Orchids for Billie, is the timeless story of one little boy’s determination to save his family, while learning that those things appearing ugly and dark can lead to the greatest prize of all. This story is also the first prequel to Finding Maria: the year of transition in Little Jack’s life that would set him on his search for love.
It is the summer of 1955, and Jack Brandugan’s days are filled with baseball, fishing, and playing with his faithful dog Lady. Then the moving trucks arrive and eight-year-old Jack has to face the harsh realities of his family life: his mother is sick, his father is gone, and their house in the suburbs with its loft bedroom, winding banister and backyard ballfield would be for another family now. Their home will with his grandparents, hundreds of miles away.
On moving day, a surprise discovery in his backyard and an invitation into his Grandmother’s sanctuary – her beloved greenhouse – inspires Jack to trade baseball for gardening. If he could grow his mother a prize orchid, surely he could fix their broken family. Intent on his task, his grandmother’s greenhouse becomes a classroom for growing flowers and for building faith in a world full of change, chaos, and endless surprise.
Orchids for Billie, is the timeless story of one little boy’s determination to save his family, while learning that those things appearing ugly and dark can lead to the greatest prize of all. This story is also the first prequel to Finding Maria: the year of transition in Little Jack’s life that would set him on his search for love.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2011
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 12, 2018
Set in 1955 this is the sweetest and saddest story about an eight year old (going into 3rd grade) whose father left the family. His family consisted of two older brothers, two younger brothers, two sisters and the MC Jack. Sadly, Jack's mother has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. As one can imagine, back in the 1950's in the days of Father Knows Best when the man of the home left, it left the family in a more than difficult predicament.
Unfortunately, Jack's father didn't visit him or his siblings as he promised he would so Jack's memories of his dad are few. He reminisces about going to a Braves game with his dad and how a foul ball was hit and Jack's dad crawled under the bleachers to get it for him. Now that ball is very important to Jack because of its priceless sentimental value. But he somehow loses his ball and through the ball and its meaning and connection to his father, the reader understands what loss means to a little boy of 8 years old. Jack slept with the ball in his hand one night "as if [Jack] could hold the ball, [his] father was still in the house, still part of the family." In the process of moving their things from their home to his grandparents home where they had to live, he "lost the ball and all trace of [his] father." This is such a sad thing to read. I went through a divorce when I had all five children still at home and they were 16, 14, 11, 7, and 5 years old. I remember the pain, but I had never gone through divorce as a child but I could "feel" their pain of their dad not coming to games like he used to (for my 11 year old son) and his absence continued throughout their lives, even though he lives with minutes of most of them.
But the story focuses a lot of Jack and how he loves bringing orchids to his mother to show her love and how he cares and wants to make her happy. One thing that was really enjoyable for me and written so poetically is comparisons of orchids to raising children. "To grow up strong they require: seed, home, nourishment...Sometimes they need sun, sometimes they need shade...They are a challenge because they need a challenge" and other comparisons such as "Orchids, like children, are...blessed with a great power to forgive."
The story is what I call sweet and simple. Nothing complicated. But full of heart in many ways.
Unfortunately, Jack's father didn't visit him or his siblings as he promised he would so Jack's memories of his dad are few. He reminisces about going to a Braves game with his dad and how a foul ball was hit and Jack's dad crawled under the bleachers to get it for him. Now that ball is very important to Jack because of its priceless sentimental value. But he somehow loses his ball and through the ball and its meaning and connection to his father, the reader understands what loss means to a little boy of 8 years old. Jack slept with the ball in his hand one night "as if [Jack] could hold the ball, [his] father was still in the house, still part of the family." In the process of moving their things from their home to his grandparents home where they had to live, he "lost the ball and all trace of [his] father." This is such a sad thing to read. I went through a divorce when I had all five children still at home and they were 16, 14, 11, 7, and 5 years old. I remember the pain, but I had never gone through divorce as a child but I could "feel" their pain of their dad not coming to games like he used to (for my 11 year old son) and his absence continued throughout their lives, even though he lives with minutes of most of them.
But the story focuses a lot of Jack and how he loves bringing orchids to his mother to show her love and how he cares and wants to make her happy. One thing that was really enjoyable for me and written so poetically is comparisons of orchids to raising children. "To grow up strong they require: seed, home, nourishment...Sometimes they need sun, sometimes they need shade...They are a challenge because they need a challenge" and other comparisons such as "Orchids, like children, are...blessed with a great power to forgive."
The story is what I call sweet and simple. Nothing complicated. But full of heart in many ways.
June 13, 2012
What a wonderful read! Won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I was completely drawn into Jack's life as a young lad looking at the life he has been given: a father who has left his wife and 7 children; a mother who is chronically ill but who fervently loves her children; older siblings and a younger brother Freddie who is a thorn in the flesh; the grandparents they now live with; and a menagerie of aunts and uncles who have their own unique personalities. The comparison of the challenges that Jack faces trying to grow an orchid for his mother and life with all its many complexities gives this book its marvelous flavor that lingers long after the book is finished. Highly recommended!
December 18, 2013
A heartbreaking tale lies amidst the brilliance and inspiring story of Little Jack, his father's son in many ways but still his own person.
Weaved throughout this novel of Little Jack is the story of his father who left the family of 7 kids at the worst and still best time. Hatt tells this story through the eyes and mind of an 8 year old boy as he finds his place within his family and through life.
There may have been many comparisons to human's and flowers before but none that I've found so poetic with depth and simplicity as this one. Specific to orchids, the rare lady slipper found in a field of dandelions and grass, compliments the idea of a fairy tale true to life.
The second in a series, I read Orchids for Billie first and it made perfect sense while making me crave the rest of this family's story.
A must read in my opinion.
Thanks for reading,
Sarah Butland
Weaved throughout this novel of Little Jack is the story of his father who left the family of 7 kids at the worst and still best time. Hatt tells this story through the eyes and mind of an 8 year old boy as he finds his place within his family and through life.
There may have been many comparisons to human's and flowers before but none that I've found so poetic with depth and simplicity as this one. Specific to orchids, the rare lady slipper found in a field of dandelions and grass, compliments the idea of a fairy tale true to life.
The second in a series, I read Orchids for Billie first and it made perfect sense while making me crave the rest of this family's story.
A must read in my opinion.
Thanks for reading,
Sarah Butland
October 25, 2014
Cute, but emotional story.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews