Far From an Ordinary Story (edited)

By Emma D.

Reviewed as an author who has the type of writing that hits the reader right in the heart, Robin Brenway took the Young Adult genre by storm with her novel, Far From the Tree. Using adoptive families, trauma, and newfound relationships with three teenage protagonists, this coming of age story is a tear-jerker before you open the pages.

Sixteen-year-old Grace had her life turned upside down once she became pregnant. As someone who was adopted at birth, she already made the decision to put her child up for adoption. Although this seems like a good idea at the time, Grace experiences the hardships and pain of giving something away after having it for so long.

Through this adoption process, she finds something else out about her life; she has two biological siblings that live close by. This introduces the two other main characters to the audience with Grace forming a bond with them.

Fifteen-year-old Maya is a loud-mouthed, wisecracking lesbian who seems like an open person, but has the habit of hiding her feelings around the people she loves. Seventeen-year-old Joaquin is the only one out of the three who has never been adopted and has a secretive past he wants no one to know about, especially his new biological sisters.

Reviewers and recommendations were correct on the fact that Brenway writes with an emotional flair. Her simplistic yet thought-provoking style of writing causes you to become engrossed with the backstories and emotions of these characters, tearing through the pages to read more.  Character development is the strongest part of the story; despite the characters' flaws, you could not help but feel for them during times of hardship and root for them in times of joy. Scenes in this story caused me to yell at the book, threaten to throw it across the room, and cry out of excitement and sadness.

One flaw I would point out in this story is the point of view.  Brenway decided to set up her story in third person limited, switching the perspective every chapter. If the story were set up in the first person, the emotional impact the book gives the reader would be even stronger and you could see the characters' inner thoughts and actions clearer.

This is the first Robin Brenway book I have picked up, the subject of adoptive families and coming of age being the reasons I picked it up. I had high expectations for this story, hoping to get inspiration for my future stories with it. My expectations were exceeded and then some with this story, and finding out she has written more stories, I may check them out. I urge readers to check out her brilliant novel, Far From the Tree, especially if coming of age stories are their type.