The Names of All the Flowers

June 1, 2020
Growing up in Oakland, California in the 1990s, Valentine and her brother Junior were two of six children in their family, born to a white Quaker father from Pennsylvania and a Black mother from the Deep South. Valentine's debut memoir delves into her past, digging up the trauma and grief that resulted from her brother's tragic death at age 19 from gun violence. As Valentine writes in her introduction, This book is my love letter for those who mourn every day. In among her poignant reflections on losing her brother, she also reveals her own courage, her experience growing up biracial, and the feeling of in-betweenness": never quite finding she fit in. Expressed in lyrical prose, Valentine's love for her brother and compassion for anyone who is dealing with grief in any capacity are evident. This is a stunning tribute to a life that ended too soon, a tribute that simultaneously rings with strength and rage. It is also a brave and honest call for justice.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)