Review By: Sara Tripp
Published: 2024
Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Mystery
Audience: Grades 10 to 12
Content Warnings: Fire, death
Goodreads Link: The Flower Sisters
Publisher’s Summary:
Drawing on the little-known true story of a tragic event that took place in the author’s Missouri hometown at an Ozarks dance hall in 1928, this beautifully written novel, told through twin storylines fifty years apart, explores the unpredictable effect of split-second decisions, small-town tragedy, and the ways family secrets reverberate through generations.
At birth, Violet and Rose Flowers were identical, save for a tiny bluish-purple mark gracing Violet’s slender neck. By nineteen, their temperaments distinguish them, as different as the flowers their mother named them for—Violet, wild and outgoing, and Rose, solitary and reserved. Still, they are each other’s world. Then, on a sweltering, terrible August night in 1928, an explosion rocks Lamb’s Dance Hall in Possum Flats, Missouri, engulfing it in flames, leaving one twin among the dozens dead, and her sister’s life forever changed.
Fifty years later, Daisy Flowers is dumped on her grandmother Rose’s doorstep for the summer. A bright, inquisitive fifteen-year-old, Daisy bargains her way into an internship at the local newspaper—where she learns of the mysterious long-ago tragedy and its connection to her family. Rose, now the local funeral home director, grows increasingly alarmed as her impulsive granddaughter delves into Possum Flats’ history, determined to uncover the horrors and heroes of the fiery blast.
For a small town, Possum Flats holds a multitude of big secrets, some guarded by the living, some kept by the dead. And through Rose, Daisy, Dash—a preacher who found his calling that fateful night—and others, those ghosts gradually come into the light, forcing a reckoning at last.
Review:
The story is based on a true event in a small town, which makes it even more meaningful. It follows Daisy, a brave and curious young woman who begins working at a local newspaper. She becomes interested in a tragic event that took place years earlier at the town’s dance hall. This tragedy has been quietly avoided by the community, as many people still carry the emotional weight of what happened. Daisy senses that telling this story could help bring understanding and closure, even though it means digging into painful memories.
What makes this book especially compelling is Daisy’s determination. She is not afraid to ask hard questions or explore the parts of the past that others would rather forget. In doing so, she uncovers not only the truth behind the tragic night, but also personal family secrets. As these truths come to light, healing begins to happen. The story ends with a sense of hope and unity that is both touching and memorable.
This book would be an excellent choice for high school students. It encourages reflection on themes like truth, resilience, and the role of journalism in uncovering untold stories. Students who enjoy historical fiction or mysteries with emotional depth will find much to connect with in this novel.
