Things That Grow by Meredith Goldstein
Published by Clarion Books on March 9, 2021
ISBN: 1328770109
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

As senior year looms, Lori’s world comes to a halt when her beloved guardian Grandma Shirley dies.  Following Shirley’s request, Lori, her best friend Chris and a few family members take a road trip around to scatter her cremains in four different gardens and do a reading at each one.  Along the way, with sarcastic humor and much grace, Lori has to face the possibility of moving her senior year, changing her perspectives about her Uncle Seth and acknowledging her suppressed romantic feelings for Chris.    Goldstein provides positive spins on the messy relationships in Lori’s family that need to be tackled during these road trips.  Lori is white and Chris is black.  Every concern is neatly tied up in the end.  The setting is Massachusetts with an emphasis on Natick Mall and surrounding shops.  Readers will be inspired to further check out authors like Dorothy Parker, Stephen King and Edith Wharton.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library