Rating: 
Summary: better than the movie...
Review: I had seen this movie and I liked it, but I heard that the book was a lot more detailed. So I decided I would read this book for my English class. I liked it because it deals with problems that teenagers can relate to. It makes you put everything into perspective and be greatful for the people you have around you, that support you. I just couldn't imagine how cruel her own mother could possibly be and how jealous she was of Astrid at times. The author writes very beautifully and makes you to continue to read until you figure out what will happen next. You just feel so bad for this girl who trys to form to what other people want her to be. Everytime she changes to what is to be expected something aweful happens and she is moved to a new home. This book keeps you hooked and you just cannot put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and Dangerous
Review: This novel is very inspiring and triggers many different emotions. Astrid learns from the past and lives with the wounds inflicted upon her throughout her journey. She must adapt to the different foster homes she goes to, and she never forgets the various lessons given to her. I love how Janet Fitch uses the oleander as a metaphor of Ingrid. Both are beautiful, but dangerous. The book describes the difficulty of growing up in foster care. I highly recommend this book to any woman who is ready to read a novel that they won't be able to put down after the first five pages.
Rating: 
Summary: The Foster care system gone bad
Review: This is a story about a young girl Astrid, whose Mother is sent to prison for murder and her struggle to survive and grow up under difficult circumstances. I found this story intense at times and hard to put down. It's really quite a sad story of what can happen to teenagers who get "caught up" in the foster system.
Astrid is sent to 6 different foster homes during her teenage years and endured abuse in most of them. In her first foster home she was shot at the young age of 13 by her foster mother when it was discovered that Astrid was having an affair with her foster mother's boyfriend.
In another foster home her foster mother committed suicide a few months after she came to live with her. Astrid was excited to be moving to this foster home with both a foster mother and foster father who worked in the movie business so she was devestated when this happened. Her foster mother had given her attention and they lived in a very nice home. I was sad to read that Astrid knew in the back of her mind that it wouldn't last, and that is was too good to be true because of all the bad things that had happened to her in her life.
I enjoyed reading about Astrid's will and strength to survive in spite of the hardships she endures.
Rating:
Summary: such a great book
Review: What a great book, a huge journey through a girls life. Better than the movie. Great characters.
Rating:
Summary: Good Start
Review: Fitch proves her ability to use language with this novel. It is movingly written and, even though the story can be a bit far-fetched and melodramatic, it is definitely worth the time. I was never bored with the trials and tribulation of the characters and the ending left me utterly breathless.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite books....
Review: I recomend this book all the way. It is amazing the changes you see in Astrid from the beginning to the end of this book. Though the end of this book is a little disappointing, this is a good, good book.~Atalanta
Rating:
Summary: white oleander
Review: unfortunatly, i haven't read this book yet i'll be receiving it on christmas, but i have seen the movie and i thought it was fantastic. books are always 100 times better then movies so i can't wait to begin reading this book. i would rate the movie a 9 out of 10 so the book must be atleast an 11 out of 10! i would recomend this book for mature, girls who like drama, and suspence. this will be a book you can't put down.
Rating:
Summary: Fitch is amazing
Review: Ms. Fitch's style is breathtaking. Im one of those voracious readers that reads four or five books at the same time, alternating after several chapters. But Fitch's writing was so captivating that I never changed up and read only this one until I finished it. I was engrossed from the first page with Astrid's life. Fitch brilliantly constructed and characterized irresistibly magnetic characters within each foster home. The book was nearly perfect. The only reason I would not give it a five is that at times I was not as completely absorbed after Astrid left the Richardses home. The stay with Rena was not as compelling as the others. And I was a little indifferent over the end. It wasnt horrible or exteremely disappointing, but it could have been a little better or given a little more. Still an absolute worthwhile read that will be on my bookshelf for years to come, hopefully along with more great works by this masterful writer. As far as being an Oprah's book club selection, Ive often wondered if a woman as seemingly busy as Oprah really and truly read absolutely every single selection ever picked, because although the book is deserving of the honor, would Oprah still have selected it knowing that Oprah herself is mentioned within the pages in a degrading manner and with racial slurs? Just a thought :-)
Rating:
Summary: LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT
Review: One of the best books i had read in a long time....i could just picture this girl....from loveless life to all these horrible places..very emotional!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Poor Astrid
Review: I read this book, and was disappointed. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I was sorely disappointed. Did cheer for Astrid the whole time. The ending was abrupt and awful in my opinion! I wasn't sure whether to feel bad or scared for her half the time in all the different homes. I don't like reading about drugs etc so this wasn't the book for me! I think she gave up in the end and for that I am very disappointed!
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