Review: Far From the Tree - Robin Benway

Far From the Tree
Robin Benway
Series: n/a
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: HarperTeen
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

A contemporary novel about three adopted siblings who find each other at just the right moment.

Being the middle child has its ups and downs.

But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including—

Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs.

And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he’s learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can’t hurt anyone but him.

This is one of the books for my #2017Throwback reading challenge, and I am kicking myself for missing the opportunity to read it last year. When I first saw this book for request, I read the blurb, and it sounded too emotional. I thought it would overwhelm me with sadness, but it had the exact opposite effect. This was an absolutely gorgeous and inspiring story of love, family, and healing, and I am so happy I read it.

Five things I love about this book

1. This book incorporates so. Many. Issues. However, I never felt overwhelmed by any of them, because of the way Benway approached them. These issues were part of the story, but they were not the focus of the story. She also made sure that our protagonists had a support system in place, which alleviated my worry and woe, because I knew they would be ok. 
2. This look inside three different families and then a blended family was very honest, but also, very heartwarming. Each family had a hurdle they needed to climb. They were flawed and imperfect, but they were working together to overcome the obstacles, and they never stopped loving each other. 
3. Maya, Grace, and Joaquin were all so fully realized. They were multidimensional and layered, but most of all, they were so real. I found myself connecting on a different level with Grace, because I am a mother, who was once in her position, and I know her choice was very difficult. I think I shed the most tears for Joaquin though. *Crying right now* I was so grateful for the little things Benway did for his character. Each good thing she gifted him made my heart grow, and if that's not a testament to a phenomenally crafted character, I don't know what is. 
4. Watching the bond grow from strangers to full-fledged siblings made my heart soar. Each little step they took and any progress they made caused the smile on my face to get bigger and bigger. 
5. Benway knows how to wrap things up. I think I have a reputation for complaining about endings, but in all fairness, I will wield praise freely, when it is done properly, like with this book. Jump-aheads are one of my favorite things when it comes to endings, and we got a little bit of one here. I loved that she gave them some time to process everything that had happened, and also time to heal. She gave me closure and I could not stop the flow of happy tears. 

Now that I have read this wonderful book, I must say that I agree with all my blogger friends out there. This was an absolutely exquisite experience while delivered all the feels. I have already purchased two of Benway's other books and cannot wait to make my way through her backlist, because, as Nick has stated, she can do no wrong. 

My other #2017Throwback books read in January:

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds ★★★★ 1/2	Into the Bright Unknown by Rae Carson ★★★★ 1/2
The Fortunate Ones by R.S. Grey ★★★★	You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins ★★★★★
Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson ★★★★ 1/2	The Foxe & the Hound by R.S. Grey ★★★ 1/2

Have you ever made an "insomnia" purchase?

Let us know in the comments!