Superb fiction for 8/9 years and up to the oldest of readers. I needed hankies at the end of this ultimately feel good story. Kelsey, 13, has been let down badly by her mother, and finds herself in trouble with the law. Because of this she ends up very reluctantly having to help an eccentric Botanist, and finds out plants can do much more than just look pretty. Over time, in tragedy and laughter, she finds the commitment and care she has been lacking throughout her life. Thank you to Black Rose Writing (who have so many good books to shout about) and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Another great hit for author Ginny Rorby! I could not put down the book, it was so good! The chapters flow one into the next that makes it impossible to stop reading. I stayed up until 2 am because I couldn't stop reading. I think I did the same thing reading past my bedtime with Ms. Rorby's other books like "Hurt Go Happy" and "Lost in the River of Grass".

Thirteen-year-old Kelsey is trying to keep it together with helping her alcoholic mom and no dad (mom doesn't talk about him). When she is caught again shoplifting, this time the judge sentences her to community service helping Dr. Hobbes in his greenhouse of plants. Kelsey is not interested in anything Dr. Hobbes has to say or do, but she does love his cat Gen. Eventually, Kelsey is interested in what Dr. Hobbes is doing. I liked reading how he captured her interest and helped change her way and her mindset. Kelsey has many struggles throughout the book.

A very touching story that many readers may be able to relate to (unfortunately), but it is also a peek into others' lives that you may not realize the struggles one may be enduring just trying to tread water to keep their head above water each and every day.

A must-have for all libraries!

@GinnyRorby @RorbyWrites XNetGalley #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarians #ReadABook #Books #Read #MGReads MGBooks #MGLit #KidLit #KidLit #ElementaryBooks #ElemReads

Wow, I didn't know how to feel while reading this book.
At first, the main character Kelsey, came across as annoying and ungrateful. However, as the story progressed, we learn more about her upbringing, and why she is so defensive and stubborn.
I relly enjoyed the character development of Kelsey, and how she interacted with Hobby and his plants.
This book definitely tugged at my heartstrings a few times, as I could not help but feel sorry for Kelsey, and I just wanted to give a big hug.
A raw, and emotional read.

Girl Under Glass by Ginny Rorby
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Out 30.05.24
YA Fiction

Oh boy! This story pulled at my heart strings all the way through. I found myself choking back the tears at the end. What an absolute gem of a book. This is a YA story that is written incredibly well, It didn't feel like I was reading a book meant for a young teen. I was fully immersed in Kelsey's life, from start to finish. Her character development throughout the book is admirable. Fighting between living in poverty and having the responsibility of caring for her alcoholic mother, constantly making wrong choices, and wanting to be a better person so she didn't follow the same route her mother took. It was such a mixture of so many emotions, and I felt every one of them through Rorby's narrative.

I love to grow plants and nurture them, so this side of the story was fascinating. Talking about the science of plants sensing their surroundings and adapting to dangers around them was explained in such an easy way to follow. It's not heavy with the science parts or overly complicated.

This story is an emotional roller coaster of a ride. It does tackle some heavy subject matters for a younger reader, but they are tackled in a way that's understanding. Kelsey will forever hold a place in my heart. I'm so glad I read this book. It is unique storytelling done exceptionally well.

Synopsis
Kelsey, a young teen, living a life of self-destruction, finds herself in deep water when she uses up her last chance. Taken pity upon, she gets given community service with Dr. Hobbes, a botanist. When he gets beaten, Kelsey tries to find a way to explain how Hobbes' plants bore witness to the attack.

Thank you, Netgalley, and Black Rose Writing

For the first few chapters of this book I really didn't like the main character, Kelsey. As the story progressed and you got to know her better and what her back story was so you realize what makes her the way she is, you begin to warm up to her. And as she becomes more open to the influence of Hobby, she is even more likeable. Definitely an interesting story.

Thank you Netgalley and Black Rose Writing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Girl Under Glass" by Ginny Rorby delivers an engaging story that blends elements of science and suspense, all centered around a girl experiencing kindness and compassion when she has lived a life largely lacking in those experiences. At its core, it's a story of redemption and unlikely alliances, such as with a quirky botanist and a kind-hearted detective, set against the backdrop of groundbreaking research into plant communication. Plus, this book has a prominent, adorable cat throughout, which definitely made me enjoy the book even more. While the main character, Kelsey, is pretty young (only 13 years old) and the writing itself makes the book seem more MG than YA, the book also focuses on heavy themes, such as alcoholism and child neglect; there is also a scene involving drunk driving and the death of a minor, so be aware of these themes before reading, especially if the book is for a younger reader.

The protagonist, Kelsey, is a rebellious young girl on the brink of trouble. However, when she's given a chance to avoid juvenile hall through community service, she finds herself entangled in a high-stakes mystery involving a botanist and a brutal crime. Rorby is able to create a story that redeems Kelsey’s character as you are able to see her grow as a person due to the “seeds” that are planted from those around her – the “seeds” in this case being love and compassion (this book just demands plant-themed metaphors). Kelsey has lived a challenging life due to her mother’s alcoholism, and Kelsey herself is definitely a flawed character. There were some times when I actually disliked Kelsey due to certain things she said to the botanist. However, I found myself invested in Kelsey’s character as I wanted to see her learn from her mistakes and begin to appreciate those around her. After all, she is a good person (as determined by Gen, the cat, as well as the plants within the greenhouse).

Besides the strong character development within the book, what sets "Girl Under Glass" apart from other YA contemporary/mystery books is its incorporation of cutting-edge science surrounding plant communication. In the story, Rorby explores the intriguing concept of plants as witnesses to crime, adding an intriguing layer of complexity to the plot. I really enjoyed the science aspect of the book with the different experiments. I found the idea of a plant being hooked up to a lie detector test to be absolutely fascinating. The science parts in the book were informative without being too information-dumping and dense for the reader to enjoy; the science was also broken down for a younger reader to understand (the layout of this information would probably be more suitable for MG readers or younger YA readers).

Readers will find themselves drawn into Rorby's richly imagined world, where characters and plants alike come to life with authenticity and depth. It’s rare for a book to actually make me invested in plants, but Rorby was actually able to give a plant, Phil, a personality. The writing style is engaging and accessible; I think this book would work well with reluctant readers who are interested in science.

Overall, "Girl Under Glass" is a compelling read that balances science, suspense, and heartfelt storytelling with finesse. The mystery itself wasn’t too much of a focus in the book, and while the plot was a bit predictable at times, I really enjoyed the characters of Kelsey, the botanist, and Phil the plant (and I definitely can’t forget about Gen the cat).

I was hooked from the cover and thought it worked with the description. I thought it worked well in the universe and though the characters and plants worked with everything that I wanted. I enjoyed the science element to this and thought the characters were realistic and well done. Ginny Rorby has a great writing style and am excited to read more from Ginny Rorby.