Blossom

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"This riveting true story describes the astonishing bond created between a beautiful, wild creature and the woman who saved her.

Blossom's story is intertwined with the author's recollections of long childhood hospitalizations resulting from a severe injury. Carner became a caretaker of sorts to other hospitalized children, and an interesting parallel backstory emerges. 

The narrative is simply and eloquently written. Blossom's extraordinary story defies traditionally held beliefs regarding the divide between man and nature and is likely to cause readers to reassess their assumptions about "wild" animals. It is sure to appeal to anyone who savors the beauty of our natural world."

 - BlueInk Review - *Notable Book

“In riveting detail … with the tension of a thriller …. A thought-provoking, poignant, and unusual love story that lingers.” -Kirkus Reviews

“This lovely story, told with heart and candor, demonstrates how we share our lives with all beings on this planet. It demonstrates how an act of kindness and love can help not only the creatures we encounter but also the lives of a community. Read this book and experience the joy and surprise of the life of Blossom, a most amazing deer.” -Georgia Hughes, Editor, former bookseller

“A beautiful memoir of healing and hope wrapped up in the story of how one helpless fawn found both.” -Chanticleer Reviews “Best Book” — 5 Stars!

“Absolutely terrific! Carner’s prose will delight the most fastidious critics, for she strews her story with endless fresh and thought-provoking images. Any lover of animals will warm to this entrancing story. It will kindle all kinds of emotions, for it is the age-old story of humanity’s multi-fold ways of relating to the magnificent creatures that surround us.” -Dr. John Killinger, Author, Lecturer

Idea/Concept: An event-filled look at the dazzling personality and daily existence of a semi-tame deer, this amazing account of her fight to survive natural threats as well as the suffering inflicted by harassing humans resonates to the heart’s core. This doe teaches the meaning of love as she interacts with people and other deer, communicating, comforting, playing, and nurturing.

Prose: As absorbing as a novel, this heartwarming narrative demonstrates poetic flair as well as a grounded and genuine exploration of the sometimes fraught relationships between wildlife and human communities.

Originality: Tales of companion animals—typically cats, dogs, or horses—are available in abundance, but this unusual tribute to a wild deer surpasses expectations. Unique for its gripping plot and smoldering spotlight on the brutality of hunting these living, breathing fauna, the book compares to no other.

Execution: This touching story of an orphaned fawn that bonds with the woman who adopted her brings to light the importance of respecting deer and their right to live in peace without the annual threat of extermination. Portrayed as a loving character throughout the book, this perceptive doe leaves an unforgettable impression on a small community torn between longstanding tradition that utilizes rifles, along with bows and arrows, and progressive wildlife management that proposes the use of fertility control vaccines.

Score:

• Plot/Idea: 10

• Originality: 9

• Prose: 10

• Character/Execution: 10

• Overall: 9.75

-- BOOKLIFE PRIZE (Critic's Report by Publisher's Weekly)