New Young Adult Novel by Amy Brecount White Speaks Language of Flowers

CHAPPAQUA, N.Y., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Everyone knows that red roses say "I love you."  But did you know that orchids say "passion" and that ivy signifies "fidelity?"  For centuries, people have used flowers to express emotions.  The language of flowers is found in Shakespeare, and in the Victorian era, people made small bouquets, or "tussie-mussies," with flowers carefully chosen to symbolize their feelings.  Now, Amy Brecount White's magical young adult novel, Forget-Her-Nots (Greenwillow/HarperCollins), uses the language of flowers to craft an entrancing story that perfectly captures the romantic yearnings, as well as the shifting jealousies and alliances, of teen girls.

Shortly after fourteen-year-old Laurel enrolls at a Virginia boarding school for girls, a mysterious bouquet of flowers appears at her door.  Laurel's mother has recently died, and the grieving teen wonders if there's a connection.  More sensitive than most to the fragrance of flowers, she senses that the blooms hold a power that can affect people's emotions. She puts together a tussie-mussie for her favorite teacher, and the teacher immediately finds love.  Soon word gets out among the girls, and each one wants Laurel to make a tussie-mussie that will help her snag her latest crush.  But when the potency of Laurel's bouquets is unleashed, she soon realizes they hold a magic too powerful for her to control.  

Young readers will be swept away by the rich, sensual language, the romance and the intrigue as Laurel gets drawn into a secret society of flowerspeakers.  "I've found that flowers and fragrance are like songs -- they can awaken precious bits of memory and sway your mood," says the author.  In this beautifully-crafted novel, White sings the language of flowers in a tune that will resonate with teens long after they finish the final page.  

Debut novelist Amy Brecount White has written for such publications as The Washington Post, Child, FamilyFun, and Teacher Magazine.  A former high school English teacher, she lives with her family in Arlington, Virginia.  For more on Amy and on the language of flowers, visit http://www.amybrecountwhite.com.

SOURCE Amy Brecount White