GREEN ANGEL by Alice Hoffman Book Review
Series: Green Angel, #1
I’ve been meaning to read this book for a while, but it was only until I snagged a copy of Green Angel by Alice Hoffman at internship that I finally decided to read it. The book was a lot shorter than I was expecting… Usually when I browse for new books to read on GoodReads, I really don’t look at page numbers. I check for average rating, summary, and my friends’ ratings.
Book Summary: Left on her own when her family dies in a terrible disaster, fifteen-year-old Green is haunted by loss and by the past. Struggling to survive physically and emotionally in a place where nothing seems to grow and ashes are everywhere, Green retreats into the ruined realm of her garden. But in destroying her feelings, she also begins to destroy herself, erasing the girl she’d once been as she inks darkness into her skin. It is only through a series of mysterious encounters that Green can relearn the lessons of love and begin to heal enough to tell her story.
Though it is extremely short, Green Angel was a very enjoyable read. I was suspicious at first, wondering just how well a story could be developed in a little over 100 pages. These days, the first 100 pages of any book deals entirely with the development of the plot and characters, so I was very apprehensive about just how well this story could be written. I was surprised to find just how easily and quickly the story flowed. Hoffman’s writing style is really beautiful and lyrical.
Also, I give a lot of props to the book’s designer, Elizabeth Parisi. It is not usually something I would say about paperback books, but the design on Green Angel is so pretty! I love the art at the beginning of each section, but the copyright page steals the prize! The looping text reminds me of Green’s tattoos (probably printed that way for that reason….) and it so captured my eye that I read the copyright page of all things!
I was also amazed just how quickly Alice Hoffman could make you fall in love with a character in GREEN ANGEL. With forty pages to go in GREEN ANGEL, she introduces the character Diamond. He does not speak and he really does not have that many scenes in the book. However, Hoffman writes him in a way that he quickly became my favorite character. I love what he was able to do for Green and how he helped her heal. I do wish there was more of him in the book, but I think that he added just the right amount of romance needed to compel the reader. A book like Green Angel does not need a saccharine romance so I think that Diamond/Green provided the right balance to make it work.
Would GREEN ANGEL have worked if it was longer? I’m not sure… The fact that it is short and sweet was one of my favorite components of the book. It worked well for what it was, and I really don’t mind if GREEN ANGEL was left as a stand-alone book. However, since there is a sequel (which luckily, I already possess), I am excited to read it having enjoyed the first book. I now have high expectations so I hope it is as good as the first one.
Green Angel by Alice Hoffman definitely exceeded my expectations. It’s short and sweet and left me craving for more.
Rating: 
good review…