Title: Work of Art: An Intention of Flowers
Author: Ken La Salle
Genre: YA / Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Purchase:
Review copy provided by Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
Oily pavement.
Thick tempera paint.
A parking lot filled with history, fear, and regret.
A young man named Joseph Arillo sits in the parking lot and paints the pavement with flowers.
And Andy Hollis steps in it.
As the new art teacher at Santa Ana High School, he’s too curious about Joseph’s Flowers and unravels both of their lives in his pursuit for answers.
He learns that it’s all part of a rite of passage, an absurd test started by Joseph Arillo’s father, the suspiciously world-renowned artist named only Tom. Which also connects to the drama teacher at Santa Ana High, Katie Bustos. Whose daughter, Desiree, may or may not be dating Joseph. Who is putting himself in danger from a local gang, the lot’s mysterious history, and the police.
Andy puts himself in danger of losing his job, his home, and his freedom. If he can’t solve the riddle of Joseph’s Flowers, both of their lives will go up in smoke – despite any help from Winny, the old, Slovakian bureaucrat at school, or his students, or Tom himself.
But is Tom trying to help? And is Joseph really up to his father’s test?
And is Andy really fit to be a teacher? He doesn’t understand kids, can’t get to school on time, and… doesn’t appear to care about art or families or anything. But Joseph’s Flowers will challenge everything Andy believes: about himself, about the world, and most importantly of all about art.
Before Andy and Joseph are finished, they will witness the power art has to provide inspiration, to waken our hearts, and to shatter everything you ever believed about humanity.
An Intention of Flowers is the first book in a 5-book series, modestly titled Work of Art, about growing into the person you always wanted to be, making the most of what you have to give and not just what you have, and the power in each of us when we chose to be ourselves.
Work of Art: An Intention of Flowers is an intriguing, unique book that is both mysterious and compelling to read. Joseph Arillo is drawing flowers on the pavement. That’s when Andy Hollis, the new art teacher of Santa Ana High School sees him for the first time. Curious about the flowers, and about why Joseph is drawing them, he searches for answers that might unravel both their lives.
Part character study, part a book about growth and personal development, partially about how art can inspire people and change them for the better, this book brings a lot of unique features to the table that make it an intriguing read. The characters were rounded and three-dimensional. I particularly felt intrigued by Tom, a world-renowned artist whose life is cloaked in mystery, and who set up an absurd test for his son, Joseph.
Anyway, if you like contemporary fiction and in particular, if you like art and have ever felt inspired by it, then I would recommend this book. It’s a compelling read about the journey of growing up and finding your true self.
Here is the giveaway code for during the tour for Work of Art: An Intention of Flowers. The giveaway is for 5 copies of the book.
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