Green Angel

Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

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. -Plot summary borrowed from Goodreads

This is one of my very favorite books of all time. It is so hauntingly beautiful, achingly sad, and still suffused with hope. The prose is steeped in imagery, but it never feels overdone or flowery to me. This is one of those books where the physical construction of the book matters. It's written in green ink, and there's something that feels very right about its compact size and creamy paper (if you read the hardcover edition, which I highly recommend). It's a short but intense read that will stay with you for a long time.