Flowers in the Sky by Lynn Joseph (review)

Nina adores her island home in the Dominican Republic, but her mother dreams of her moving to New York and marrying a rich American. When she wrongly suspects Nina of flirting with a wealthy tourist, she sends the fifteen-year-old girl to join her older brother in New York. Nina is initially miserable, especially when she realizes that her brother's business is unlawful. When she meets Luis, though, everything changes, and despite her friends' dismissal of him as a drug-dealing thug, she wisely trusts her heart and embarks on a relationship. She also finds a way to grow flowers in her concrete environment, opening up an opportunity to literally bloom where she has been planted against her will. The story is sentimental yet sweet and appealing, reminiscent of West Side Story in its focus on a couple of idealists who find beauty in each other against a grim backdrop and despite overwhelming loss, grief, and displacement. Nina's story ends more happily than Maria's, however, so give this to romantic souls for a thoughtful perspective on immigration, family ties, and not compromising on either your dreams or your principles.