Book: The Lavender Child
By Harriet Richards
Published by Shadowpaw Press Reprise
Review by Toby A. Welch
The Lavender Child is a beautifully unique and creative story with unforgettable characters and a plot that keeps readers intrigued. I wasn’t surprised to learn that this powerful read was a winner of the Saskatchewan Book Awards First Book prize when it was initially published.
If you are like me and wonder what the title is referencing - what the heck is a lavender child? - I have the answer! When one of the main characters is born, Dion, he is limp and looks close to death. Another child was born into the family decades earlier that only lived for two weeks and fought for every breath. Both babies were a shade of blue, hence “lavender child.” (I should mention that this book might be a bit challenging for people who have lost babies or experienced children with health issues.)
I loved that when reading this story about three generations of a family that we are thrown back into a time when life wasn’t so chaotic and technologically driven. But it’s not so far back that this would be considered historical fiction. After all, the book mentions Dairy Queen, John Candy, and Wheel of Fortune. It’s a great reminder of a simpler time.
There are so many pluses to this novel. The chronological layout is seamless in the best way. Chapter one takes place in September and chapter two takes place in October. This continues throughout the book with each chapter being one month. It ends with chapter thirteen, which is September of the year after the first chapter. It flows smoothly. Another bonus is the perfectly balanced amount of dialogue mixed with descriptions mixed with scenes that carry the plot strategically forward.
The Lavender Child was first published in 1998 by Thistledown Press. Myself and anyone else who picks up a new copy will be thrilled that Regina-based Shadowpaw Press Reprise dusted it off and published the second edition in 2024. It’s heartbreaking to think that it may not have been given a second life if Shadowpaw Press didn’t see the value in this entertaining read.
Saskatoon-based Richards has published three book-length works of fiction and all three have been either finalists or award winners. Having read The Lavender Child, that was not surprising to learn. Additionally, Richards has published short fiction in literary journals in Canada and Wales. Richards is also a painter and her work has graced book covers. I hope she puts down her paintbrush soon to create another beautiful piece of literature.
For book lovers searching for a story that is somber and uplifting at the same time, The Lavender Child should be the next book you read. Picking up a copy should be on the top of your to-do list!
THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE OR FROM WWW.SKBOOKS.COM