The Book of Leaves — Pamela Ditchoff

In this coming of age novel, author Pamela Ditchoff invites the reader into Peonies Teas, a teashop in a Victorian house in Halifax, Nova Scotia. With humour and compassion Ditchoff relates the story of Deanna Penwick, a girl born with the gift, born into a tea leaf reading family stretching back to the 1700's when The Book Of Leaves was begun. Deanna's story begins at her eighth birthday party when the spirit of her great grandmother Julia appears with a message. As Deanna's aunts, Pekoe, Darjeeling, and Verbena enter the story they bring lessons on the blessing and curses of being female and how to distinguish one from the other. The Penwick women are quirky, intelligent, outrageous, and outspoken in an era when these qualities were not appreciated in women. Ditchoff deftly weaves the essence of each era from poodle skirts to troll dolls to mood rings into her story. As Deanna ages she becomes a student of tea and of the leaves, keeping this secret from her mother. Her aunt's and great grandmother's spirits guide through disillusionment, puberty, betrayal, first love, the violence of rape, and the death of her firstborn child. Deanna leaves Halifax for California vowing to give up the leaves. But with herbal teas, lessons learned, and unfailing love, Deanna returns to Halifax, her family, and the leaves. The Book Of Leaves is your grandmother's story, your mother's, your aunts, and your own. You will find yourself immersed in this novel like raw linen steeped in tea.