The Orchard: a memoir by Theresa Weir 227 pages ISBN 9780446584692

Last year I read The Year Money Grew on Trees, a junior historical fiction novel about a boy who is "tricked" into caring for a neighbor's orchard after her husband dies. Caring for the orchard is a full time operation and the author manipulated siblings, cousins and friends to help. This is a poignant memoir about the author's marriage to the son of apple orchard owners. Her new husband is artistic and hoping to create the next perfect apple, "Miranda". The author is rejected by her new mother-in-law because she is considered an outsider and socially beneath the family. After the quick courtship and subsequent marriage, she believes that her husband does not truly care for her. When she tries to run away she hits a horse and totals her car. She worries about possible contamination because of the heavy use of pesticides. I find it amazing that the author is just one year younger than me. This book should also interest readers interested in farming, especially organic farming. The heavy use of pesticides take a huge toll on farmers and consumers. Although it is still January, this is my favorite non-fiction book of 2012.