“Bugs, Weeds, and Water” by Evangeline Greene

Bugs, Weeds, and Water

Evangeline Greene
Independently Published (2021)
ASIN: B099Q13XWF
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (11/2021)

In “Bugs, Weeds, and Water” by Evangeline Greene, readers meet Zoey, Ruby and Celeste Starling; a set of fourteen-year-old triplets being raised by their Aunt Flory. Each girl has their own special characteristics and quirks. Zoey is the inquisitive one who has synesthesia, which enables her to experience tastes from the things that she touches. Ruby is not only her more outgoing sister, but also her closest friend. Celeste is their very special sister, who is on the autism spectrum. She appears to have an ethereal quality about her but is no nonsense when she has a task to do.

All three girls seem to share a special tie in how they connect with observing nature. They love bird watching and are interested in their neighbor’s special lapidary collection, and share a special relationship with this neighbor and his wife. The girl’s mother died shortly after they were born and their aunt immediately took over their care. Zoey is obsessed with finding out who her father is, because her mom never shared this information. She takes on the task of investigating the townsfolk who were around her mother at the time she conceived. While all this is going on, other secrets are revealed and resolutions sought. When this starts happening, relationships began healing and are restored.

“Bugs, Weeds, and Water,” is an amazingly well written heartfelt coming of age tale. It is listed as being categorized for 12-18-year-olds, but I found my 54-year-old-self relating to the story just fine. This ageless aspect will make this a wonderful story to share among multi-generations of family members. This is also a perfect selection for a reader’s group. While the main storyline focuses on Zoey finding out who her father is, there are many other dramas taking place that add a great deal of substance and drama. Evangeline Greene incorporates some quirkiness into the issues, which even adds more interest for the reader. The characters are well rounded and seem like real people. It is interesting to watch their characters evolve as they experience the trials and tribulations handed to them in these chapters.

I highly recommend reading “Weeds, Bugs, and Water,” especially if you want to find out how the book got its name!