Review of Hunger of the Pine

[Chitra Ayengar]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Hunger of the Pine" by Teal Swan.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

To say that Aria Abbott had a distressing childhood would be an understatement. Aria lived in a state of constant poverty as her drug-addicted mother struggled to make ends meet. Orphaned at the age of seven, Aria grew up in a series of foster homes. At the age of 14, she was adopted by the Johnson family. A victim of sexual abuse at the hands of Mr. Johnson, Aria’s life in the Johnson household becomes an ordeal.

Feeling unloved and unwanted, Aria takes off from the Johnson family home. She runs into Taylor, a homeless lad, and together, they both leave for Los Angeles, the land of opportunity, in the hope of a better life.

Aria’s life turns around when she meets Omkar, a Punjabi boy who is in college. They both feel an instant connection. Did Aria find true love with Omkar? Does her yearning to belong get fulfilled? Read the book to learn more about Aria’s life.

The story sheds light on what it means to be homeless in the US. It makes us realize the significance of insignificant things that we take for granted unless we don’t have access to them anymore. My heart went out to Aria when she chose food over a sanitary pad, and Taylor admonished her, saying, “I don’t want you to have to be bleeding everywhere.” This shows how life can be brutal and unsafe for women, especially on the streets.

Aria’s search for belonging leads her on a traumatic journey, which opens both Aria’s and the reader’s eyes to the brutalities of life and how the definition of wealth is suddenly determined by the most trivial things. The trauma, abuse, and loneliness that encompass the lives of vagrants tear our hearts. This craving for human survival in this inhumane world sends shivers down our spines.

Penned exquisitely from start to finish, this story triggers a plethora of emotions in the reader’s mind, ranging from sadness to anger. Hunger of the Pine is professionally edited with no noted mistakes. As there is nothing to dislike in the book, I give this story 5 out of 5 stars. This story will appeal to readers who are open-minded enough to accept the harsh realities of life.

******
Hunger of the Pine
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon