Pennie Clark Ianniciello, Costco's book buyer, has chosen The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (Ballantine, $15, 9780345525550) as her pick of the month for February. In Costco Connection, which goes to many of the warehouse club's members, she wrote:
"My favorite flower is the stargazer lily. It wasn't until I read this month's book buyer's pick that I started thinking about what it and other flowers mean. Curious about what the stargazer signifies, I learned that it can express purity, devotion and wealth.
"Diffenbaugh also got me--and I'm sure all readers--thinking about 18-year-olds who are emancipated from the foster-care system. I can only imagine the feeling of being let go with next to no resources or safety net.
"Before I scare off any readers, please know that this is a beautiful and well-crafted story. Victoria, the protagonist, uses her skills with flowers to not only help others, but ultimately help herself."