Flowers in the Attic - V.C. Andrews

Flowers in the Attic is a 1979 novel by V.C. Andrews. It is the first book in the Dollanganger Series, and was followed by Petals on the Wind, If There Be Thorns, Seeds of Yesterday, and Garden of Shadows. The novel is written in the first person from the point of view of Cathy Dollanganger. It was twice adapted into films in 1987 and 2014. The book was extremely popular, selling over 40 million copies worldwide.In 1957, the Dollanganger family lives an idyllic life in Gladstone, Pennsylvania. The family consists of 12-year-old Cathy, 14-year-old Chris, 4-year-old twins Carrie and Cory, and their parents Christopher and Corrine. When Christopher dies in a car accident, the family is left deep in debt. Facing financial destitution, Corrine decides to move with the children to her estranged, wealthy parents' home, Foxworth Hall, in Virginia. Corrine explains to them that she has been estranged from her parents because of something she did her parents disapproved of when she was 18. She further explains that their true family name is Foxworth not Dollanganger. Upon arrival at Foxworth Hall at the dusk of dawn, Corrine's mother, Olivia, sneaks the family into a small bedroom that connects to the attic and insists the children must be hidden from their grandfather, Malcolm. Olivia treats the children with disdain and threatens to severely punish them for any disobedience. Corrine meets with her father, and when she returns to the children, she has been savagely whipped by Olivia, who then tells the children that their parents were half-uncle and niece. Corrine confirms this and explains her plan to win back her father's love so she can introduce the children to him.

Over time, Cathy and Chris turn the attic into an imaginary garden, educate the twins, and read books. Corrine visits with her children every day, sometimes bringing expensive gifts, and enrolls herself in secretarial school to provide for them. A year later, however, Corrine's visits decline and she gradually loses interest in her children. Their grandmother physically and emotionally abuses the children, sets down a series of strict rules that includes them from looking at her and each other, and constantly threatens to whip them for doing anything she considers "sinful". On Christmas, Corrine allows Cathy and Chris to watch her party from a hiding spot, where they see their grandfather, Malcolm, for the first time. They also see their mother with their father's attorney, Bart Winslow, who is helping with the grandfather's will. They notice a change in their mother when she slaps Chris for wandering around the mansion and threatens to whip him and Cathy. However, she immediately apologizes to them and promises to make amends to them for their confinement. Although Chris believes her, Cathy is skeptical and worries that their mother no longer cares about them.

Another year later, Cathy and Chris, who have entered puberty, have taken a parental role with the twins, who no longer remember Corrine. The twins have stopped growing due to the stress of being imprisoned and the lack of sunlight and fresh air. One day, Chris walks in on Cathy naked and is entranced. Olivia catches them and orders Chris to cut off Cathy's hair as punishment or all four children will not receive food. They refuse, but one night, Olivia drugs Cathy in her sleep and pours tar into her hair. Chris removes the tar, but Cathy futilely cuts off some of her hair in hopes of getting food for the twins. Olivia starts leaving them additional sugar-powdered doughnuts with their food. Corrine visits for the first time in six months, announcing her marriage to Bart and return from their honeymoon in Europe. Cathy and Chris react angrily, and Corinne refuses to visit again until they apologize. Olivia continues to abuse the children, even whipping Cathy and Chris after he talks back to her. Due to their confinement, Cathy and Chris become physically attracted towards each other, and start to fall in love. While they are ashamed of this, they are unable to resist due not being around other people.

Due to the twins' declining health, Cathy and Chris plan an escape. Every night, they sneak into their mother's room to steal money and valuables. One night, Cathy goes alone, and finds her stepfather sleeping. Curious, she kisses him. Chris finds out the next day when he overhears Bart talking about it to Corrine, although Bart thinks it was a dream. Enraged, Chris rapes Cathy. Afterwards, feeling guilty and ashamed, he apologizes, and she forgives him. He confesses his love, and although Cathy reciprocates his feelings, she is unsure how to respond. When Cory becomes sick, Cathy demands that Corinne get Cory to the hospital. Corrine slaps Cathy, who slaps her back and threatens to get revenge if she does not help Cory. Olivia seemingly sides with Cathy, and they take Cory away. The next day, Corrine tells them that Cory died from pneumonia, leaving the elder children devastated.

Afraid they will die next, Chris scavenges for money but instead finds that his mother and Bart have left for good. He overhears the head butler say that Malcolm died nine months ago and that Olivia has been leaving doughnuts with arsenic in the attic to kill the mice. Chris and Cathy give Cory's pet mouse a doughnut to confirm the story. When the mouse dies, they sneak out of the house and catch a train to Florida. At the train station, Chris reveals that their mother inherited the money on the condition that she has no children from her first marriage. Their mother has been poisoning them for nine months to secure her inheritance. They decide against contacting the police; their main concern is to stay together and be there for Carrie. Chris assures Cathy that they can make a new life without their mother, but Cathy swears that she will get revenge one day.