The One Memory of Flora Banks

We meet Flora Banks for the first time at a farewell party. 

Flora scans the room, feeling uncomfortable. She struggles to remember where she is and is unable to identify any of those present. The names of several party-goers are written on her hand.

The other young people at the party seem to know her so she follows the social cues offered and tries her best to fit in and act normally.

I knew very little about the plot when I started to read this novel, but instantly felt intrigued by the scene building before me and began to wonder……. is this an Apocalyptic/Sci Fi novel? Is Flora going under cover, a spy with a false identity? What exactly is happening here? However, we soon learn that Flora has anterograde amnesia. Each day when Flora wakes her memories of the previous day have gone. Flora has not been able to retain a new memory since she was ten years old. 

On the evening of the party things change forever. Flora is kissed by a boy on the beach and wakes the next morning to find she still has this memory. Flora decides she must be brave and leave the carefully constructed life that allows her to manage her condition. She follows the boy, Drake, to Norway, where he has gone to study.

By Emily Barr

Flora’s story is told in the literary style known as the unreliable narrator. Her reality is skewed by her amnesia and limited understanding of what is happening in the world around her. This causes her to act and respond in some very bizarre ways. Red flags begin flying everywhere for the reader as Flora leaves her home and country and flies off to icy, dark Norway – but worse, Flora finds she has also left her medication behind.

This novel is a gripping page turner that keeps heart-in-mouth waiting to see what on earth will become of sweet Flora as her search for Drake goes from bad to worse.

A highly recommended unique teenage read. Would work well for a NCEA level one Making Connections text. I give it 4  .5 stars.