If There Be Thorns

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**Title** **If There Be Thorns**
First edition cover
Author	Virginia C. Andrews
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Dollanganger series
Genre(s)	Gothic horror Family saga
Publisher	Simon & Schuster
Released	1981
Media type	Print
Pages	384
ISBN	0671729454 (1990 reissues)
Preceded by	Petals on the Wind (1980)
Followed by	Seeds of Yesterday (1984)

'If There Be Thorns is a novel by V.C. Andrews which was published in 1981. It is the third book in the Dollanganger series.

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Cathy and Chris now live together as "husband" and "wife". The book is narrated by Cathy's two children, Jory and Bart. Chris and Cathy now have a child together (adopted), Cindy. Jory is handsome and is taking up ballet, but Bart is misunderstood. The two boys enjoy playing at an abandoned mansion beside their house. But they are now saddened because they are not allowed to play there anymore because an old lady is moving in. The boys become very curious about the old lady and begin to spy on her. Bart goes more often then Jory and soon the old lady invites him in for milk and cookies. She tells him to call her grandmother. Bart becomes stranger than he ever was before and begins saying very cruel things to his mother. John Amos Jackson, the butler that is mentioned in the other books, is now the cause for more heartache for the Sheffield family. He turns Bart against all women and says that they are sinful. He gives Bart Malcom Foxworth's journal and tells Bart to read it every night and take in his words. Bart starts to think that he is actually Malcolm. Powerful, like him. Hates women just like he did.

And soon Bart's transformation quickens and he starts to harm everyone around him. Even his "grandmother" that gives him anything he wants, except the pony that he truly wanted. Chris and Cathy take Bart to a shrink to find out why he hates his mother. soon bart and jory find out who thier parents really are, brother and sister. Chris and Cathy begin confronting the old lady next door only to discover that the old lady is their mother. Corrine desperately wants her children's love back but Cathy won't listen to her and ends up slapping and hitting her. John Amos has a plan with Bart to kill Cathy and Corrine so he has them locked in a cellar with nothing to eat. But finally Bart realizes he loves and needs his mom so he tells his father (Chris) where Cathy and Corrine are. The old mansion catches fire and they must get to Cathy and Corrine as fast as they can. But the butler hits Chris over the head so he is knocked out and can't do anything.jory plyas a large role in this too. he also has confronted the grandmother on several occasions. But Bart goes and saves his mother who is on the verge of dying. Corrine carries her daughter out of the house to save her life, only to realize that she herself is on fire. Corrine dies from the exertion of rolling on the ground, trying to put out the fire. Chris and Cathy try to do everything to make Bart feel loved. Bart was still confused about himself but began recovering. in the epilouge cathy is narrating and she states that bart will not allow them to act as man and wife any more.