Lab Girl

Plants carry the symbolic weight of the memoir. Every chapter on plants ties directly into Jahren’s personal and professional trajectory throughout the book. Through this method of comparison, Jahren underscores the closeness she feelswith the plant world.

As a child, Jahren has a particular affinity for the blue-tinged spruce, saying: “I remember its needles as sharp and angry against the white snow and gray sky; it seemed a perfect role model of the stoicism being cultivated in me” (27). Jahren grew up in a sometimes quiet, cold family environment and thus identifies with the tree that is “stoic,” as she must be.

During the early years of her career, Jahren focuses a great deal on the adversity experienced by trees. She notes:“Plants have far more enemies than can be counted” (104). Just as plants must contend with such enemies as insects and the environment, Jahren herself must contend with enemies such as misogynyand mental health issues. She goes on to say:“The life of a deciduous tree is ruled by its annual budget” (120). If a tree does not grow as much as it’s supposed to and meet all its marks, it will die. So, too, is Jahren controlled by her budget.