Along with the other orphaned children, Emmie marches along reluctantly with her gas mask in hand. She is being led away from London, for it's 1939 and the war has made the city too dangerous of a place to live. So she must board a train for the country and find protection at Misselthwaite Hall, the manor house of the patron of the orphanage, Mrs. Craven.
Emmie wants to take Lucy, the stray cat she'd been feeding, along with her. But Emmie has to leave Lucy behind. (Stray cats do not like being placed in baskets.) Emmie is upset. Who will feed Lucy now? And what if the poisonous gas comes? How will Lucy escape? But Emmie is left no choice. She must follow the matrons to her new home.
Emmie wants to take Lucy, the stray cat she'd been feeding, along with her. But Emmie has to leave Lucy behind. (Stray cats do not like being placed in baskets.) Emmie is upset. Who will feed Lucy now? And what if the poisonous gas comes? How will Lucy escape? But Emmie is left no choice. She must follow the matrons to her new home.
Emmie lay in the high, carved wooden bed, watching the nightlight burning in its saucer of water and peering at the room. The night-light hardly gave enough light to see by, so it was half-looking, half remembering in a strange jumble of the day.
Once at Misselthwaite, Emmie begins to discover the secrets of old rooms and passageways, and the freedom of being outdoors. How she loves the smell of the country, the sounds of the country, being in the country! And when a friendly robin takes an interest in her, Emmie can scarcely believe it. Eventually, Emmie follows the bird and ends up beyond a vine-covered door inside a wall and into a well-kept garden. Emmie wonders why this beautiful garden is tucked away. Soon Emmie, from the pages of an old diary, has the answer. This garden once was the secret place of a lonely, little girl named Mary. Perhaps this garden would be Emmie's secret place, too! If only Lucy were there to enjoy it!
Emmie, however, soon realizes that this garden is not so secret after all. Once, while hidden from sight, she sees Mrs. Craven slipping quietly into the garden to tend the roses. And that rude boy of the house, Jack, he knows all about the garden, too. Still, the garden becomes a place where Emmie can truly feel at home. Then one day, terrible news reaches Misselthwaite, and the old gardener tells Emmie she must keep away from the garden. Will Emmie have to stay away from the garden for good? Will she ever see Lucy again? Will the war take all that is good in Emmie's life away--forever? You'll just have to pick up a copy of RETURN TO THE SECRET GARDEN to find out.
Young readers who love the Classics will enjoy this book, a sequel to THE SECRET GARDEN written by, Frances Hodgson Burnett. As a historical-fiction novel for independent middle-grade readers, RETURN TO THE SECRET GARDEN has a timeless quality about it. There is a bit of a mystery interwoven in the tale, and young readers will enjoy unraveling it. RETURN TO THE SECRET GARDEN is written by Holly Webb, and is published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (November 2016).
Emmie, however, soon realizes that this garden is not so secret after all. Once, while hidden from sight, she sees Mrs. Craven slipping quietly into the garden to tend the roses. And that rude boy of the house, Jack, he knows all about the garden, too. Still, the garden becomes a place where Emmie can truly feel at home. Then one day, terrible news reaches Misselthwaite, and the old gardener tells Emmie she must keep away from the garden. Will Emmie have to stay away from the garden for good? Will she ever see Lucy again? Will the war take all that is good in Emmie's life away--forever? You'll just have to pick up a copy of RETURN TO THE SECRET GARDEN to find out.
Young readers who love the Classics will enjoy this book, a sequel to THE SECRET GARDEN written by, Frances Hodgson Burnett. As a historical-fiction novel for independent middle-grade readers, RETURN TO THE SECRET GARDEN has a timeless quality about it. There is a bit of a mystery interwoven in the tale, and young readers will enjoy unraveling it. RETURN TO THE SECRET GARDEN is written by Holly Webb, and is published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (November 2016).
