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Review for Garden by Jane Yates:
Harness your imagination, grab your tissues, and dive into "Garden," a charming Steampunk novel by Jane Yates.
From its first scene, the story's protagonist, Aberdeen Gale, drew me into her unique world of elegant spaceships, Guardian robots, and colorful characters. Aberdeen lives on a spaceship where children are "heard, but not seen". Ignored by her parents and rejected by her peers, Aberdeen leads an isolated existence.
However, when a deadly virus unexpectedly strikes Aberdeen's spaceship, killing her parents and destroying the Guardian robot that raised her, her life is forever changed.
She is sent to Earth to live with her only surviving relative, a grieving uncle with a tragic past.
Angry, lost, and confused, Aberdeen struggles to adjust to life in her new home. With only her pet metal snake to comfort her, Aberdeen passes her days in despair as she fights to miss the parents she never really knew and the dependent existence to which she was accustomed.
Enter Maisy, Aberdeen's uncle's jovial and patient housekeeper. Maisy treats Aberdeen with kindness, beguiling her with the fascinating tales she creates. Maisy also provides Aberdeen reprieve from her loneliness and the disapproving eye of Mrs. Merriweather, her uncle's head housekeeper.
Over time, Aberdeen learns to accept Maisy's unconditional affection. In the process, the two form a deep and lasting friendship. Maisy introduces Aberdeen to Maisy's brother, Peter, a quick-witted teenager with a knack for numbers. These three embark on a journey of discovery through Aberdeen's new home. In the process, they find family, friendship, and adventure.
I found the characters in Garden engaging, relatable, and fascinating. In particular, I enjoyed witnessing Aberdeen's transformation from an angry and spoiled youngster to a caring and independent young lady.
While Garden is geared toward third to seventh graders, I, a 25-year-old adult, found the story fun, exciting, and relatable. Additionally, I enjoy the deft hand with which Jane handles the difficult topics of death, disability, and difference. Several of the main characters contend with one or all of these issues. The author treats each of the characters with respect, refusing to resort to stereotypes.
Furthermore, I appreciated the author's sense of imagery. She does not simply tell the reader what the characters are experiencing, she shows the reader. She transports the reader from this world into the world of the book. In the process, Jane brings an intergalactic tale down to earth.
Garden is a great book for any reader who enjoys a solid sci-fi story with heart, soul, and a little bit of magic.
Nicole Saunders, author of Disposable
image:
Harness your imagination, grab your tissues, and dive into "Garden," a charming Steampunk novel by Jane Yates.
From its first scene, the story's protagonist, Aberdeen Gale, drew me into her unique world of elegant spaceships, Guardian robots, and colorful characters. Aberdeen lives on a spaceship where children are "heard, but not seen". Ignored by her parents and rejected by her peers, Aberdeen leads an isolated existence.
However, when a deadly virus unexpectedly strikes Aberdeen's spaceship, killing her parents and destroying the Guardian robot that raised her, her life is forever changed.
She is sent to Earth to live with her only surviving relative, a grieving uncle with a tragic past.
Angry, lost, and confused, Aberdeen struggles to adjust to life in her new home. With only her pet metal snake to comfort her, Aberdeen passes her days in despair as she fights to miss the parents she never really knew and the dependent existence to which she was accustomed.
Enter Maisy, Aberdeen's uncle's jovial and patient housekeeper. Maisy treats Aberdeen with kindness, beguiling her with the fascinating tales she creates. Maisy also provides Aberdeen reprieve from her loneliness and the disapproving eye of Mrs. Merriweather, her uncle's head housekeeper.
Over time, Aberdeen learns to accept Maisy's unconditional affection. In the process, the two form a deep and lasting friendship. Maisy introduces Aberdeen to Maisy's brother, Peter, a quick-witted teenager with a knack for numbers. These three embark on a journey of discovery through Aberdeen's new home. In the process, they find family, friendship, and adventure.
I found the characters in Garden engaging, relatable, and fascinating. In particular, I enjoyed witnessing Aberdeen's transformation from an angry and spoiled youngster to a caring and independent young lady.
While Garden is geared toward third to seventh graders, I, a 25-year-old adult, found the story fun, exciting, and relatable. Additionally, I enjoy the deft hand with which Jane handles the difficult topics of death, disability, and difference. Several of the main characters contend with one or all of these issues. The author treats each of the characters with respect, refusing to resort to stereotypes.
Furthermore, I appreciated the author's sense of imagery. She does not simply tell the reader what the characters are experiencing, she shows the reader. She transports the reader from this world into the world of the book. In the process, Jane brings an intergalactic tale down to earth.
Garden is a great book for any reader who enjoys a solid sci-fi story with heart, soul, and a little bit of magic.
Nicole Saunders, author of Disposable
image:
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