[ Margaret and the Moth Tree [ MARGARET AND THE MOTH TREE ] By Trogen, Brit ( Author )Apr-01-2012 Hardcover by Trogen, Brit ( Author ) Apr-2012 Hardcover ]

by Brit Trogen

When the Concerned Ladies Club sends Margaret Grey to the cheery Hopeton Orphanage, all is not as it seems. Instead of a home, Margaret finds herself under the terrifying reign of Miss Switch, the beautiful Matron whose deep-rooted hatred for dregs — unwanted children — is matched by her flair for creative forms of cruelty.But there is something special about her exceptional sense of hearing, which leads her to a mysterious, thorny brush on the orphanage grounds. With newfound bravery and a secret friend, Margaret concocts a plan to defeat Miss Switch once and for all.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Juvenile, Middle Grade, Canada

Hardcover

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Brit Trogen is a Canadian writer currently living in the UK. Her first children’s novel, Margaret and the Moth Tree, was coauthored with her sister Kari.

Brit started writing in university, and her first short story was published by On Spec Magazine. Since then she has published more short fiction, started a science website and contributed to Discover Magazine, Livescience, Encyclopedia Britannica and others. She likes cats, people with accents, green things, and oxford commas.

Reviews

[Kathleen Yamazaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book before giving it to my niece. So fantastic! It was mischievous, whimsical and funny with a bit of a dark edge. It had flavours of my favourite Roald Dahl book as a child, Matilda. The story telling was really interactive too, great for young readers, explaining and expanding on more difficult concepts. Definitely recommend this for young readers ready to tackle longer chapter books or for parents who would like to be entertained by the books they are reading with their children. Also, while the title character is female, I really think this would appeal to boys and girls alike because there is nothing distinctly feminine about the story. In fact, I plan to give it to my nephew on his next birthday. Such a fun read!

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the cutest book ever. Sometimes the narration made really bad jokes that I cringed at, but they probably went over my head when I was 8 or 9.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this title a lot more than I expected to. Poor Margaret loses her parents in a car wreck, and after living with her cousin and great-aunt, both of whom die, she is sent off to an orphanage by the Concerned Ladies Club. Margaret's delight in finding a home at the Hopetown Orphanage disappears once the true face of its proprietor, Miss Switch, is revealed. She sorts the children into groups according to their appearances, and consider some her pets, who do her bidding and benefit from her support, and others are called dregs, who do all the labor at the home. Miss Switch is one of the most cruel characters ever described, and she does her best to make life miserable for Margaret once Margaret tries to get help for the orphans. Eventually, Margaret makes friends with the moths that flutter in the forest near the orphanage and enlists their help in making sure Miss Switch gets what she deserves for her misdeeds. Since she has had much practice being quiet and learning to listen carefully, she and the moths can communicate with little trouble. Here's one of my favorite lines about what makes bullies such as Miss Switch and her minions behave as they do: "The truth about bullies is that every one of them has a sore spot that pokes and pinches at them, like a bad stomachache or a pesky thorn stuck in their side. That sore spot might be caused by loneliness, or jealousy, or even fear, but every single bully has one, and it never goes away no matter how much bullying they do" (p. 47). All the loose ends get tied up rather quickly at the end, and I would expect young readers to be delighted by Margaret's eventual triumph.

[Yoo Kyung Sung · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the voice in this book. The voice that often good books tend to have is here. Something insightful and not so cautious to be a "child's book" like. Elements for orphan literature reminds of old classics of orphan literature ( e.g. Anne In Green Gables) that it gets credit from my old favorites and childhood favorites.

The first page quote grabbed my attention, " Many bad people look quite nice, and many good people are not beautiful at all. Many good people aren't pretty or cute or even interesting-looking"

[Jim Goodall · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoyed Harry Potter, Dr. Seuss, Roald Dahl etc. this is a must read. It's full of laughter and wonderfully touching moments. It's sure to be a classic and I would be surprised if this book isn't made into a movie one day. Short and sweet and easy to read. Worth it.

[Sara Jane Kehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immediately, I fell in love with Margaret. I wanted to pick her up and snuggle her and tell her that she is seen and loved.

Margaret and the Moth Tree has a quick-moving plot and distinct characters; and is full of true-to-life insightful observations. The writing style manages to address serious themes, yet still entertain us with fantastical plot twists, such as the appearance of talking moths. It is playful and honest, full of both joy and pain.

I appreciated the themes of courage, perseverance, and hope.

From a parent's perspective, this is a very clean book. No swearing. No inappropriate content. Just honesty, reality, a splash of imaginative fantasy, and an ending filled with hope.

This book is so lovely, I wish I'd written it!

[Thalia S. A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing from start to finish, complete with fun and the most amazing plot twists, and I appreciated the themes of bravery, hope and determination. A great book that shows that you shouldn't judge a person by their looks. A lovely read!

[Camila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Iconic childhood book for me and my sister.

[Noah Beauchamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

might be biased because im related to the authors, but it's my favorite book!

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ən sevdiyim kitabdır. Biraz ağlamalı, biraz sevincli.

[memleket · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is also my favorite child book, I felt so sorry for margaret

[Lizzy McGovern · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the majority of Margaret Grey’s existence (all eleven years) she has been an orphan taught to be quiet and to cause the least amount of trouble possible. When Margaret’s parents died, her only living relatives were the quiet, but-not-big-on-hygiene, bachelor Uncle Amos, and the well-mannered-to-a-fault Great Aunt Linda. Margaret lived with one, then the other, but as years went by, they, too, die and leave her alone. She gets sent to the Hopeton Orphanage where she hopes against hope that she will finally find a warm and kindly place to call home. Instead she comes face-to-face with terror and tyranny in the form of Miss Switch. Miss Switch seems to have leapt from the pages of a Roald Dalh story and can go head-to-head with the best of evil villains. In fact, she is one of the worst kinds of villains –she appears kind and motherly in front of the public, but once public eyes look away, she switches and turns nasty and cruel. Even though she’s the matron of an orphanage, she hates kids, especially orphans (or dregs, as she calls them). I could go on about her awfulness, but you will soon see there is no end to her cruelties (she thinks being cruel is a kind of talent). Here are some examples of her cruelty: locking a child outside on a windowsill all night through a storm, ignoring her cries; gluing hands together; taping mouths shut; the list goes on and on. When Margaret tries to get help from the outside, she is punished severely, but it’s actually the punishment that empowers her and inspires her revolt. Her punishment? No one is allowed to speak to Margaret, and Margaret is not allowed to utter a word. As the days go by in silence and solitude, Margaret uncovers a kind of sixth sense: if she truly listens, she can hear the quietest of sounds, even a fluttering of wings. It is this talent that helps her discover the moths (playful creatures that talk and play games all night). Her discovery of the moths and her friendship with them give Margaret the courage to overcome her fear and turn the switch on Miss Switch in a humiliating and hilarious climax. For those of you who like Roald Dahl’s Matilda, this is a story for you. You’ll be rooting for Margaret all the way to the end, just like you did for Matilda.

[Maxie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret and the Moth Tree by Kari Trogen and Brit Trogen

Kari and Brit Trogen created a story for children that is pregnant with life lessons. In my opinion every child should be exposed to Margaret and the Moth Tree before the age of 10 as a read aloud book in a classroom for grades 1-5. In Margaret and the Moth Tree these two talented authors paint a crystal clear picture of the world through the eyes, the emotions of a little girl named Margaret Grey.
Margaret and the Moth Tree will engage every reader or listener perhaps giving them a sense of gratefulness for the things they have. Margaret's life from being a toddler to third grade was traumatic. It is a page turner and I could not put this book down. Margaret and the Moth Tree touches the heart and lends itself to many discussions of pain, sorrow, happiness, evil and loving people and the important influence these issues shaped Margaret and shape all humans.

Margaret Grey's life starts out not being wanted but tolerated by adults in her family however as she grows Margaret develops into a imaginative, sensitive, intelligent girl. I appreciate the collaborative effort making Margaret a strong girl with the tenacity of a warrior.

Thank you, Kari and Brit Trogen for cultivating Margaret's complex life and putting it on the printed page for all readers or listeners to enjoy, bond with and adore. There aren't enough adjectives for me to clearly convey how this story changed my outlook on life's bumps in the road. Margaret and the Moth Tree speaks to the development of one's character regardless of age, heritage and location.

Excellent book!!

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, I had the thought "my childhood!" when reading this book. It reminded me of the books I loved (and still love) to read as a child. Ah, my childhood, days of Enid Blyton, The Bookworm Gang and a bunch of stories whose titles I have forgotten but plot sticks in my head. (People around my age should know what I mean ;) )

On a side note: does anyone know how to find the title of a book from the plot?

At a short seventy-plus pages, you may thing that there's not much. But this story grabbed my attention from the very start. The plot is also much more than what you would expect from the story. It's about orphans with pluck (the most important thing), a cruel villianess and an unexpected ally.

Margaret, the protagonist, is a lovable character. She's still a child, and she's living in the difficult circumstances I associate with books and Disney movies. But, she has a special gift - listening. It sounds boring, but the authors have managed to make it a useful and interesting talent. Plus, I was really happy to see that she got this gift not through magic or birthright, but her circumstances. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons!

I shall not spoil this book, because if I keep talking, I will probably give away something important about the plot. But I will say that you should really read this sweet and short book. If you have sisters/juniors/kids, even better! You can get this book for them too!

Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

First posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

[Jordan Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read Margaret and The Moth Tree when I was in the sixth grade, and although it’s been over a decade since then, this book has stuck with me as one of my favourite children’s story. I distinctly remember the warm and whimsical feeling I got while reading this book, in the writing reminded me of Lemony Snicket’s in A Series of Unfortunate Events, which I was also reading at the time.

The book also tackled difficult subjects, such as the death of a parent and abuse/bullying; the authors approached these topics in a really accessible and respectful way, appropriate for the age demographic.


*This review is a part of a series where I review books I read years ago, as a child.

[Pam Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the cover, the nostalgic feel of it. The voice reminded me of read aloud books from my childhood and brought back those pleasant memories. Unfortunately, the story itself isn't very original, an orphanage with the evil matron and the lone orphan that overcomes. That said, it did keep my attention and the writing kept the tension wound tight. The didactic lessons, I don't think, will appeal to children much older than eight. The moths were original and brought a great sense of whimsy to an otherwise depressing tale, but didn't enter into the story until the last third of the book.

See the full review at soimfifty.blogspot.com for MMGM

[Junko Suzuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book! I think it’s very unique that the authors chose “moths" for Margaret’s companions as they seem to be pretty low-key creatures. I enjoyed imagining what it was like to have a gift like Margaret (to be able to hear the feeble sound), and I honestly rooted for her (and the dreg team) as they try to stand up against Miss Switch (good naming!). And this matron was a very thoroughly developed villain and some scenes were quite nail-biting, making you worry she might find out Margaret’s plan.
The ending was good and emancipating. Throughout the story, the narrator was friendly and had good sense of humour as well. Overall, it was a very pleasant reading experience.

[Hayleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret and the Moth Tree is a brilliant work of fiction that will have readers young and old (and in-between) delighting in a world of wit and subtle magic. For me, this book took me back to the first time I ever read Matilda, by Roald Dahl. The Trogen sisters have a similar wit and way to their storytelling that Mr. Dahl did, which captivates such a wide range of readers. I was rooting for Margaret (and her band of moths) from start to finish, and you will too! This is a must read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great little book for children--very similar to Matilda. Margaret is passed around various family members after her wonderful parents die, and ends up at an orphanage. Everything seems peachy, until the strangers leave and Ms Switch becomes her evil self again. Even the other orphans are mean to Margaret, so she finds shelter in some bushes and her new moth friends. That's right....Margaret can hear the moths' conversation! Great supernatural twist, because, of course, the moths save the day!

[Rachel Seigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This debut novel is very sweet and compelling. It reminded me at times of "A Little Princess". The character development wasn't stellar, but it's a quiet little book for a thoughtful child, and would work well as a read aloud. I give it the high rating because it was enjoyable, and the quality of the writing was excellent.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret Grey is sent to the Hopeton Orphanage ruled by the tyrannical and cruel Miss Switch. With the help of some talking moths, Margaret finds the courage and stamina to outwit Miss Switch and change life for the better. As weird as this sounds, there was something magical about this story and I enjoyed it.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Reminded me of so many childhood favourites, Dahl, Hodgson Burnett, Nesbitt, Blyton. I'm an elementary school librarian and I can't wait to read this to my students oh, and my own children!
Only complaint is the cover. People do judge books by them, and this cover is unattractive. I had previously ignored it for just that reason.

[Lavinia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book. Once I started this book,I can't stop reading it. My favorite part of this book is when a little girl that had plain brown hair,plain brown eyes,and a plain brown face, named Margaret got new parents when she got out of the orphanage. What is special about the girl is that since she is so quiet she can hear moths.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely charming from the beginning to the end!

This book is beautifully written—I absolutely loved Margaret and I believe everyone else will too (except Miss Switch of course).

I will definitely be buying this book for my young cousins.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming middle-grade novel. It reminded me a little of Roald Dahl, humourous with an orphan protagonist. I loved Margaret's Listening 'super-power'. I read this to my 10-year-old son. We started off doing two chapters a night, but by the three-quarter mark he was asking for more chapters.

[Sarah Horner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story for students just starting into chapter books. The authors have a "different" style of story telling but I really enjoyed it. This is just a great story, great characters, a little adventure but nothing over the top. A refreshing change in many ways.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket and Eva Ibbotsen wrote a book together, this would be the lovely result.

Perfect for Students in grades 3 and 4. I'm only a few chapters in but I love it.

So happy it was nominated for a Silver Birch (express) award by Ontario librarians.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spunky girl orphan, exaggerated adults, whimsy, and talking moths. Give this one to kids who want more like Roald Dahl's Matilda.

[Sheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming fantasy about a young girl in an orphanage who uses her talents to overthrow the mean Matron. This would be a good companion to Matilda, but more serious.

[Mercy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl who can hear moths talking- gets revenge on evil orphanage matron. Mystical part is oddly put into the rest of the story, but I still enjoyed it.