The treasure is the rose

by Julia Cunningham

Though Ariane lives in poverty, her castle is invaded by three strangers determined to find a treasure.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fantasy, Medieval, Adventure, Romance, Fiction

99 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

On October 4, 1916 in Spokane, Washington, Julia Cunningham was born. Julia went to school for a short time in Virginia. She was an editor and held various other jobs before writing children's and young adult books. The Vision of Francois the Fox, Ms. Cunningham's first book, was published in 1960, followed by Viollet (1966), The Treasure is the Rose (1973), and Tuppeny (1978).

Her book, Dorp Dead (1965), has been called "a ground-breaking novel that dramatically changed children's literature in the 20th century."

As a children's author, Cunningham has felt she needs to "listen - look - daydream - be aware of smell and taste - and be "disciplined." Critics have praised her works for their originality and "poetic prose."

Among her many honors are the Christopher Medal for Come to the Edge and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor for The Flight of the Sparrow. The Treasure is the Rose was a National Book Award Finalist. Julia Cunningham lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Reviews

[Gretchen Rubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was walking through the Tudor exhibit at the Met, I was suddenly reminded of this beautiful little novel that I’d read so many times as a child. I couldn’t wait to re-read it, and I was astonished by how perfectly I could recall many sentences and passages.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book ages and ages ago (maybe when I was ten years old) and something recently reminded me of it so I tried to find it again. It's a perfect fairy tale and I enjoyed re-reading it very much.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this as a kid and I loved it. For years and years I looked for it, but could not remember the exact title. It was a happy day when I picked it up at a church book sale and recognized my childhood friend.
It is a short and simple story of Ariane, a Countess who lives a simple life tending the garden her late husband created for her. Her castle is rundown and she is poor, but she's happy surrounded by the roses that remind her of her beloved husband. Three vagabonds, led by the cruel Yarrow, take Araine and her only servant hostage while they search for the treasure that is rumored to be hidden on the estate. The only clue they have is something the Count said about his treasure, "The treasure is the rose."
I suppose in some ways this is a romantic tale, but what I liked about it when I was a girl is that Ariane is brave in a quiet way. I was not strong or daring or particularly courageous but I thought maybe I could be brave the same way as Ariane, by being kind, treating people well and not giving up.

[Cera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite books when I was a child, and it holds up beautifully. It's set loosely in medieval France, but it's an imagined one, I think -- there's no details, no pinning it down in time & place. A snow-globe setting, where the focus is on what is important, and then everything starts to fade around the edges. Thinking about it more, it's a story about healing and redemption and finding a place in the world, so it's not a surprise I've loved it for so long.

[Julian Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much when I was young. It's thinner and sparser now than I remembered it, but then, it was a vivid window into the Middle Ages, and I adored it. I still hold a fondness for it even now.

[Kathryn Baron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this so much when I first read it that I insisted on purchasing my own copy. Repeatedly checking it out of the library wasn't acceptable.

Not quite sure why/how I wound up with the library binding edition? Maybe just ordered by isbn number.

[Tomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this childhood favorite at a used bookstore. Except for the "perfect" ending, this could easily be an adult novel.

[Arlene Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one that held up over time. Technically a children's books but the characters are actually young adults. A bandit approaches a lady's manor looking for treasure - and the actual treasure he finds is unexpected. Oh I love this book. This is one of those books that put romantic notions in my head that outlaws can be reformed. Only in books and movie and tv, my friends.

[Jennifer Rockwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple, quietly haunting tale for the kind-hearted.

As a girl I loved this story of a gentle young widow beset upon by three wayward thieves, and I still do. A tale of quiet bravery and redemption, it will resonate with young dreamers. I can remember teaching myself to play the simple song at the end of the book on the recorder. I still know the words and can play it to this day.

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm baffled, because I'm almost certain that I had reviewed this previously, and yet I can't find the review here on GR. Anyway, I liked the illustrations. But the story seemed kind of meh. A little too sweet in places.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this book when I was younger, and I just picked it up to reread. I love it just as much, if not more, now than I did then. It's written beautifully and it's very easy to get lost in the story. It's a quick and very enjoyable read.

[CLM · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reminded me of that awful book, The Giving Tree. Ugh! It was recommended by a Maudler but I was somewhat disappointed. I still can't imagine it being someone's favorite book!

[Firefly_1824 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a nice story, but I'm not really sure I believe the ending. The illustrations are nice, and the heroine displays a virtuous character.

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

C+. fiction, children's fiction, upper elementary, loyalty, historical fiction, middle ages, from stash, keep

[Mimielle LaFauve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood favorite

[Linda]

fun.