Lucy Willow

by Sally Gardner

'There were three things that marked out Lucy Willow as different. The first was that she lived on a train. The second was that she had a snail called Ernest as a pet. And the third, the most important of all, was that she had green fingers.' It's Lucy's green fingers that save the day when Silverboots McCoy the famous footballer and his girlfriend Blossom B order flowers for their wedding - for Ricky Sparks, who runs the rival garden centre, will stop at nothing to get the contract for himself. Longer and fuller than the Magical Children books, LUCY WILLOW has all Sally Gardner's soaring imagination, enchanting humour and great heart, and is rich in scenes and characters that readers will adore and always remember.

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2006

About the author

AKA Wray Delaney

Sally Gardner grew up and still lives in London. Being dyslexic, she did not learn to read or write until she was fourteen and had been thrown out of several schools, labeled unteachable, and sent to a school for maladjusted children. Despite this, she gained a degree with highest honors at a leading London art college, followed by a scholarship to a theater school, and then went on to become a very successful costume designer, working on some notable productions.

After the births of twin daughters and a son, she started first to illustrate and then to write picture books and chapter books, usually with fairytale- or otherwise magical subject matter. She has been called 'an idiosyncratic genius' by London’s Sunday Times.

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a favourite of mine when I was younger. When I found it second hand I knew I had to buy it and relive Lucy’s world. Such an adorable book, with a lovely storyline. Lots of Matilda vibes. If you like Matilda, you’ll also like this!

[Saira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to start off my 2025! It is the cutest coming-of-age book, i love how lucy learns more about herself and realizes that she isn’t just growing plants, she’s growing herself! I love the cute little idioms and accent they have in the book T_T I think my biggest favorite of all is when they lived on trains for a short period of time. Honestly, I would enjoy that lifestyle too. So many big things happened for Lucy and her life is just one big rollercoaster for an eight year old! It’s sets around the 2000’s for sure. Her friends are the cutest kids too:,) It’s such a lighthearted book I enjoyed it. And I think its such a “take a break” kind of book. If you enjoy having an imagination, this book is for you :]

[Juliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book to get back into reading. Although, I read this one when I was 15.

Lucy Willow is a novel about gardening and the patience that comes with it. I enjoyed it as a teenager who do not speak English as my mother tongue, for the terminologies were easier to understand (than most books I've encountered, at least).

This will be the kind of book I suggest to younger people.

[Orgoani1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could not stop reading it!

[Harriet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trains ✅ Plants ✅ Snails ✅ perfect read when you're home after months and want to regress back to your 6 year old self no judgement pls

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book as a kid, one of my prized possessions, a gentle green fingered power being used for good is a magical story

[Nicole Li · Rating 4 out of 5]

A childhood favourite

[Rahmadiyanti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Asyik kali yee kalau bisa punya green magic finger kayak Lucy. Nggak perlu susah payah nanem bunga, nunggu berkembang. Sebab dengan keajaiban jarinya, bunga yang ditanam Lucy jadi cepat besar. Dan ini membantu ayah Lucy yang bekerja di perusahaan kembang sejak di-PHK dari pekerjaan sebelumnya. Juga membantu pernikahan Blossom B & Silverboot McCoy, pasangan selebriti penyanyi dan pemain sepakbola (bisa nerka dunk ini sapa? ;). Blossom B sudah memesan bunga di perusahaan tempat ayah Lucy bekerja. Sayangnya, tiba-tiba toko tempat ayah Lucy bekerja ada yang merusak. Apakah keajaiban jari Lucy dapat membantu pesanan bunga dari Bloosom yang seabreg itu?

Yang saya suka sih keluarga Lucy yang tinggal di gerbong kereta. Jangan salah, gerbong kereta yang masih berfungsi lho, alias masih jalan ke sana kemari. Kebayang nggak tinggal kayak gitu? hehe.

[Janhmmn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy Willow by Sally Gardner, was this month’s book group book, and I think it was universally enjoyed. It’s definitely a younger children’s book, unlike some that we read in book group, but the characters and plot were interesting enough that the older ones enjoyed it too.

Lucy Willow, we are told in the first sentence, lives on a train, has a pet snail, and has green fingers. The first and second facts add quirky interest to the plot, the third is the magic on which the plot hinges, but although that is important, most of the conflicts are actually worked out by resourcefulness and kindheartedness (and some good luck too) which I liked.

There is lots of imagination in the story, some bits are predictable but told in such an amusing way that it doesn’t matter, and all the right people live happily ever after. 9/10.

[Charank20 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This did not sound like it was a really good book but when i read it i could not put it down at all it was a great book

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favourite book growing up! Whenever I didn't have a book to read I Would read this one.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice book for kids. A little bit of magic mixed with the everyday.

[Hazuki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely story that's very sweet. Just didn't make the 4 stars but I still loved it all the same :)

[Gabi]

this is my number one favourite books, its just so amazing!!!!!!!!!!!

[marisa ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i come back to this book time and time again,and here i am yet again 7 years later♡

[Angielovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this ages ago - but I still remember the mark it left on me!