The Song of Orphan's Garden

by Nicole M. Hewitt

Combining the gentleness of Miyazaki, the wintry wonderland of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and the whimsicality of Newbery winner The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Nicole M. Hewitt's debut middle-grade novel, The Song of Orphan's Garden, is an enchanting fantasy tale with all the makings of a new classic.

In an arctic world that's getting colder every day, Lyriana's only hope of survival is to get her little brother Zave and herself to the fabled Orphan's Garden. It’s rumored to be the one place in the world not controlled by deadly Winter Spirits or ruled by the tyrant Giant king. In Orphan’s Garden, healing trees will melt away Winter’s pains, and Lyriana and Zave can live safely in the warmth of Spring. If the garden exists, they must find it. They won’t live much longer without it.

Brob, a Giant boy, also needs sanctuary. When the Giant king banishes his family to the Winter Blight, it’s a death sentence. Orphan’s Garden is his family’s only hope, and as far as Brob’s concerned, it belongs to him. After all, he was the one who accidentally used an ancient magic to grow the garden years ago. He has no intention of sharing his haven with pesky humans, who will just use up its magic and ruin it.

When it becomes clear that Orphan’s Garden is in danger of being destroyed, Lyriana and Brob are the only ones who can save it—but only if they can put the ages-old battle between Humans and Giants aside and find a way to work together.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Poetry, Magic, Novel In Verse, Audiobook, Childrens

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 21, 2025

About the author

Nicole M. Hewitt is a middle grade author living in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, three grown kids, and two overly-enthusiastic pups. She first flexed her creative muscles as a theatre major at the University of Illinois and later taught theatre, writing, and ELA at a large homeschool co-op. More recently, she worked as the Kids’ Specialist at her local Barnes & Noble. Nicole’s debut middle grade fantasy novel-in-verse, THE SONG OF ORPHAN’S GARDEN was chosen as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.

For info on school visits and speaking engagements: https://nicolemhewitt.com/visits-events/

For a discussion guide & other resources: https://nicolemhewitt.com/resources/

Nicole is represented by Deborah Warren at East/West Literary.

Reviews

[Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful, fun read. It was a story about learning to trust and see the world through your own lens. I will admit I am 100% someone who isn’t the biggest fan of novels written in verse, but this has been the first one that I truly loved and had so much fun reading. Perfect for middle grade readers (and adults too)!

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to get the chance to read this debut novel by one of my favorite fellow book bloggers early! I don’t read a ton of middle grade books anymore since I switched from being a middle school teacher to a high school librarian. But occasionally I’ll give in and give them a try. It’s kind of interesting that both of the middle grade books I’ve read this year were also novels in verse, as I don’t tend to read a lot of poetry or novels in verse either. However, just like the one I read earlier this year, but in a completely different way, this one was a winner for me as well!

The characters were definitely ones that I was rooting for, especially as we see both sides of the story. We see how both have been led to believe things about the other side based on what they’ve been told. And as younger children, well, 13 years old I believe, that is a time when kids start to look and see maybe things aren’t exactly as they’ve been led to believe by their parents or other adults in their lives. When they start basing their opinions based on their own experiences and making or wanting to make their own decisions.

Lyrianna is on a desperate mission to get her brother to a garden to be healed. And she’s heard of the Orphan’s Garden, where no payment or fee is required and supposedly only orphans are called to it. It is so much tension and being on the edge of the seat while reading hoping that each obstacle can be overcome even in this cold, hard world.

Then there is Brob, which I love the full name, Brobdingnag – which I know that word thanks to The Big Bang Theory, lol. Perfect name for a giant! His family has been turned away from their own garden and lives thanks to what their king has decided is a betrayal, a failure by Brob’s father. They are sent away. And Brob remembers the garden he created when he was separated from his parents a long time ago, and he heads there to show his parents what he’s done and maybe help them to secure favor with the king again.

Of course there are children there that he has to get rid of, human children or tinies as they are called. But soon after getting rid of them, he realizes that maybe he needs them to keep the garden going and not having it turn into the winter blight that surrounds the garden. Together they all come to work together to save it. But then there is danger in either his parents bringing the giants back, or possibly the humans coming to take the garden for themselves. The final battle is one that will be won but not without some losses.

As I said, a wonderful tale that I can’t wait to share with the middle school librarians I know. And I’m so proud of Nicole for creating this wonderful story!

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written middle grade fantasy book. The Song Of Orphan’s Garden is written in verse and the author did a great job of creating an atmospheric fantasy world. I really liked following the characters in this book as well as the unique magical world. There was a lot packed into this story and I think there are elements that people of all ages will be able to relate to. Over this was a great middle grade read.

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for the gifted copy.

[Michelle Kenneth - PerfectionistWannabe.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written.

[Rapunzel Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Within the opening pages of The Song of Orphan’s Garden, I found myself wondering: where have all the other fantasy novels in verse been? This lush, thoughtful book has the feel of a fairytale while being wholly original, and I truly enjoyed it. I love the way Hewitt uses verse in this book—to convey alternate points of view, to create lyricism, and perhaps most of all to separate the perspectives of Lyriana and Brob that was distinct without becoming jarring. Plus, the entire setting is just cool (no pun intended), the sense of an uneasy peace as palpable through the pages as the unique take on something as set as the seasons. I’ll definitely be looking to read more of Hewitt’s books in the future!

I highly recommend The Song of Orphan’s Garden to fans of lyrical middle-grade fantasy books and stories where the setting feels as though it has a character of its own.

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cool system of magic and compelling characters. I enjoyed this middle grade fantasy.

Just a note, I started listening to the audio version of this book but didn’t really enjoy the female narrator. Her voice was kind of warbly and quavery when Lyrie is a fierce character. I finished reading the Libby ebook on my old school Kindle. I hope I can find a print copy because I would like to see the layout of the verse as it’s intended to be read.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just couldn’t get into this book. It was hard to follow and it just didn’t catch my interest. If you enjoy fantasy and can get into it, this book is for you. This story is about a girl and her brother trying to make it to the orphans garden. This is the only way to survive brutal winters. Turns into humans vs giants. Not my cup of tea, but may be someone else’s.

[Sandy Grubb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Song of Orphan's Garden is a magical story in a time of war between giants and humans when the meaning of family, friendship, love, and truth are put to the test. Lyriana and her little brother, Zave, are orphans facing the freezing blight of winter alone. Lyriana has magic in her, but can she learn the depths of it in time to save them? Will she be able to keep Zave alive? And how will they be able to face the fearsome giants? I couldn't put it down!

[Laura Amatulli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly creative fantasy in verse. I enjoyed this realm.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable! The characters are endearing and I thoroughly enjoyed the verse. Poetry has a wonderful way of letting you play with words, and Hewitt used this to great effect. What a delight!

[Amy Potts Ostrowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

With characters you'll root for from the beginning and a world built with detail and delicacy, The Song of Orphan's Garden will keep you turning pages until the very end.

In the classroom, this novel in verse is a great pick for a genre study in fantasy and/or novel in verse. There is plenty that parallels the issues of modern day, while highlighting the power of young people to overcome older generations faults.

[Emily Deibert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the eARC!

THE SONG OF ORPHAN'S GARDEN was a gorgeous, atmospheric fantasy novel-in-verse about family, friendship, and learning to work together despite differences. With lush, vivid world-building and a unique use of poetic forms, this will for sure be a favourite with middle grade readers!

In the midst of a wintery world that's only growing colder by the day, orphan Lyriana and her younger brother Zave's only hope of survival is the fabled Orphan's Garden — a mythical place that isn't touched by winter. Yet unbeknownst to them, a giant boy, Brob, is searching for the Garden too. He was the one who first created it many years ago, and sees it as his family's ticket to redemption after they've been banished by the giant king. But when the very fate of the garden itself is at risk, Lyriana and Brob will have to learn to put aside their differences as Human and Giant and work together to save their sanctuary before it's too late.

This was such a richly imagined world, with a unique magic system and utterly enchanting settings. I really enjoyed how the author played with different poetic forms throughout the story, and how different Lyriana's sections were to Brob's. The story had great themes of friendship, found family, and learning to share and work together, and I definitely found myself tearing up as we got to the story's climax. I highly recommend this beautiful story to all readers!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyriana knows that she needs to get her brother Zave out of the harsh winter. Can she find and claim a space in the Legendary Orphan’s Garden where spring has taken hold. What has caused a rift between humans and giants?A magical read.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️ debut novels ❤️novels in verse, so when this popped up on radar I wasted no time getting my hands on a copy. This is a wonderfully developed fantasy that did not disappoint!

[Sara Shacter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, powerful story of what it means to abandon preconceived notions and search for goodness in others. Much needed these days! Hewitt has created compelling characters and a page-turning plot. The verse is gorgeous. Highly recommend.

[Cassandra Federman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Nicole M. Hewitt’s lyrical writing flows effortlessly, and I was completely transported to the magical world her characters inhabit. I’m so impressed with the in-depth world building she was able to do while writing IN VERSE! The Song of Orphan’s Garden is a gorgeously written, imaginative, heartfelt, and unique novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading. I highly recommend adding it to your shelves!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story! My former coworker wrote this book! Great characters, great writing and it was engaging from beginning to end. It was written in poetry verse so how could I not have loved it!

[Stan Yan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This magical book is a wonderful allegory about the power of unity over division, a message this is greatly needed right now.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked:
A middle-grade novel in verse, especially one with over 350 pages, is uncommon but this one tells an engaging story. The king of the giants is a ruthless man and he’s learned to control the Winter Spirits. He views Humans almost as parasites and he’ll be happy if they all die in the winter wastelands. His cruelty is on display when he punishes one of his soldiers for not killing a group of Humans and letting them get away. A twelve-year-old Giant boy named Brob watches his father face the king’s wrath and is shocked when his family is exiled into the land of the Winter Spirits. At least the king didn’t have them all executed but that may have been a kinder fate than the slow, painful death that awaits.
The story is mostly told from the perspectives of Brob and a Human girl named Lyriana. Lyriana and her little brother Zave have lost their mother so they’re struggling to survive the Winter Spirits, hoping to reach the rumored Orphan’s Garden. Lyriana is a very rare Storysummoner and she can use her mother’s ocarina to play magical tunes. She can summon Fermata from the ground which can be used to combat the Winter Spirits. However, the song takes something from the Storysummoner, and Lyriana’s mother died from giving too much. Only a rare Giant called a Greensgrower can convert the Fermata into something useful and guess which Giant can do it? Brob created the Orphan’s Garden at the age of six and its song is now guiding him back to the sanctuary. The Garden understands the symbiotic relationship between Humans and Giants but will Brob learn it in time?
An advantage to writing in verse is the author can emphasize certain thoughts and emotions to manipulate words and language and create more meaningful descriptions. “Searing, ice-cold pain – ripping through – my chest with each breath” describes Lyriana’s suffering while journeying to the Orphan’s Garden. When Brob discovers Humans in his garden… “My head shouts MINE! – My heart howls MINE! – ‘THIS PLACE IS MINE!’ I roar.” The author even shares thoughts of a wall built around the garden. “I make no judgments – just silently watch the – clash of Giants and Humans – and the rise of the Winter Spirits – who threaten to rip you all apart. – If you don’t manage to do it yourselves.”
What didn’t work as well:
A full book of this length in verse won’t appeal to every middle-grade reader. It’s written in free verse as there’s no rhyming pattern or stanzas of the same length. This style works better since rhymes and patterns might make the book feel monotonous.
The final verdict:
I’m not typically a fan of books in verse but this one tells a heartfelt, gripping tale of discord and harmony. The author skillfully crafts the words that elicit a myriad of emotions. Overall, it’s a spellbinding story and I recommend you give it a shot.

[Valinora Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enchanting magical tale of friendship and loss, division and love.
The Song of Orphan's Garden is a magical, lyrical, heart-warming and emotional tale that once I started I couldn't put down. I loved the fantasy elements. In this world of giants and humans, only humans (some of them, called Songsummoners) have the power to use music to conjure up Fermata, a type of magical gold, which only the giants (some of them, called Greensgrowers) can use to create amazing gardens, not only to feed people but also to heal them. So when giants and humans hate and fear each other, they both suffer. Outside the gardens are snow and ice and the hungry Winter Spirits, keen to devour life. And even inside the gardens, thanks to the giant king's avarice, the Winter Spirits are creeping in, overcoming the other seasons.

I loved Brob, the young giant who created the Orphan's Garden when he was six . Brought up to hate and fear humans, he chases away the children seeking shelter from the snowstorms, determined to keep the garden for himself. Then there is Lyriana and her little brother Zave, trying to survive the Winter Spirits as they search for the fabled Orphan's Garden after losing their parents and their home. Lyriana is a songsummoner, like her mother, but knows the price paid for summoning Fermata. She is brave and strong and would do anything for Zave, who is such a sweet little brother.
The story is told primarily through Brob and Lyriana's perspectives, so we can see both sides in this story, with the occasional interlude from the seasons, the giants' king and Brob's mother. The story is also told in verse. It's lyrical and emotional and the perfect form for this story, beautifully capturing the essence of the story: love, loss, sacrifice, friendship, fear, division, hope, survival and greed. All set in a wonderful magical world, delicately and deftly drawn. The characters are hurt, flawed, scared, desperate, prejudiced, insecure, and all the threads and heartache of the story are woven together seamlessly.
It's an absolutely wonderful read, that I highly recommend, especially to those who read fantasy and like novels in verse.

[Ashleah · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5/5 stars)

The Song of Orphan's Garden is a debut middle grade fantasy written in verse by Nicole M. Hewitt.

I bought the audiobook version from LibroFM (there was a great sale!) and listened to that while I followed along in my physical review copy from Feiwel & Friends. The narrators Esther Wane & Keval Shah did a great job with the multiple point-of-views in this book.

Lyriana and her brother Zave must find their way to the fabled Orphan's Garden before longtime winter becomes too frigid. Orphan's Garden is a supposed haven; the only place in the world the Winter Spirits cannot control. A Giant boy named Brob also seeks sanctuary in the garden after his family was banished to the Winter Blight. But can these young kids put the ages-old battle between Humans and Giants aside and find a way to work together to help conserve the garden?

The atmosphere in this book was amazing. It was almost like I could feel the chill myself while following these kids as they attempt to flee what seems like a semi-dystopian society. I totally flew through this book and practically read it in one sitting.

I felt myself rooting for both the human and giant kids. I think the author did a great job with the themes here, as they are prevalent in the real world. This is a good middle-grade way to discuss how people on different sides may have different versions of what has happened in the past.

Also, this cover is phenomenal!

I received a complimentary review copy from Feiwel & Friends. All opinions contained herein are my own.

If you want to see more from me, check out my blog, Bookstagram, TheStoryGraph, Bluesky, or Twitter.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel in verse. Lyriana's world is a cold one, ruled by Winter Spirits. The only refuges are "Gardens" ruled by giants, and humans have to pay dearly in "fermata"--solidified magic--to gain entry. Only song-summoners can sing or play the fermata into first liquid, then solid form. But it costs the song-summoner dearly, and for Lyriana's mother, it eventually cost her life. Now Lyriana and her little brother Zave are on their own in the winter wilds, desperately seeking the possibly-mythical "Orphan's Garden," a garden without ruling giants. If they can find it, it will save their lives. But all gardens must be created by giant greens-growers, and Orphan's Garden was accidentally created by a six-year-old giant named Brob, many years ago. Now Brob and his parents have been exiled to the winter wilds by a tyrannical king, and Brob goes looking for the garden he created--only to find it infested with humans! He's not putting up with that. But the time will come, soon, when Lyriana and Brob must work together if the garden has any hope of surviving.

This was not really my genre, being a fantasy-dystopia, but it was well-done. The world is thoughtfully and creatively built, and the stakes are high for all the characters. The characters were strong, with distinctive voices and feelings. I don't know that I've ever read a fantasy in verse before, but it worked well. I think I most appreciated the creativity of the magic. As for drawbacks, I'll admit to some confusion about how the world ended up in the clutches of winter, and the grief and desperation that filled the story like a chill wind didn't make it exactly fun to read. But I would recommend this to thoughtful fantasy readers. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Beautiful cover and artwork.
Powerful subtle message.
I am glad to see a fantasy done in Verse. Fantasy is a genre from which I demand character depth, less plot-driven, and more escapism. I was so relieved to realize this is not a portal fantasy.
It will read as a powerful fantasy novella for older readers and adults who love a Ghibli vibe, and it will be complex, in verse, with more than a pov for early readers to follow.
Although it is fantasy, it borrows from very relatable themes: orphans, death of parents, siblings taking care of each other, sacrifice, found family, prejudice, racism, ruthless leader imposing horrible laws on people, acceptance, wanting to live with hope but surviving a long hopeless winter.
From what I have been reading lately, I sense very dark themes for middle grades in 2025. It's not a bad thing. We should think of what is right and kind and never back away from fighting monsters. The more we read about brave kids doing the right thing, the more we gain tools to face life challenges (metaphorical or not).

Thank you, publisher and librofm, for the arc audio.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Book Birthday (tomorrow) to The Song of Orphan’s Garden! Thank you to the author for sharing an early copy to read and review.

This middle grade fantasy novel is told in verse through two main characters who will have to learn to work together to save themselves and those they love.

Set in a frigid, winter world that’s getting colder each day, orphaned Lyriana is on a mission to get her young brother Zave to the fabled Orphan’s Garden to escape the arctic temperatures and snow. It’s supposed to be the one placed in her world not ruled by the Giant king or controlled by the Winter Spirits. Once there, the healing tree can help Zave, and the siblings can live in eternal spring.

But Brob, a giant boy whose family has been banished to the harsh Winter Blight, is also searching for the Garden (which he created years ago). He has no intention of sharing it with anyone but his family.

With characters that you’ll root for and so many themes to discover (learning to trust and accept help from others; viewing events from a lens other than your own; working with others who are different than you), this new fantasy novel in verse has so much to offer our middle grade readers.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. The storytelling pulled me in kept me captive as I listened to the dual narrators (so well narrated). I found myself shivering in the cold, glowing in the warmth of summer, and longing for a taste of orange along with the characters.

The themes of forgiveness, moving past age-old feuds, and working together are woven through Lyriana and Brob's stories. Lyriana--a recent orphan left to care for her little brother Zave-- and Brob--a giant who has witnessed the brutality of human's from up close-- must learn to listen to the peace-bringing music of the great composer instead of the bitterness and resentments they've built up over a lifetime of war.

The dual narration is a brilliant tool to help readers understand how misunderstandings can occur. Seeing how these characters tell themselves stories that seem truthful to them, can help readers consider their own, closely-held stories. Allowing oneself to see the world through another's eyes takes courage and forgiveness, but can lead to unexpected joy and beauty.

This story surprised me in the best possible way, and I would highly recommend it to young and old readers alike.

[Kyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book progressively more as I went along. It is a novel in verse that is told through the perspective of two children; a Giant boy named Brob and a human girl named Lyriana.
Giants and humans have been enemies for a long time. There is mutual uneasiness, hostile feelings, and even fear between the two parties.

Yet Brob and Lyriana will eventually meet and join together-Giant and Human- in a shared quest for the Orphans’ Garden.

Brob is a Green-grower who with his powers was capable of growing a garden singlehandedly at the age of six. Seven years later after the death of her mother, Lyriana takes her little brother and sets out to find this garden she has heard so much about-the Orphans’ Garden. The Garden is said to be a safe house for orphans where the giants cannot harm them.

Meanwhile, Brob’s parents have displeased the Giants’ king and are now in trouble. Hoping to gain the king’s favor and show his parents what his powers can do, Brob sets out to look for the garden he created seven years ago.

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who enjoys reading NIV and fantasy, this novel's world building is one of the best I've ever read and it is told in poetic form, completing capturing my imagination and placing me into this vivid setting with sparse, lyrical text. The dual point of view made an excellent choice for storytelling as both Brob and Lyriana enter with preconceived perspectives based on their experiences growing up; both believe that the other is the "bad" person because that is what their parents told them as truth. But as they interact more and more, the preconceived notions and beliefs unravel and an unlikely alliance forms and eventually deepens into friendship.

I never wanted to stop reading as the stakes continued to rise for each character with heart-racing scenes and danger lurking everywhere. The pacing is balanced with both humorous and more tender moments sprinkled throughout the tension and suspense, rounding out this novel with deeper themes of family, friendship, and looking beyond outward appearances.

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

For many years, the world has been growing colder, and the giants are finding it harder and harder to keep their spring gardens alive. But they cannot produce the glistening magic necessary for summoning spring and summer spirits: only humans can do that. The two races have an uneasy truce, but conflict waits like a wolf at the edge of the camp. Amid this, two human children, one who can summon magic and her little brother, search for the Orphan's Garden, a place that only one giant knows exists, though when disaster strikes his family, war is sure to follow.

Surely, the allegory in this book is a little too on the nose, but it's beautiful and well worth the read. Some lines are achingly beautiful and others feel like prose broken up into stanzas. The emotions shine through strongly, however. This book very much lives up to its cover art.

[Jen Nishi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. Take the giants from BFG (but subtract the eating humans bit) and add in the forever winter of Narnia and you will get this book. It is so beautifully written you could use this book alone to teach your poetry unit and if I ever go back into a classroom indefinitely would use this for that purpose. There’s so much emotion and heart woven into these pages it is beautiful. There’s so much to talk about, the emphasis on unity and togetherness, the clashes of different groups and cultures, miscommunication and magic! There’s so much depth to it but it is so fantastically woven into a fantasy story in verse that you don’t even realize the social commentary until the end when you can’t stop thinking of the book. One of the best books I’ve read in 2025 so far.

[Cathlina Bergman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

A great novel-in-verse for middle grade readers!

Lyriana knows she and her brother Zave won’t survive the perpetual winter unless they can make it to Orphan’s Garden, the one oasis of warmth and life in their frozen land. Though she’s never seen the Garden, it calls to her, drawn to her heritage as a Songsummoner. But also drawn to the Garden is Brob, the boy who accidentally created the Garden six years ago. Exiled from his own land, Brob is a Greensgrower and a giant, the mortal enemy of the humans. Will the Garden prove to be a sanctuary or a battle ground? Told in verse, this debut novel captures the power of music and magic.

Note: Don't read the book if you are cold. It will make you colder! :)