What do you think?
Rate this book
Return to the Secret Garden
Return to Frances Hodgson Burnett's timeless classic, The Secret Garden, in this magical sequel by bestselling author Holly Webb. It's 1939 and a group of children have been evacuated to Misselthwaite Hall. Emmie is far from happy to have been separated from her cat and sent to a huge old mansion. But soon she starts discovering the secrets of the house - a boy crying at night, a diary written by a girl named Mary, and a garden. A very secret garden...
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2015
31 people are currently reading
1190 people want to read
About the author
Holly Webb
537 books400 followersHolly Webb is one of Britain's best-loved children's writers. She has written over a hundred books for children, and her work has been translated into over thirty languages. Holly lives in Tilehurst, just outside of Reading, Berkshire, with her husband, three children and several cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
December 10, 2020
To all lovers of the original “Secret Garden”:
Please Don’t Hate Me Because I Loved This Book!
I found this to be an excellent sequel to the original; loved the follow-up stories of Mary, Dickon, Colin, and Martha Sowerby. The WW2 setting made this a historical fiction read for me, and that’s my favorite time to read about in history. The author did a marvelous job showing what the London evacuees and their caretakers felt as they got the news bulletins about the Blitz, and watched loved ones go to fight. The diary entries from Mary Lennox were a wonderful retelling of the original story; I must re-read my childhood copy now!
I would recommend this to anyone who has ever loved and dreamed while reading Burnett’s classic tale. I also think this would be a great introductory book about WW2 for elementary and middle-grade readers. Highly, highly recommend it!
Please Don’t Hate Me Because I Loved This Book!
I found this to be an excellent sequel to the original; loved the follow-up stories of Mary, Dickon, Colin, and Martha Sowerby. The WW2 setting made this a historical fiction read for me, and that’s my favorite time to read about in history. The author did a marvelous job showing what the London evacuees and their caretakers felt as they got the news bulletins about the Blitz, and watched loved ones go to fight. The diary entries from Mary Lennox were a wonderful retelling of the original story; I must re-read my childhood copy now!
I would recommend this to anyone who has ever loved and dreamed while reading Burnett’s classic tale. I also think this would be a great introductory book about WW2 for elementary and middle-grade readers. Highly, highly recommend it!
September 18, 2016
Too much cat related side-plot, but it captures /some/ of the original's essence. Sidetone: Did Mary marry Colin? She's supposed to be with Dicken! (Though that opinion is heavily influenced by The Misselthwaite Archives web series (one of my favourites!))
May 4, 2019
3 stars.
Firstly, I need to point out that I do not think that is a bad book or that it is a bad book based on the writing. Its abad book based on my nostalgia.
Im left feeling drained from my emotions about this book. Im struggling to give it 3 stars because I am so torn.
On one hand, the story itself, if it had NOT been a sequel would have been quite good! Written during World War 2, this MG story was done well. I liked Emmie. I LOVED her love for Lucy the kitty. The story of the orphans going to live at Misselthwaite Manor, this HUGE house in the country which was so different to their London life. It was enjoyable.
But...*sigh*
I hold The Secret Garden book very dearly in my heart. I grew up with it. I was 8 when it came out as a movie in 1993 and my copy of it was the movie tie in edition (Which I got that Christmas, making me 9 yrs old). It was my first grown up book. It had special photos inside and I just loved it. I loved everything about it, the story, the characters. Everything.
So....
*deep breath* No. Nooooopppppe and No. I did not like how the characters, Mary, Colin, Dickon and Martha were portrayed. Martha was actually ok. She stayed pretty much the same. But, the others. NOOOOO!!!! I didnt enjoy reading about them at all the way Holly Webb had written them. If they hadnt been connected to the original, they would have been fine. But...
So. As a sequel I give this 1 star.
But as a novel entirely on its own with zero connection to my all time favourite story.... this id give 4 stars.
So yes I am being generous giving it 3 stars. But its more like 2.5 stars/slightly better than just ok.
Firstly, I need to point out that I do not think that is a bad book or that it is a bad book based on the writing. Its a
Im left feeling drained from my emotions about this book. Im struggling to give it 3 stars because I am so torn.
On one hand, the story itself, if it had NOT been a sequel would have been quite good! Written during World War 2, this MG story was done well. I liked Emmie. I LOVED her love for Lucy the kitty. The story of the orphans going to live at Misselthwaite Manor, this HUGE house in the country which was so different to their London life. It was enjoyable.
But...*sigh*
I hold The Secret Garden book very dearly in my heart. I grew up with it. I was 8 when it came out as a movie in 1993 and my copy of it was the movie tie in edition (Which I got that Christmas, making me 9 yrs old). It was my first grown up book. It had special photos inside and I just loved it. I loved everything about it, the story, the characters. Everything.
So....
*deep breath* No. Nooooopppppe and No. I did not like how the characters, Mary, Colin, Dickon and Martha were portrayed. Martha was actually ok. She stayed pretty much the same. But, the others. NOOOOO!!!! I didnt enjoy reading about them at all the way Holly Webb had written them. If they hadnt been connected to the original, they would have been fine. But...
So. As a sequel I give this 1 star.
But as a novel entirely on its own with zero connection to my all time favourite story.... this id give 4 stars.
So yes I am being generous giving it 3 stars. But its more like 2.5 stars/slightly better than just ok.
November 17, 2015
This is a perfectly fine children's book and will no doubt find an audience amongst those who are less strongly of the opinion that a sequel is a thing you read straight after reading the original.
Featuring another spiky young heroine in orphan Emmie Hatton (evacuated during WW2 from the Craven Home for Orphaned Children to Misselthwaite Manor), the first half of the novel follows closely in the classic's footsteps as Emmie befriends a gardener and a robin and explores the manor. If you're looking for one of those sequels that just retreads familiar ground, we're off to a flying start. Cries in the night and a lonely boy soon get added to the mix.
The second half explores the impact of the war on the Craven family and the orphans they have taken in, taking the novel in a fresh direction (at last). Sadly, my attachment to the original novel meant I didn't get the emotional journey I was looking for, as Emmie's need for a place to belong is far more important to this narrative than the emotional travails of the Cravens.
Add to it some specific issues (for me) with style and the awkwardness of including Mary Lennox's diaries ('previously, in The Secret Garden', much?) and it left me rather dissatisfied as a fan of the classic. It's a shame, as this is otherwise a well-written children's book about wartime and displacement - both of which I think are important themes given current events, and which I might have enjoyed if it weren't clinging to the coat tails of an old favourite.
Full review on my book blog.
(Full disclosure: I received an advanced copy to review)
Featuring another spiky young heroine in orphan Emmie Hatton (evacuated during WW2 from the Craven Home for Orphaned Children to Misselthwaite Manor), the first half of the novel follows closely in the classic's footsteps as Emmie befriends a gardener and a robin and explores the manor. If you're looking for one of those sequels that just retreads familiar ground, we're off to a flying start. Cries in the night and a lonely boy soon get added to the mix.
The second half explores the impact of the war on the Craven family and the orphans they have taken in, taking the novel in a fresh direction (at last). Sadly, my attachment to the original novel meant I didn't get the emotional journey I was looking for, as Emmie's need for a place to belong is far more important to this narrative than the emotional travails of the Cravens.
Add to it some specific issues (for me) with style and the awkwardness of including Mary Lennox's diaries ('previously, in The Secret Garden', much?) and it left me rather dissatisfied as a fan of the classic. It's a shame, as this is otherwise a well-written children's book about wartime and displacement - both of which I think are important themes given current events, and which I might have enjoyed if it weren't clinging to the coat tails of an old favourite.
Full review on my book blog.
(Full disclosure: I received an advanced copy to review)
February 27, 2020
Disappointing.
February 9, 2017
Since I've yet to finish a book yet this year, I thought it was a good time to go ahead and work on the reviews that I never had a chance to post last year. Which, especially in the case of Return to the Secret Garden, is a shame. This book was absolutely adorable, and I wish I'd been on top of my reviews enough to give it the pre-release love that it deserved. On the bright side, hopefully I'm reminding some of you out there of its existence, and it will scoot up your reading lists after this review.
First off, I feel it's only fair to explain to you that the original book is one of my all time favorites. Coupled with that, is the fact that Holly Webb is one of my all time favorite Middle Grade writers. So, you can easily see that my expectations were high here. I was so thrilled that the sequel to my favorite book would be done by one of my favorite authors. It doesn't get any more perfect than that! I was so eager to make my way back to Misselthwaite, and explore it with new eyes. I'm happy to say, I wasn't disappointed.
Much like the Mary we remember, Emmie is a little tough to love at first. An orphan, Emmie is used to mainly caring for herself and is, as such, a bit distant. Still, I could tell right away that she was a spitfire at heart. Her deep thoughts, her love for her adopted stray cat, all of it pulled me in to her world. It wasn't obvious early on how she would be tied in to the Misselthwaite of old, but I knew she'd fit in just wonderfully.
As it turns out, I was right. The backdrop of this book is the Blitz and it sets the stage expertly for Emmie's transition to her new home. I loved watching her go through the same kinds of feelings as her predecessor. It was that moment when she stepped into the garden though, that really had me rapt. Holly Webb evoked that same magic, the same air of sweet mystery, that the original book so wonderfully had. I ate it up. Even if the original characters hadn't been tied into this, which they absolutely are, I would have been happy just with this small piece of my childhood restored. Stepping back into the secret garden with new eyes was a wonderful feeling.
Truth be told, I really wanted to give this five stars. It was missing this small something that I couldn't fit my finger on though, and so I settled with four. It's really a fabulous book though, and I highly recommend it as an addition to your TBR! Emmie will steal your heart and, if she doesn't succeed alone, so will your new trip into the secret garden.
First off, I feel it's only fair to explain to you that the original book is one of my all time favorites. Coupled with that, is the fact that Holly Webb is one of my all time favorite Middle Grade writers. So, you can easily see that my expectations were high here. I was so thrilled that the sequel to my favorite book would be done by one of my favorite authors. It doesn't get any more perfect than that! I was so eager to make my way back to Misselthwaite, and explore it with new eyes. I'm happy to say, I wasn't disappointed.
Much like the Mary we remember, Emmie is a little tough to love at first. An orphan, Emmie is used to mainly caring for herself and is, as such, a bit distant. Still, I could tell right away that she was a spitfire at heart. Her deep thoughts, her love for her adopted stray cat, all of it pulled me in to her world. It wasn't obvious early on how she would be tied in to the Misselthwaite of old, but I knew she'd fit in just wonderfully.
As it turns out, I was right. The backdrop of this book is the Blitz and it sets the stage expertly for Emmie's transition to her new home. I loved watching her go through the same kinds of feelings as her predecessor. It was that moment when she stepped into the garden though, that really had me rapt. Holly Webb evoked that same magic, the same air of sweet mystery, that the original book so wonderfully had. I ate it up. Even if the original characters hadn't been tied into this, which they absolutely are, I would have been happy just with this small piece of my childhood restored. Stepping back into the secret garden with new eyes was a wonderful feeling.
Truth be told, I really wanted to give this five stars. It was missing this small something that I couldn't fit my finger on though, and so I settled with four. It's really a fabulous book though, and I highly recommend it as an addition to your TBR! Emmie will steal your heart and, if she doesn't succeed alone, so will your new trip into the secret garden.
September 23, 2022
This would have been a perfectly fine evacuee story on its own - there was no need to link it to The Secret Garden!
It’s somehow both a sequel and a retelling - so many of the elements are exactly the same: Emmie is practically Mary Lennox 2.0; hearing crying in the night; the robin; the garden having magic healing powers… But at the same time, I wasn’t terribly keen on the way Holly Webb has imagined the original characters - I’m not a fan of the Colin/Mary ship, so didn’t love that, plus I just don’t want to have to think about Colin and Dickon fighting in either World War! Very much personal choice issues, I know, so not necessarily problems with the book itself, but nevertheless it did still mean I didn’t enjoy this as much as I’d hoped to!
Emmy and Jack’s story was sweet, but there’s no getting around the fact that it was just a pale imitation of the original. I suppose the primary audience I can see for this would be children who aren’t ready for the language of the original yet, but might be intrigued enough by the references to Mary’s story to go and seek it out later. For children who have already enjoyed the original, I see very little point in following up with this one.
All of that said: I did like Holly Webb’s writing style, and I’m still keen to read some of her other, better-regarded work!
CW: war; evacuation; death of a parent; grief; references to bombing; references to animal death
It’s somehow both a sequel and a retelling - so many of the elements are exactly the same: Emmie is practically Mary Lennox 2.0; hearing crying in the night; the robin; the garden having magic healing powers… But at the same time, I wasn’t terribly keen on the way Holly Webb has imagined the original characters - I’m not a fan of the Colin/Mary ship, so didn’t love that, plus I just don’t want to have to think about Colin and Dickon fighting in either World War! Very much personal choice issues, I know, so not necessarily problems with the book itself, but nevertheless it did still mean I didn’t enjoy this as much as I’d hoped to!
Emmy and Jack’s story was sweet, but there’s no getting around the fact that it was just a pale imitation of the original. I suppose the primary audience I can see for this would be children who aren’t ready for the language of the original yet, but might be intrigued enough by the references to Mary’s story to go and seek it out later. For children who have already enjoyed the original, I see very little point in following up with this one.
All of that said: I did like Holly Webb’s writing style, and I’m still keen to read some of her other, better-regarded work!
CW: war; evacuation; death of a parent; grief; references to bombing; references to animal death
September 25, 2017
3.5
I had some hesitation about there being characters from The Secret Garden in this book, and can't say I completely loved where that went, but I did really like this book. In particular it captured a lot of the magic of that garden and house (Misselthwaite Manor) which was wonderful. And I loved the characters Emmie, Jack and Lucy the cat. I think Holly Webb wrote this with a lot of love for the original and that comes through and is appreciated!
I had some hesitation about there being characters from The Secret Garden in this book, and can't say I completely loved where that went, but I did really like this book. In particular it captured a lot of the magic of that garden and house (Misselthwaite Manor) which was wonderful. And I loved the characters Emmie, Jack and Lucy the cat. I think Holly Webb wrote this with a lot of love for the original and that comes through and is appreciated!
February 7, 2017
. This review was originally posted on Between My Lines
Is there any book that you love as much as the books that you loved in your childhood? For me I think not, those early books have nestled into my bookish heart and I can't logically review them as I'm all wrapped up in feels for them. But a sequel (hello Return to the Secret Garden by Holly Webb) to one of those books is fair game!
My Thoughts on Return to the Secret Garden by Holly Webb:
I adore The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, so when I saw this follow-up book in my library I grabbed it. And my verdict is; if you already love the original (and by far the best), then you should enjoy this book. In some ways it feels like a weak imitation, as it also features
a sulky, lonely orphan girl
a rich child at Misselthwaite Hall who is lonely and cries at night
A grumpy but soft-hearted gardener
the gardens with their special magic
lots of talk about plants being wick
Friendly robins
However, there are also some unique additions:
a catch up with the original characters
World War 2 setting
A London orphanage evacuated to Misselthwaite Hall
I just took the book for what it was. A fun way to see what happened to Mary, Colin and Dickon, and a chance to wander nostalgically around the gardens. Nature bursts into life in the book, and that was my favourite part. I also really liked the new main character – Emmie – who is stubborn, sulky and screaming to be loved.
I was less impressed by how samey the plot was. And I never really understood why Jack was left to cry at night. Surely his mother would have noticed how he was feeling. After all it was hearing Colin’s pitiful cries all those years ago, that started the friendship between Colin and Mary. I feel Mary is portrayed as a slightly distant mother, and I wasn’t buying that. It was more of a plot device to make Jack seem like Colin, and so mirror the original storyline.
But, overall I had fun reading this, and I thought the writing flowed really well. Especially all the nature descriptions; the fabulous roses, the scrawny cat and the friendly robin.
Who should read Return to the Secret Garden by Holly Webb?
I’d only recommend this to you if you are a fan of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. If you already love the gardens at Misselthwaite, then you should enjoy this follow-up.
Is there any book that you love as much as the books that you loved in your childhood? For me I think not, those early books have nestled into my bookish heart and I can't logically review them as I'm all wrapped up in feels for them. But a sequel (hello Return to the Secret Garden by Holly Webb) to one of those books is fair game!
My Thoughts on Return to the Secret Garden by Holly Webb:
I adore The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, so when I saw this follow-up book in my library I grabbed it. And my verdict is; if you already love the original (and by far the best), then you should enjoy this book. In some ways it feels like a weak imitation, as it also features
a sulky, lonely orphan girl
a rich child at Misselthwaite Hall who is lonely and cries at night
A grumpy but soft-hearted gardener
the gardens with their special magic
lots of talk about plants being wick
Friendly robins
However, there are also some unique additions:
a catch up with the original characters
World War 2 setting
A London orphanage evacuated to Misselthwaite Hall
I just took the book for what it was. A fun way to see what happened to Mary, Colin and Dickon, and a chance to wander nostalgically around the gardens. Nature bursts into life in the book, and that was my favourite part. I also really liked the new main character – Emmie – who is stubborn, sulky and screaming to be loved.
I was less impressed by how samey the plot was. And I never really understood why Jack was left to cry at night. Surely his mother would have noticed how he was feeling. After all it was hearing Colin’s pitiful cries all those years ago, that started the friendship between Colin and Mary. I feel Mary is portrayed as a slightly distant mother, and I wasn’t buying that. It was more of a plot device to make Jack seem like Colin, and so mirror the original storyline.
But, overall I had fun reading this, and I thought the writing flowed really well. Especially all the nature descriptions; the fabulous roses, the scrawny cat and the friendly robin.
Who should read Return to the Secret Garden by Holly Webb?
I’d only recommend this to you if you are a fan of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. If you already love the gardens at Misselthwaite, then you should enjoy this follow-up.
October 26, 2016
It has been a long time since I read "The Secret Garden" but as I read this, a lot of it came back to me. This is a sequel but it is written in a different style and much more child friendly. Holly Webb has this story take place in 1939 when a group of orphans have been evacuated from London and are now living in Misselthwaite Hall. The theme of being abandoned and forced to move somewhere new and foreign is the same feeling that Emmie has in this book as Mary did in the original.
Emmie, the main character is an orphan, or at least has no parents that claim her. She is stubborn, can be mean spirited and speaks her mind. Her only friend is her stray cat that she is forced to leave behind when they evacuate. When she finds Mary's diaries in her room, she reads them and falls in love with the Magical Secret Garden. She finds the door to the garden and it is no longer locked. She spends many hours there and begins to find solace and happiness with the flowers and the robin that lives in the hedge. When the old gardener befriends her, she tells him about her cat. Mr. Craven, who is in the navy, hears about the cat, finds it and brings it to Emmie when he is home on a visit. Emmie also befriends Jack, the Craven's son and they work magic on one another. The garden becomes their "Garden of Secrets."
Emmie's character is well developed throughout the story. It is wonderful to see her go from being lonely, frustrated and angry to healing others around her and finally becoming part of something very special. It was wonderful to see the characters from the original novel in this story, all grwon up. I think the themes of loneliness, love of nature, secrets and friendship are shown and developed in this book. Now to get out the movie and watch it again with my grandchildren. A nice sequel that children will enjoy and even their parents. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
Emmie, the main character is an orphan, or at least has no parents that claim her. She is stubborn, can be mean spirited and speaks her mind. Her only friend is her stray cat that she is forced to leave behind when they evacuate. When she finds Mary's diaries in her room, she reads them and falls in love with the Magical Secret Garden. She finds the door to the garden and it is no longer locked. She spends many hours there and begins to find solace and happiness with the flowers and the robin that lives in the hedge. When the old gardener befriends her, she tells him about her cat. Mr. Craven, who is in the navy, hears about the cat, finds it and brings it to Emmie when he is home on a visit. Emmie also befriends Jack, the Craven's son and they work magic on one another. The garden becomes their "Garden of Secrets."
Emmie's character is well developed throughout the story. It is wonderful to see her go from being lonely, frustrated and angry to healing others around her and finally becoming part of something very special. It was wonderful to see the characters from the original novel in this story, all grwon up. I think the themes of loneliness, love of nature, secrets and friendship are shown and developed in this book. Now to get out the movie and watch it again with my grandchildren. A nice sequel that children will enjoy and even their parents. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
July 4, 2016
it was ok, but for me, not a patch on the original.
June 8, 2020
Had this been its own story with no connection to The Secret Garden whatsoever, it would have likely been alright. Emmie was a likable protagonist, and I loved Jack's character! The one star I had to give this book is for him! However, the entire book left me asking, Has Holly Webb ever actually read "The Secret Garden"? I'm probably a bit biased because The Secret Garden is my all-time favorite book, but I am completely baffled by how Webb portrayed these characters. They bear little to no resemblance to their counterparts in the original work. Surely, 20 years or so (and even a World War) couldn't change THAT much!
I didn't absolutely despise the book, but I just didn’t understand a lot of the choices the author made particularly as they relate to Burnett's original work. Webb's book felt incredibly disjointed from The Secret Garden which is not something you want to say about a so-called “sequel.”
I didn't absolutely despise the book, but I just didn’t understand a lot of the choices the author made particularly as they relate to Burnett's original work. Webb's book felt incredibly disjointed from The Secret Garden which is not something you want to say about a so-called “sequel.”
April 15, 2016
This is as magical as the original story by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Webb has placed her sequel in 1939 which is really effective as it presents a believable way to bring children back to Misselthwaite Hall with the same sense of abandonment, a search for family and a need to belong that Mary had in "The Secret Garden". It is also effective as the whole concept of being taken away from the city and deposited in the middle of the countryside in a big rambling old house is very appealing to children and perhaps echoes the same idea used by Rowling and Blyton with boarding schools.
Orphaned Emmie, the main protagonist, has the same traits as Hodgson Burnett's Mary, making her a little awkward and hard to like or warm to because of her stubborn attitude and slight unkindness, but again, in keeping with the original characterisation, this is deliberate and initially children will still respond to Emmie as they will relate to the way she is judged and poorly treated by her teachers. Emmie's character softens very quickly as the novel continues and there is a lot of empathy and sympathy created for her when her more lonely and vulnerable side is revealed once the children arrive at the Hall and she explores the grounds.
Emmie is desperate to find something for herself - a place for herself, a place to belong and in which to be happy. She stumbles across an old diary written by Mary and the similarities between them as subtly revealed. On her discovery of the Robin, who seems to want to communicate so much more to Mary than just his pretty song, Mary writes sadly "I don't think I ever had a friend and I should like one." Emmie's relationship with her kitten Lucy exactly mirrors this. Webb has successfully modernised Mary's voice so her diaries are very accessible and read as fluently as a contemporary character.
Emmie is able to find the hidden key and then discovers the secret garden. She is so disappointed to find that it is no longer secret but decides that "It wasn't a secret garden anymore - but it could still be her garden full of secrets." Once again, the garden will show its healing power and work its magic!
I thought the way Webb weaves her story in and amongst Hodgson Burnett's story was really clever and interesting. She captures the same tension and suspense of the howling wind, the crying at night, the discovery of a secret place and the connections it has with the family's past. The references and cross overs were sensitive and totally in keeping with the original. Emmie's character is well constructed; her emotions are well represented and we follow her journey from being lonely, frustrated and angry to healing others around her and finally becoming part of something very special. Webb's writing shows respect and real affection for "The Secret Garden" and a very deep understanding of its themes and ideas. It is an authentic sequel and one of which France Hodgson Burnett would definitely approve! Webb shows that the themes in Hodgson Burnett's novel are still very relevant to a modern audience and still as heartwarming and affirming. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to share it with my daughter. For me, it is as captivating, memorable and as special as "The Secret Garden".
Orphaned Emmie, the main protagonist, has the same traits as Hodgson Burnett's Mary, making her a little awkward and hard to like or warm to because of her stubborn attitude and slight unkindness, but again, in keeping with the original characterisation, this is deliberate and initially children will still respond to Emmie as they will relate to the way she is judged and poorly treated by her teachers. Emmie's character softens very quickly as the novel continues and there is a lot of empathy and sympathy created for her when her more lonely and vulnerable side is revealed once the children arrive at the Hall and she explores the grounds.
Emmie is desperate to find something for herself - a place for herself, a place to belong and in which to be happy. She stumbles across an old diary written by Mary and the similarities between them as subtly revealed. On her discovery of the Robin, who seems to want to communicate so much more to Mary than just his pretty song, Mary writes sadly "I don't think I ever had a friend and I should like one." Emmie's relationship with her kitten Lucy exactly mirrors this. Webb has successfully modernised Mary's voice so her diaries are very accessible and read as fluently as a contemporary character.
Emmie is able to find the hidden key and then discovers the secret garden. She is so disappointed to find that it is no longer secret but decides that "It wasn't a secret garden anymore - but it could still be her garden full of secrets." Once again, the garden will show its healing power and work its magic!
I thought the way Webb weaves her story in and amongst Hodgson Burnett's story was really clever and interesting. She captures the same tension and suspense of the howling wind, the crying at night, the discovery of a secret place and the connections it has with the family's past. The references and cross overs were sensitive and totally in keeping with the original. Emmie's character is well constructed; her emotions are well represented and we follow her journey from being lonely, frustrated and angry to healing others around her and finally becoming part of something very special. Webb's writing shows respect and real affection for "The Secret Garden" and a very deep understanding of its themes and ideas. It is an authentic sequel and one of which France Hodgson Burnett would definitely approve! Webb shows that the themes in Hodgson Burnett's novel are still very relevant to a modern audience and still as heartwarming and affirming. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to share it with my daughter. For me, it is as captivating, memorable and as special as "The Secret Garden".
November 8, 2016
I want to preface this review by saying that the original classic novel, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is my all-time favourite childhood book. That meant that going into this newer version I had reservations and anticipation in equal measure.
Webb undertakes a huge responsibility to readers who loved the original as she continues the story of the garden and its next generation of admirers. I enjoyed how Webb incorporated Emmie's story within the backdrop of WWII which was such a tumultuous and dangerous time when many children were sent out of London to the safer countryside to wait out the war.
While this book feels like it's written for a slightly younger audience than the original I think that the author captured some of the magic from the classic by including many of the original characters. Readers who haven't read the original will still be able to enjoy this book because of old diaries that are incorporated into the story line which help reveal the back story for new readers and remind fans who have previously read the original.
Webb has written a nice story with a hearty nod to the original. But part of me wishes that she had added more of her own twists to make it stand apart more from Hodgson Burnett's version. I think it followed too closely to the original.
While this was a good read there were a few things that fell a little short for me: First, while Emmie was a good main character (who loves her wee cat almost to distraction of the reader) she lacked the sass and heart of Mary Lennox. Second, this book didn't have the eerie suspense that made the original so memorable. I think Webb tried to add suspense by not revealing the true identities of some of the characters (namely Mr. and Mrs. Craven and the dower gardener - whose dialect was oddly conveyed on paper) until much farther into the story. Unfortunately, it wasn't a hard code to crack for fans of the classic and I don't know if readers who hadn't read the original will necessarily make the connections easily.
In the end, I think young tweens (9-11 years) will enjoy this book. For fans of the classic it's a nice look at what could have happened to the original characters and while I didn't find this book quite as enchanting as the original it was an enjoyable and easy read featuring a truly memorable garden.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Webb undertakes a huge responsibility to readers who loved the original as she continues the story of the garden and its next generation of admirers. I enjoyed how Webb incorporated Emmie's story within the backdrop of WWII which was such a tumultuous and dangerous time when many children were sent out of London to the safer countryside to wait out the war.
While this book feels like it's written for a slightly younger audience than the original I think that the author captured some of the magic from the classic by including many of the original characters. Readers who haven't read the original will still be able to enjoy this book because of old diaries that are incorporated into the story line which help reveal the back story for new readers and remind fans who have previously read the original.
Webb has written a nice story with a hearty nod to the original. But part of me wishes that she had added more of her own twists to make it stand apart more from Hodgson Burnett's version. I think it followed too closely to the original.
While this was a good read there were a few things that fell a little short for me: First, while Emmie was a good main character (who loves her wee cat almost to distraction of the reader) she lacked the sass and heart of Mary Lennox. Second, this book didn't have the eerie suspense that made the original so memorable. I think Webb tried to add suspense by not revealing the true identities of some of the characters (namely Mr. and Mrs. Craven and the dower gardener - whose dialect was oddly conveyed on paper) until much farther into the story. Unfortunately, it wasn't a hard code to crack for fans of the classic and I don't know if readers who hadn't read the original will necessarily make the connections easily.
In the end, I think young tweens (9-11 years) will enjoy this book. For fans of the classic it's a nice look at what could have happened to the original characters and while I didn't find this book quite as enchanting as the original it was an enjoyable and easy read featuring a truly memorable garden.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 3, 2016
Emmie is certainly a worthy successor to poor, spoilt Mary Lennox. She has edges that have nothing to do with being unduly pampered – quite the opposite in fact. While the adults around her are quite tough with her, I did like the fact that the people running the orphanage aren’t depicted as evilly intent on crushing the spirit of their charges. While their form of punishment may jar with modern norms, at the time it wasn’t uncommon for children to be regularly slapped or beaten with a slipper or strap for transgressions. I could see the adults were all feeling frayed and coping with the practicalities of moving twenty orphans to the other end of the country must have been a daunting task, given that half the staff were off ‘doing their bit’.
Any grizzles? Well I do have a problem with the cover, which is rather cute and girly and gives the impression that this is lighthearted, fluffy read when its nothing of the sort.
Given the book’s relationship with the original story, several characters feature in this sequel that had major parts in the first book. I very much enjoyed seeing Webb’s take on how they went on to develop after original The Secret Garden ended. However, this book is far more than merely an additional riff of that story. Webb deals with all sorts of gnarly issues in this well written, nuanced novel that covers an interesting time in our history. What happened to hundreds and thousands of pets all over the country in towns, for instance – which directly impacted on the adults’ attitude towards one small stray cat. There is also a sudden death, which winded me. I kept expecting the character, who had played a crucial role in Emmie’s happiness, to pop up at the end of the book, declaring that his reported death had been a muddle and it was all going to end happily ever after. It didn’t. I admire Webb enormously for not sugar-coating the bleak fact that during that time lots of men were killed – and kind, caring responsible fathers, sons and brothers were swallowed up by the mincing machine that was WWII never to return. Through Emmie’s shocked eyes, we get a ringside seat into how those left behind coped with such a grievous loss and put their lives back together again.
This is a well-written, though provoking story on dealing with loss – a major theme in Return to The Secret Garden – and Webb does an excellent job of showing the consequences of war in an unsentimental, entertaining way.
9/10
Any grizzles? Well I do have a problem with the cover, which is rather cute and girly and gives the impression that this is lighthearted, fluffy read when its nothing of the sort.
Given the book’s relationship with the original story, several characters feature in this sequel that had major parts in the first book. I very much enjoyed seeing Webb’s take on how they went on to develop after original The Secret Garden ended. However, this book is far more than merely an additional riff of that story. Webb deals with all sorts of gnarly issues in this well written, nuanced novel that covers an interesting time in our history. What happened to hundreds and thousands of pets all over the country in towns, for instance – which directly impacted on the adults’ attitude towards one small stray cat. There is also a sudden death, which winded me. I kept expecting the character, who had played a crucial role in Emmie’s happiness, to pop up at the end of the book, declaring that his reported death had been a muddle and it was all going to end happily ever after. It didn’t. I admire Webb enormously for not sugar-coating the bleak fact that during that time lots of men were killed – and kind, caring responsible fathers, sons and brothers were swallowed up by the mincing machine that was WWII never to return. Through Emmie’s shocked eyes, we get a ringside seat into how those left behind coped with such a grievous loss and put their lives back together again.
This is a well-written, though provoking story on dealing with loss – a major theme in Return to The Secret Garden – and Webb does an excellent job of showing the consequences of war in an unsentimental, entertaining way.
9/10
June 6, 2017
First sentence: The children marched down the street in a long line of twos, and only one of them looked back.
Premise/plot: Emmie Hatton, our heroine, is an orphan. The book opens--in London, 1939--with her orphanage being evacuated to the countryside. All are sent to Misselthwaite Manor. Emmie is upset. You might think naturally so. After all, the children are being sent to the countryside for their safety, in anticipation of London being bombed. It's not just orphans facing this potentially traumatic move. But Emmie is upset by the fact that she can't take "her" cat, Lucy, with her. She's been told that animals are being put down--killed--because there isn't enough food and resources. So to say that Emmie's distraught at the idea of being separated from Lucy isn't that much of a stretch. Life at Misselthwaite Manor is nice enough. She soon finds a DIARY in her bedroom. She reads it: it tells of a lonely miserable girl named Mary. A girl who learned to jump rope. A girl who found a key. A girl who went in search of a door...in a wall. A girl who slowly but surely made friends and found her place to belong. Emmie wants that to be her story as well. So she sets off to find the door. She too finds the Secret Garden. She too makes friends with the gardener, the birds, the flowers. But will she find a family in her new 'temporary' home?
My thoughts: Return to the Secret Garden is written for a much younger audience than the original The Secret Garden, in my opinion. The text is much simpler; the vocabulary much more accessible. Also there isn't as much complexity and depth to the story or to the characters. It definitely is NOT action-driven. I'm not sure I'd call it theme-driven either. But it is very much about belonging and finding a place to call your own. It was nice to revisit some of the original characters. It may not have been the exact book I was hoping for. But it was a pleasant enough, quick enough read.
It would be interesting to see--perhaps as a young adult or adult book--a more direct sequel to the book that focuses on Mary, Colin, and Dickon before, during, and immediately after the Great War, the War to End All Wars. It might prove to be a devastating book--one that you'd have to put in the freezer. But it would be worth reading...at least in the hands of the right author.
Premise/plot: Emmie Hatton, our heroine, is an orphan. The book opens--in London, 1939--with her orphanage being evacuated to the countryside. All are sent to Misselthwaite Manor. Emmie is upset. You might think naturally so. After all, the children are being sent to the countryside for their safety, in anticipation of London being bombed. It's not just orphans facing this potentially traumatic move. But Emmie is upset by the fact that she can't take "her" cat, Lucy, with her. She's been told that animals are being put down--killed--because there isn't enough food and resources. So to say that Emmie's distraught at the idea of being separated from Lucy isn't that much of a stretch. Life at Misselthwaite Manor is nice enough. She soon finds a DIARY in her bedroom. She reads it: it tells of a lonely miserable girl named Mary. A girl who learned to jump rope. A girl who found a key. A girl who went in search of a door...in a wall. A girl who slowly but surely made friends and found her place to belong. Emmie wants that to be her story as well. So she sets off to find the door. She too finds the Secret Garden. She too makes friends with the gardener, the birds, the flowers. But will she find a family in her new 'temporary' home?
My thoughts: Return to the Secret Garden is written for a much younger audience than the original The Secret Garden, in my opinion. The text is much simpler; the vocabulary much more accessible. Also there isn't as much complexity and depth to the story or to the characters. It definitely is NOT action-driven. I'm not sure I'd call it theme-driven either. But it is very much about belonging and finding a place to call your own. It was nice to revisit some of the original characters. It may not have been the exact book I was hoping for. But it was a pleasant enough, quick enough read.
It would be interesting to see--perhaps as a young adult or adult book--a more direct sequel to the book that focuses on Mary, Colin, and Dickon before, during, and immediately after the Great War, the War to End All Wars. It might prove to be a devastating book--one that you'd have to put in the freezer. But it would be worth reading...at least in the hands of the right author.
February 5, 2017
This was a tough book for me to finish; it was quite disappointing. It was, in my opinion, so boring. I didn't like the characters either. I couldn't connect with them. It was nice to have the original MCs in this book, but I didn't they weren't involved enough in the story. The garden was the best thing about this story, but that was my favorite thing about the original, too. Also, I thought the ending was too abrupt. I expected more for the ending and the book as a whole.
January 3, 2020
I just reread the original and came to correct my review of this. It is absolutely absurd. Mary and Collin are cousins and would not have married, if anything Mary and Dickon obviously would have ended up together. The rest of this story could have stayed the same if they had just changed it to Mary still living there with Dickon, or unmarried. Collin could have an OC wife and it would have all been fine. Good day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2016
Ehhh. It just couldn't match the magic and wonder of the original. Also, if the author was trying to be coy about who "Mrs. Craven," "Mr. Craven," and "Mr. Sowerby" were, she failed. Also the ending was kind of weird in that it seemed like there should be more to the ending.
March 25, 2018
What a sweet book taking you right back to The Secret Garden. There were similarities to the original, but enough changes that it made the story new! This was well written for its audience, and I am so glad I heard about it!
October 28, 2019
I liked this because it was a sequal to the secret garden which was really really good .It was similar yet different .The story is about orpans that go away to a Manor Becuase they were avacuated in ww2.This is massive and completely different to there London life,emmie is really close with the cat,and becomes friends with a garderner .she starts to unravel secrets,a boy crying and a secret diary .Holly Webb took the same characters from the. First book the secret garden .However overall I think I prefere the original as for it was just more interesting and original
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2024
Much, much more aligned w/the classic than the other book of the same title. Enjoyed this one quite a bit. Listened to it on Hoopla and the narrator did a good job w/different voices. I would suggest reading the original 1st as the backstory would help w/understanding the original characters that appear in this version. Historical accuracy and character accuracy (age and how current events at the time would impact the characters) was well done. The cousins getting married didn’t seem weird as it wasn’t unusual back then.
May 25, 2022
Nie oceniajcie mnie, kochałam ta lekturę i odkrycie drugiej części zmusiło mnie do przeczytania. Kocham to zw względu na nostalgię którą niesie❤
Read
March 29, 2023bro idk what is happening to me but i keep randomly remembering the names of the books I read in elementary school
March 13, 2023
A very interesting book about a group orphaned children, along with our main character, Emmie, being evacuated to the countryside in the time of the second world war. They are sent to Misselthwaite Manor, where Mary Lennox has lived. I am giving it four stars because the beginning was a little slow-paced for me. But I definetely started enjoying it as things started happening!
I also really enjoyed the part when Emmie finds out that Mrs. Craven is actually grown up Mary Lennox, and all the other characters in the original "Secret Garden"still live there, but they are grown up now.
I also really enjoyed the part when Emmie finds out that Mrs. Craven is actually grown up Mary Lennox, and all the other characters in the original "Secret Garden"still live there, but they are grown up now.
October 11, 2016
I absolutely loved the 1993 film version of The Secret Garden, My dad just bought it one day and thought I would like it. If I was smart I would have watched it right away. As I watched, I became mesmerized by that garden and the magic in it. I loved reading the original book too so I was really happy to see and read Return to the Secret Garden from a new author.
Emmie is very much like our Mary. She's an orphan who has no friends other than a sullen cat she named Lucy. She's very skinny and always gets in trouble for the way she acts. Emmie follows in the footsteps of the original very closely which I don't mind too much. I enjoyed rediscovering the secret garden with fresh eyes. The secret garden isn't secret anymore but Emmie discover it because she needs the magic within. She finds a new life in Misselthwaite. She makes friends with a little robin and a boy she finds crying in the middle of the night - Jack. She transforms like Mary did while interacting with the original characters.
The original characters - Mary, Colin, Dickon, and Martha - all make an appearance. It was bittersweet to see where in this version our original characters end up. I never really like it when characters age. They should stay the same always but I did like getting a glimpse of how one person sees these characters all grown up. There's a major event happening surrounding Emmie's arrival in Misselthwaite - WWII. The whole situation of them getting on trains to get out of London reminded me of Narnia. There was a lot of preparation and insight on what happened during those time which I found fascinating to read. I have to mention Lucy and her symbolism in this story. She's the first friend that Emmie makes. She starts being very skinny and wary of Emmie but is desperate enough to go to her because she's starving. They slowly create a bond but then Emmie has to leave her behind which crushes her. Their slow bond reminds me of the magic of the secret garden. Emmie and Lucy grow to depend on each other while the garden that she grows to depend on brings people towards Emmie to create new friendships. Lucy and Emmie are also very much alike.
I had fun exploring the secret garden once again. The original is of course the best but Return to the Secret Garden was such a wonderful story that brought back great memories with a new entertaining story and characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for letting me read and review Return to the Secret Garden in exchange for an honest review!
Emmie is very much like our Mary. She's an orphan who has no friends other than a sullen cat she named Lucy. She's very skinny and always gets in trouble for the way she acts. Emmie follows in the footsteps of the original very closely which I don't mind too much. I enjoyed rediscovering the secret garden with fresh eyes. The secret garden isn't secret anymore but Emmie discover it because she needs the magic within. She finds a new life in Misselthwaite. She makes friends with a little robin and a boy she finds crying in the middle of the night - Jack. She transforms like Mary did while interacting with the original characters.
The original characters - Mary, Colin, Dickon, and Martha - all make an appearance. It was bittersweet to see where in this version our original characters end up. I never really like it when characters age. They should stay the same always but I did like getting a glimpse of how one person sees these characters all grown up. There's a major event happening surrounding Emmie's arrival in Misselthwaite - WWII. The whole situation of them getting on trains to get out of London reminded me of Narnia. There was a lot of preparation and insight on what happened during those time which I found fascinating to read. I have to mention Lucy and her symbolism in this story. She's the first friend that Emmie makes. She starts being very skinny and wary of Emmie but is desperate enough to go to her because she's starving. They slowly create a bond but then Emmie has to leave her behind which crushes her. Their slow bond reminds me of the magic of the secret garden. Emmie and Lucy grow to depend on each other while the garden that she grows to depend on brings people towards Emmie to create new friendships. Lucy and Emmie are also very much alike.
I had fun exploring the secret garden once again. The original is of course the best but Return to the Secret Garden was such a wonderful story that brought back great memories with a new entertaining story and characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for letting me read and review Return to the Secret Garden in exchange for an honest review!
November 9, 2015
Originally posted here: https://heatherreviews.wordpress.com/...
_________________________________________
I’ll admit that I have never actually read the original Secret Garden, but I absolutely adored the movie adaptation when I was a child. After reading this book, I had a strong urge to re-watch it as well. I was thrilled when I learned about this book and was intrigued to see what direction Webb would take it in.
When Emmie and the other orphan children are forced to evacuate from their London orphanage, Emmie can’t think of anything worse than leaving the city – and her poor stray cat, Lucy. When they arrive at a huge mansion in the middle of the country, with nothing but fields for miles around, Emmie can’t imagine ever being happy in this place.
But then she discovers diaries hidden in a drawer in her room, and she uncovers a secret. There’s a garden that was once locked away, but the girl who wrote the diaries found it and spoke of its magic. Emmie is upset to discover that the garden is no longer a secret, but she still finds peace within the walls and a new friend in the form of a beautiful robin.
Webb’s masterful weaving of the original tale’s characters with her new telling was beautifully done and breathed new life into the story of a magical garden. The two stories have a great mirroring: a bad-tempered and lonely little girl finds solace in the garden, a sad and sick little boy who originally hates having his home invaded by strange children learns to befriend them, and of course, the lovely little robin makes an appearance too.
Centered around the second world war, this new chapter in the garden’s story feels like a natural continuation to the story that began so many years ago. What’s so wonderful about it is being able to relive the original tale throughout the new one, through the diaries and the characters that were there to remember little Mary and Colin.
A wonderful tale that brought nostalgia and a smile. Children young and old will love this story. I’d also like to note that pictures of the hardback cover do it no justice, it’s a beautiful cover with lovely illustration and metallic pink edging and text.
_________________________________________
I’ll admit that I have never actually read the original Secret Garden, but I absolutely adored the movie adaptation when I was a child. After reading this book, I had a strong urge to re-watch it as well. I was thrilled when I learned about this book and was intrigued to see what direction Webb would take it in.
When Emmie and the other orphan children are forced to evacuate from their London orphanage, Emmie can’t think of anything worse than leaving the city – and her poor stray cat, Lucy. When they arrive at a huge mansion in the middle of the country, with nothing but fields for miles around, Emmie can’t imagine ever being happy in this place.
But then she discovers diaries hidden in a drawer in her room, and she uncovers a secret. There’s a garden that was once locked away, but the girl who wrote the diaries found it and spoke of its magic. Emmie is upset to discover that the garden is no longer a secret, but she still finds peace within the walls and a new friend in the form of a beautiful robin.
Webb’s masterful weaving of the original tale’s characters with her new telling was beautifully done and breathed new life into the story of a magical garden. The two stories have a great mirroring: a bad-tempered and lonely little girl finds solace in the garden, a sad and sick little boy who originally hates having his home invaded by strange children learns to befriend them, and of course, the lovely little robin makes an appearance too.
Centered around the second world war, this new chapter in the garden’s story feels like a natural continuation to the story that began so many years ago. What’s so wonderful about it is being able to relive the original tale throughout the new one, through the diaries and the characters that were there to remember little Mary and Colin.
A wonderful tale that brought nostalgia and a smile. Children young and old will love this story. I’d also like to note that pictures of the hardback cover do it no justice, it’s a beautiful cover with lovely illustration and metallic pink edging and text.
October 14, 2016
A big Did Not Finish at 25%.
First, let me say that I loved the original Secret Garden. Great book. Probably a little preachy, but a wonderful story, none the less.
But this book. Oh this book. I tried. I tried so hard to love the little girl and her story in this book. I tried to take this revision, set in the early days of World War II, for what it was, a simple take on the original story, told about 20 years later. It tried to give me everything I had before. There is the grumpy gardner, check. There is the child who doesn't fit in, check. There is promise of the crying boy in the night, but I couldn't get that far. Every time I tried to get back in the book I found I didn't care about anyone, not even the poor cat that was left behind in London. I was waiting so hard for something to happen, and that happened when she found the original girl's diary, so she could see how her life is like hers.
And perhaps, if I had finished this book, I would have loved it just the same, but here is the thing. If it didn't grab me at 25%, why should I continue. This is a middle-school book. Children have less patience then I have.
My advice. Read the original.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review
First, let me say that I loved the original Secret Garden. Great book. Probably a little preachy, but a wonderful story, none the less.
But this book. Oh this book. I tried. I tried so hard to love the little girl and her story in this book. I tried to take this revision, set in the early days of World War II, for what it was, a simple take on the original story, told about 20 years later. It tried to give me everything I had before. There is the grumpy gardner, check. There is the child who doesn't fit in, check. There is promise of the crying boy in the night, but I couldn't get that far. Every time I tried to get back in the book I found I didn't care about anyone, not even the poor cat that was left behind in London. I was waiting so hard for something to happen, and that happened when she found the original girl's diary, so she could see how her life is like hers.
And perhaps, if I had finished this book, I would have loved it just the same, but here is the thing. If it didn't grab me at 25%, why should I continue. This is a middle-school book. Children have less patience then I have.
My advice. Read the original.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review
October 6, 2016
3.5 stars
It's 1939, and among the hundreds of children being evacuated from London are 20 from the Craven Home for Orphaned Children. Emmie is more dissatisfied than most, and with good reason, but you immediately feel a sympathetic bond with this little girl who's compared so unfavorably to others.
I don't think you'd have to read The Secret Garden first - this could probably stand on its own - but you'd miss much of the charm, as Emmie discovers that the past is not so very different from the present and readers are reminded that history can repeat itself. (I was faintly reminded of A Little Princess too.) Some of the echoes were a bit much and to me it had only a shadow of the original magic, but on the whole it was a nice little read and I expect elementary-aged children will enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
It's 1939, and among the hundreds of children being evacuated from London are 20 from the Craven Home for Orphaned Children. Emmie is more dissatisfied than most, and with good reason, but you immediately feel a sympathetic bond with this little girl who's compared so unfavorably to others.
I don't think you'd have to read The Secret Garden first - this could probably stand on its own - but you'd miss much of the charm, as Emmie discovers that the past is not so very different from the present and readers are reminded that history can repeat itself. (I was faintly reminded of A Little Princess too.) Some of the echoes were a bit much and to me it had only a shadow of the original magic, but on the whole it was a nice little read and I expect elementary-aged children will enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
November 7, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this treasured place in literature and move classics from my childhood. I totally enjoy the side story with the cat and the sweetness that the dad brought the cat back to Emmie. The description of the gardens and finding the dairies and emmie slowly discovering that the characters are real people that she interacts with everyday. Now of course since this is a different author the story may not totally go the way we all would like but that what happens when you borrow a story you get to add your own twist to what you think would of been great to see happen down the road after the story has ended. I was delighted and felt it was a great quick read appropriate for the age group the story is intended for.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews