The Girl and the Witch's Garden

by Erin Bowman

“As enchanting as it is wise, the true magic of this secret garden story is in its unflinching, heart-wrenching exploration of grief, belonging, and inner strength. Once I stepped into the witch’s garden with Piper, I did not want to leave.” —Jessica Khoury, author of The Mystwick School of Musicraft “Piper Peavey is a protagonist all her own in a spellbinding story that has a touch of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and a dab of Circus Mirandus.” —Quinn Sosna-Spear, author of The Remarkable Inventions of Walter Mortinson “Magical and mysterious, a captivating read from start to beautiful end.” —Megan Frazer Blakemore, author of The Water Castle and The Story Web The Secret Garden meets Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children in this rich, charming middle grade adventure about a girl determined to infiltrate her grandmother’s enchanted garden with the help of some magically gifted friends.Mallory Estate is the last place twelve-year-old Piper Peavey wants to spend her summer vacation. The grounds are always cold, the garden out back is dead, a mysterious group of children call the property home, and there’s a rumor that Melena M. Mallory—the owner of the estate and Piper’s wealthy grandmother—is a witch. But when Piper’s father falls ill, Mallory Estate is exactly where she finds herself. The grand house and its garden hold many secrets—some of which may even save her father—and Piper will need to believe in herself, her new friends, and magic if she wants to unlock them before it’s too late.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Magic, Childrens, Mystery, Witches, Adventure

287 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2020

About the author

Erin Bowman is the critically acclaimed author of numerous books for children and teens, including the Taken Trilogy, Vengeance Road, Retribution Rails, the Edgar Award-nominated Contagion duology, The Girl and the Witch’s Garden, and the forthcoming Dustborn. A web designer turned author, Erin has always been invested in telling stories—both visually and with words. Erin lives in New Hampshire with her husband and children. You can visit her online at embowman.com, on twitter @erin_bowman, or on instagram @heyerin.

------------

PLEASE NOTE: Erin does not check goodreads mail. If you message her this way she will not see it. For contact methods, visit Erin's website.

Reviews

[Nana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The characters are nice and Piper is an exceptional girl who would give everything to help her family and friends.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartbreaking, & at the same time heartwarming, magical story! This was phenomenal! Mallory Estate is the last place Piper wants to spend her summer vacation. The grounds are always cold, the garden out back is dead, a mysterious group of children call the property home, & there’s a rumor that Melena M. Mallory—the owner of the estate & Piper’s wealthy grandmother—is a witch. But when Piper’s father falls ill, Mallory Estate is exactly where she finds herself. The grand house & its garden hold many secrets—some of which may even save her father—& Piper will need to believe in herself, her new friends, & magic if she wants to unlock them before it’s too late.

This gave me dark Secret Garden vibes(but not a retelling). This has magic, mystery, & adventure..but also some harder, real life topics....like parent abandonment, & a parent w/cancer. I admit that was hard for me to read about-both topics actually, & both b/c of my own dad. We had a lot of issues, & he wasn’t perfect, & he also passed away a couple years ago. So extra hard for me to read, but important too. Not only will some kids be able to really relate w/these things & feel seen, but I was lucky enough to connect as well..lucky might be the wrong word lol What I mean is lucky in the way the story made me feel seen & not alone.

There’s also some interesting things that make you think in here-if you had the chance to do something(can’t say what) would you..& even if it sounds amazing..is it really? This was also so atmospheric! This house/estate was amazing! I love reading, & even researching places like that. The whole garden was fascinating, as was the whole backstory of the garden, & Piper’s family. The magic system was awesome! I loved the details of it, & how each of affinity was different to each person, & also the amplifiers that helped with them..The characters are also just so great! Even the villainous ones, you love to hate them lol Piper & the kids at the estate have my heart. Watching that friendship grow was amazing. Piper & Teddy are EVERYTHING though. Teddy is such a great kid, & helps Piper in more ways than they even realize. Great dynamic. We also have an MG cat! Lol And what a creepy little thing it is too! Love!

Piper’s character development was superb. I loved watching this journey she has to go on. One no kid should have to face, & the other-a magical one that opens up so much for her. The end was full of twists & turns. Very emotional, & a great ending. I don’t know if it’s a stand alone(& it does wrap up so well), but certain things left it open for possibilities for more-please give me more! lol Highly recommend y’all! Such a beautiful cover by Justin Hernandez too!💜

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl and the Witch's Garden is a magical but dramatic middle grade children's story. Piper Peavey is sent to spend the summer with her grandmother. Piper has a lot to deal with -- her father is dying, her mother abandoned her, her grandmother is eccentric....the estate is filled with foster kids who claim magical abilities. It's a weird situation. Piper is an awesome main character. She isn't perfect....but she seems real. She lies and manipulates others when necessary, but also shows great strength, resilience and kindness as well.

This story is magical, but has a hard edge of blunt truth to it as well. I think that made the story seem magical, but real at the same time. A fairy tale with a bit of bite to it.

This is the first book by Erin Bowman that I have read. I'm definitely going to read more. This story was enjoyable and well-written. Very though provoking. I'm not sure as a child I would have had the strength that Piper or the other children have. I don't think I would have liked a summer at the Mallory Estate or that I could have weathered the storms that Piper had in her life.

*I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Simon & Schuster. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.8

Synopsis
The Girl and The Witch's Garden follows the story of a twelve-years-old Piper Peavey, who has to spend her summer vacation in her mother and grandma's house, the Mallory Estate. She doesn't want to leave her father alone in the hospital, but she has no other choices but to live in the estate whose garden is dead and never taken care of (rumor says it's owned by a witch). Besides, it's been seven years since her mother abandoned her and her father; seven years since Piper last met her. So, imagine how surprised Piper is when she finds out that her mom is fostering kids now.

And soon, Piper discovers that magic is real, that her mother is cruel, that she may need to lie to get what she needs the most. Therefore, with her new friends, Piper tries to save the garden and the secret beneath it, before it's all too late.

Review
If you wanted to know why did I seem to praise The Girl and The Witch's Garden a lot, here's a list of the reasons why:

1. Morally grey main character— check
2. I got a little teary-eyed because of some scenes— check
3. Heartwarming connection— check
4. Unrevealed magic and mystery— check
5. Unexpected friendship— check
6. Imaginative and descriptive setting— check
7. Secretly sneak into a restricted area in the middle of the night— check



An opening of a book could impress you in different ways. It could either be too confusing, a little boring, super mysterious, very gripping, or anything, really. This book left me an impression of the best ones, though. The storytelling had gripped me since page 1, and I had known since then that this book was going to be awesome.

The size of this book wasn't too thick, so with a lot of things going on with the plot, the story was quite fast-paced and adventurous. I really loved the mysterious vibes that hung around the Mallory estate (somehow, the description made it seem magical and creepy at the same time). And the way the magic worked was quite refreshing to read. In my opinion, the magical system suited the story very well.

I also adored Piper and all the kids in the Mallory Estate very much (including Camilla who was quite rude at first). I think, Piper was such a great main character, despite the fact that she was forced to hide the truth a few times. I was very sad for her every time she had to face the cruel Sophia (a.k.a. her mom), but I liked her for being brave and relatable. For a 12-years-old kid, Piper was very strong and clever. So did Julius, Camilla, Kenji, and Teddy with their unique personality (I think, each of them had the potential to be developed more).

The twists in this book weren't exactly unexpected, but they still felt significant and great. However, the riddles that guarded the secret of the garden were a little too easy, in my opinion (I mean, a bunch of kids with suitable magic could crack them this quick). But I was glad that they were the ones who did it, so it's not really a big problem for me. I can't say the same thing for the HOM, though.

(For your information: HOM stands for High Order of Magi. Magi is the term you use to call someone with magical abilities in this book.)

Overall, this book was really amazing and heart-warming. I really loved the ending, the messages the author put in in this book, and the fact that it got my eyes all teary and wet. Even though I was hoping for more details about the magi world and the magi hunters (wouldn't it be more interesting if we got to see more of them and their motives?), I still adored this book so much.



If you love magical adventure and middle-grade, you should totally give this book a try. In my opinion, this book is definitely worth it.

For more reviews, visit my blog talenthusiast.blogspot.com

[Beth Cato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.

The Girl and the Witch's Garden is about magic, but at heart, it's also about people being people, beautiful and ugly as they can be. That honesty provides a solid emotional core to this middle grade book.

Piper is a kid in a tough spot. Her mom abandoned the family years ago, and her dad is her whole world, but now he's dying. Cancer. As his health fails, she's sent to live on the estate of her eccentric grandmother--which is where her estranged mom also lives. Awkward. The mansion is big and fancy and kept-up, but the massive garden is permanently dead. Even weirder, her mom and grandma have been taking care of a bunch of foster kids who claim to have magical powers. As Piper struggles to understand the grief and pain she feels about both of her parents, she's pulled into the other kid's efforts to unravel the garden's magical mysteries.

Piper is a great protagonist. She's not perfect--she hides things, she lies, she can be a bit manipulative, but she's overall good person. Her relationships with the other kids have a lot of nuance, too, and there's a fun, realistic baseball team rivalry mixed in, too. I think the book really shines with its depictions of adults. Fact is, grown-ups can be cruel, and that includes parents--and a kid cannot and should not be forced to accept and forgive that kind of abuse.

While the book addresses dark stuff like that, there is some fun magic mixed in, too, all set on an extravagant estate you can't help but yearn to explore. There are some cool superpowers that play out, but this book is not about easy answers. I like that. This is the kind of read that will make kids (and adults) feel, and think about those feelings.

[Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were two things that made me want to read The Girl and the Witch’s Garden: that beautiful cover design that feels reminiscent of Studio Ghibli work and the mention of a mysterious secret garden. Fortunately, Erin Bowman’s middle grade debut ended up being a very charming, likable read! Piper winds up having to spend the summer at her grandmother’s estate, putting her right in the path of her estranged mom who abandoned Piper and her dad years before. Piper runs into the three children being fostered at the Mallory estate and learns that, because they are gifted with special abilities, they’ve been tasked with finding a way into the magically concealed garden on the estate in order to retrieve a powerful substance. That’s the bare bones of this tale, and the truth is that middle grade-aged Alexa would have been head over heels for it. It has so many elements that I really like, including fascinating magic, enchanting setting and budding friendships. It also, like many other middle grades, doesn’t shy away from tackling more difficult themes (like Piper’s father being very ill, her pain at her mother’s abandonment, the fear of everything changing), even while wrapping it all up in the intriguing mystery surrounding the estate and the magic. It all came together beautifully! The Girl and the Witch’s Garden might not be a new favorite (which is more to do with me not being the actual target age group audience), but it was a lovely, well-written tale.

Blog | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter

[Nicole Aka Grave doll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and well done middle school age book!

[Tisha (IG: Bluestocking629) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

Oh I simply love endpapers. I love them even more when they are a map. But this is no normal map of a town, village, kingdom, etc. No siree Bob. The first part of the map is a house. Not any ole house. This here house is an estate. Five different levels.

Five.

The second part of the map is the grounds. The walking path is in the shape of a butterfly.

How cool is that? I’m moving in.

Like most middle grade books this book teaches a lesson. The main theme I’m getting is teamwork. It’s a valuable lesson for children as well as adults. We are all in this together. (If you are singing High School Musical right now then we are indeed friends for a reason! Oh, and I’m sorry 😐).

Fabulous middle grade book! It ended in a very nice and tidy fashion, however the door (portal?) is left open for a book two. Oh how I hope that is the case! Please!

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a mix, which somewhat reminds of The Secret Garden and Miss Pergine's Home for Peculiar Children, this is an adventure packed with magic and friendship.

Piper hasn't seen her mother since the divorce, despite the fact that her mom still lives with her grandmother on the mysterious Mallory Estate. All of this is fairly fine, until Piper's father falls ill with cancer, and she moves in with her grandmother while he undergoes treatments. She's met with a shocking surprise, not only does her mother dislike her (for no apparent reason), but her mother has adopted several other children instead. With her grandmother out of the house, and the other children seemingly possessing magical talents, life begins to get strange. Soon, she finds herself wrapped up in a mountain of secrets...many which shouldn't even be possible.

This is a solid, fun, fantasy read for kids, where magic abounds and secrets lay lurking behind every twist and turn. It's not as carefree as the cover might suggest but carries weighted moments and dark mysteries. But with these characters, it's a worthy adventure. Piper is obviously out of her comfort zone and has a lot to learn and deal with. But she has the personality which makes it easy to root for her. The other children at the Estate stretch over a nice variety of quirks, making each one a treat in their own way. Some are easy; others are not. It's a lovely mix.

Mystery and secrets fly as imaginative as the magic. The garden is a wondrous and perfect place to hold at the center of the tale. But then, there are all sorts of surprises, which keep these pages turning. The writing is just right for the age group, and while I did find that the first chapters jumped into things a bit quick (leaving getting to know Piper a little better first behind), the start does dive right into the action and capture attention. I was a bit disappointed with the mother's character. Her meanness to her own daughter seemed to come out of nowhere and held on without explanation. Still, it's a nice read and definitely worth picking up.

I received an ARC and loved getting lost in Piper's world.

[C.J. Milbrandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piper didn't want to spend the summer at her grandmother's sprawling home: the Mallory Estate. But with her dad going through cancer treatments and her aunt out of town, she has little choice but to go where her mother is. The mother who abandoned them when she was little. To Piper's shock, her neglectful mother has been taking in foster children, who are working together to find something that's supposedly hidden in the creepy dead garden behind the house.

Missing children and an order of mages. Butterfly motifs and magical affinities. Persian cats and heart-shaped lockets. It's a little like a mystery and a little like a puzzle. Piper tackles it in an orderly fashion without much in the way of twists. Piper's stake is intensely personal. I can understand her not wanting to have to say goodbye to her dad.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Piper is sent away for the summer to live with her mother and grandmother, she meets Julius, Kenji, Camille and Teddy. Can these five kids find a magical elixir? If they do, what will they do with it? Piper wants it to save her dying father while the others want it so that they can be adopted. What happens if her mother or grandmother find it first? Piper learns about trust and love in this magic fantasy.
Kids who love magic in their stories will love this; I know I would have loved it as a tween.

[Alyson Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Edelweiss, for the ARC. I love Erin Bowman’s YA works, and her middle grade work does not disappoint.

[Mary the Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where was this book when I was 10? I would have loved it!
I still enjoyed it of course but being 30 and reading about 12 yo is a bit weird. But at least I can recommend this book to my students!

[Rainy Kurniawan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was SO heartbreaking.

[Allie Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story for middle grades about friendship, dealing with grief, and forgiveness. I wish some of the characters were a little more dimensional but it was a fun story nonetheless.

[Victoria Bannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you miss Harry Potter, but don’t miss the dumpster fire who wrote it, this book is for you.

[Carina Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew I had to read this one the moment that it was announced. Because I already love this author and her books. And because this book sounded so very amazing and adorable. And the cover is beautiful. Finally had the chance to read it, and I am so happy to say that I very much adored it. Four stars, was almost perfect.

But for the most part this book was very good and I really liked reading about all the characters. The writing was stunning and I had no issues connecting with this story. The magic included in this story was pretty great too. I liked the sort of evil cat the most, haha. And the huge estate the book took place at was amazing.

This book tells the story of twelve-year-old Piper. She was just sent to live with her mother and grandmother. She has not seen her mom since she was smaller, since her mom left her and her dad behind and did not contact them again. But now she has to spend the summer with her. Because Piper's dad have cancer, and is trying his last chance at medicine to save his life. So Piper must stay with her mom. Which she is both excited and nervous about. Then she arrives, and her mom does not want her there. She does not treat her nicely at all. Her grandma is missing. And then she learns that her mom is fostering other children, three others that are all around her age. She left Piper, but is being a mom to others. Not okay. I hated how her mom treated her.

There was so much going on in this book. I shall not say too much about it. This is a story about Piper dealing with her dad maybe dying. About her trying to connect with her mom again. About her becoming friends with some new kids. I liked them all. Teddy the most. He was so kind and sweet. They all were, really. I just wish we had seen more of them all, haha. Wanted this book to be longer. Sigh. But I really liked getting to know Piper. She was adorable and I liked her so very much. Her dad was very great too.

Then there was the magic. Piper arrives at this place where she learns that magic is real. And that some people have a magic power. The kids at this estate all have powers. One who can time bend. One who can teleport. It was pretty great to read about and I liked this version of magic. I liked learning that Piper could do magic too, though she did not know it. Her learning more about it was pretty great too. The kids have a mission they must complete. An elixir that must be found. This part of the story was awesome too.

And ahh, this book has a white persian cat in it. And I loved that the very most. Eee. Because I have a white silver shaded persian cat myself. A little different, but almost the same. And I so adored this cat. Okay, it might have seemed evil for pretty much the whole book, ha, but I adored it even so. There is so much I could write about this book, but will not write down much more. Just that the plot was good and I adored the characters. I wish the book had been longer, that there had been more focus on some things.

The only thing I wish had been different about this book was all the lying. I wish Piper hadn't kept lying to the new kids she started living with. And she just did not stop lying either. I understood her reasons, of course, but they could have helped her. I am certain they would have helped her too. And so it was a bit sad that she felt like she had to lie to them. But I also do not blame her, considering her one best friend since forever just stopped being with her. Hmph. But yeah. Their growing friendships were still so great.

The Girl and the Witch's Garden was a pretty amazing book. Full of magic and growing friendships. And family and learning to let go. About learning to deal more with grief. Although I did not fully love this book, I still adored it so very much. And I am so glad that I read it. I simply adore Erin and have loved many of her books. I cannot wait to read even more by her. It feels like there could be more books after this one. And I very much would want to read more about these characters and their magic. You need to read this.

---

This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: https://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2020...

[Lauren Tabor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute book! The cover of this was really what grabbed my attention, it looks so precious and magical. And that's exactly what it was!
It was really fast-paced and kept me wanting to know more throughout the entire book. It was so fun to see the kids and what their magical affinity was and how each of them uses it.
Piper and Teddy's friendship was my favorite thing about this and I wish we got more from the two of them. Their honesty with each other and their teamwork and witty banter was really adorable.
One thing I didn't like the trope where the main character feels like they have to lie to their friends to get to where they need to be, it always causes all these issues that are so unnecessary. But I think this book handled it well. Since it was a middle grade it wasn't too long so the lies didn't have to go on too long and everything was resolved in a timely manner.
This had some twists in it that I was pleasantly surprised about as well. Piper was also dealing with some pretty serious stuff in this book that I think was dealt with very well. I think it's important to include these kinds of things in middle-grade because so many kids go through really hard things and I think it's good to be able to relate to the things they're reading about.
This was a really well done book! It reminded me of a younger version of Percy Jackson and the Olympians just in the quest and adventure vibes it gives off. I loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for letting me read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Thompson McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve-year old Piper Peavey doesn't want to stay at her grandmother's cold and imposing estate. She wants to stay with her sick father. Dying of cancer, Dad needs her, but Aunt Eva insists Piper must stay at the mansion because she has a busy job and must be in Colorado.

Dumped at the Mallory Estate, Piper expects to be met by her grandmother and finally spend time with her runaway mother. She hasn't had any contact with her mother since she was a baby, but she longs to meet her and find a relationship. When she's greeted by four orphans her mother has taken in, she's gobsmacked. Her mother who never had time for her has now adopted a band of orphans in her place? Things don't make sense and Grandmother is strangely missing. Pipe knows something isn't right.

When her mother sits down for dinner in the vast dining room she lays down the law. She will not dine with Piper. Piper must stay away from her part of the mansion and no sneaking around the grounds. Also, there's a strange Persian cat who seems to patrol the children whenever they are someplace they shouldn't be.

It doesn't take long for the kids to fill Piper in: her mother is looking for a way into the garden to find a magical elixer that grants immortal life. What Piper wouldn't give to find that elixir and save her father's life! Nothing is as it should be and Piper's going to have to work hard to figure out puzzles and clues to find the elixir.

Beautiful cover art will help sell this story.

Readers who love a smart girl and solving mysteries with a little magic will like this book.
Recommended grades 4-7.

[ThatBookGal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a wonderful little book, full of magic, new friendships and a little bit of peril. There are some big subjects tackled throughout the pages, in particular parental relationships and how hard it can be if one parent is absent from your life.

I felt as though the story sampled some of my favourite childhood stories, and amalgamated them into something completely new. The magical elements were wonderful, and just like Bowman, I was obsessed with the idea of secret portals and passageways, which was entirely the fault of the Narnian wardrobe. There is no question in my mind that I would have adored this book at the age it's primarily intended for.

Piper's focus and determination to do something to save her father was admirable. Her discovery of her magical affinity was such fun, and one I was insanely jealous of. Her new merry band of friends were all special in their own way, I just loved the magical elements of their friendship.

The ending definitely sets up nicely for there to be future books, and I'd definitely like to jump back into the world of Mallory Estate if more follow. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of magic and mystery in their middle grade reads.

[Gabriel Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars out of 5!

I really enjoyed this! It was a little clunky, especially the dumping about the lore stuff, and I found almost all of the characters besides Piper kinda flat. Kind of a middle-of-the-road Youth fantasy, but its depiction of Piper’s grieving process as her dad’s health deteriorated and her ultimate acceptance of it was absolutely gut wrenching.

It was very jarring to be in the midst of some silly cartoonish Villain monologue and then suddenly crushed under the overbearing weight of genuinely moving emotion. I appreciated this book’s handling of the grieving process so much.

Thematically, too, I liked where it was at! I think there could have been more explorations of Justice for these exploited children, but I’m glad it was a major recurring issue that the author focused on. I think the twist at the end stole a bit of potential value that could have been gained from Piper’s mom not being Mind-Controlled, but I did like that she was still a Terrible person because of her Endless seeking of her mother’s approval and the ramifications of that deeply unhealthy and destructive prioritization.

A weird mixed bag but overall I liked it!

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little bit Secret Garden, a little bit Miss Pergine's Home for Peculiar Children, this is a story packed with magic and friendship.

Piper and Teddy's friendship was one of my favorite things about this and I wish we got more from the two of them. Their honesty with each other and their teamwork and witty banter was really adorable.

I loved how the story presented itself as a fairy tale with some hard truths rolled into it. There are definitely some darker parts to the story and mysteries to solve.

A really fun adventure, and would definitely recommend!

[Kirstie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 rounded up
Really enjoyed this middle grade read featuring 12 year old Piper Peavey who must go live at her grandmother’s eerie Mallory Estate after her father has fallen ill. As she arrives, not only is her grandmother away, but her mother who abandoned her is there and still wants no part of Piper. Add in a bunch of other kids who live there claiming to be Mrs. Peavy’s foster children and a cat who spies on everyone. Weird! Something is not right at Mallory Estate and maybe Piper is in for more than she could have ever expected.

[Farhana Faruq · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a friends recommendation. Really enjoyed this!! Love the narrative and how each character is so different. This is intended for younger readers around ages 7-12. It's about a girl who's father is ill and now has to go live with her mother. It turns out her mother has been looking after other children, but not any children. Children with magic abilities who need to find an immortal elixir in order for the mother to stick to her part of the deal and adopt them.

[Liv Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!! It was so so good! The main character Piper lives with her dad who has cancer. When he is to sick to take care of her, he has her live with her mother and grandmother for the summer. Her mom left her when she was young to focus on work. At the mysterious mansion Piper finds out her mom has been fostering 3 children for over a year! These children are different though they have affinities! At first Piper does not believe them but soon she finds her self tangled up on a wild goose chase to find an elixir of immortality! I definitely recommend this book it was very very hard to put down!!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me crazy Secret Garden vibes from start to finish. This is a beautiful middle grade story about family (both biological and found), grief, and magic! Magical potions, trapped individuals in an estate that feels too good to be true, this story is just such a delight, even with it's moments of sadness. Definitely for the reader who loves a touch of magic and whimsy without it being full-blown fantasy.

[Kim]

I gave it a good go because this had all of the earmarks of a book I would love. Ultimately, I just couldn't get into it. YMMV!

[Elisabeth Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a charming delight.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 Stars

[Erin Mendoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew and I really enjoyed this!