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Plotting the Stars #1
Moongarden
Failed climate change policy, an intergalactic conspiracy, and the magical, unlikely heroine who could unearth it all.
Centuries ago, Earth’s plants turned deadly, and humanity took to space to cultivate new homes. Myra Hodger is in her first year at an elite school on the Moon, and she’s crumbling under the pressure. She doesn’t fit in and, worse, the tattoos that signal her Number Whisperer magic aren’t developing. In her heart, she knows she doesn’t have a Creer, and soon everyone else will, too.
Wandering the halls while cutting class, she discovers a secret lab hidden behind one of the unused classrooms and, beyond that, a secret garden overflowing with plants. Dangerous toxic plants.
As she learns more about the garden, Myra begins to wonder if she does have a Creer after all—one that died out when the Earth did. One that could help solve the food shortages the government doesn’t want anyone to know about.
Centuries ago, Earth’s plants turned deadly, and humanity took to space to cultivate new homes. Myra Hodger is in her first year at an elite school on the Moon, and she’s crumbling under the pressure. She doesn’t fit in and, worse, the tattoos that signal her Number Whisperer magic aren’t developing. In her heart, she knows she doesn’t have a Creer, and soon everyone else will, too.
Wandering the halls while cutting class, she discovers a secret lab hidden behind one of the unused classrooms and, beyond that, a secret garden overflowing with plants. Dangerous toxic plants.
As she learns more about the garden, Myra begins to wonder if she does have a Creer after all—one that died out when the Earth did. One that could help solve the food shortages the government doesn’t want anyone to know about.
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2022
56 people are currently reading
3739 people want to read
About the author
Michelle A. Barry
4 books79 followersMichelle A. Barry grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, and was later cajoled over the border into Connecticut by her future husband. She has worked as a newspaper reporter, freelance writer and editor, and marketing professional. She currently lives in Connecticut with her charming husband and their two delightful children. Moongarden is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
November 13, 2022
I absolutely adored this book. Can’t wait to read the next one in the series. I loved the characters. I loved the friendship feels and positive themes, all wrapped up in descriptive imagery and a strange blend of sci-fi and fantasy. It’s got an inventive magic system where knowledge, science, magic, and sometimes even emotion are all entangled.
There’s some secret garden vibes (in a good way), but this story is totally its own thing. Restoring and protecting a secret garden draws together unlikely friends. As the garden comes alive, so do the characters. That’s the extent of the similarity. This book is original, unique, and really quite odd. It’s heartwarming at times, terribly sad at times, and surprisingly emotionally complex.
While I do think the backstory of the plants on earth suddenly evolving to emit poisonous gas and render Earth uninhabitable is a bit ridiculous, I found the story is well worth suspending your disbelief of that premise.
Weaved into the story are themes of self-acceptance, challenging society’s fears and prejudices, loyalty, love, grief, and found families. It’s never preachy or heavy-handed. It also doesn’t shy away from moral complexity and ethical issues. It's a YA book, but it's refreshingly mature and free of romance-related-angst.
THE PREMISE:
Set in the year 2448. Humans have discovered that science and magic are inherently connected, instead of being the separate things they were once thought to be. Myra is attending the Scientific Lunar Academy of Magic, a school for those with science-fueled magic built on the moon. The trouble is, she doesn’t appear to have any magical aptitude. Not the math-driven Number Whisperer magic that her parents practice, the chemistry-based magic of Chemics, the medical magic of Menders, or the electricity-driven magic of Electors. She’s never gotten any magical marks that appear on one’s skin as they develop their skills with one of these branches of magic. Soon, she fears she’ll be kicked out of school and sent to one for kids without magic. Then, her parents will definately find out she has way less magic than they think.
Until, she finds a garden hidden in the school. An illegal garden. As she tends to the garden that’s fallen into great disrepair, she begins to suspect that she might have magic afterall. Plant magic. Magic thought to have died out long ago. Forbidden magic.
Long ago, the plants on earth mutated and began to give off poisonous fumes. Earth was rendered uninhabitable. A third of Earth’s population died. The rest fled to off-world colonies. Now terrified of plants and plant magic, humans outlawed plants and began to live off of cloned plants grown only in carefully controlled laboratories.
But, Myra’s stumbed accross a garden full of non-cloned plants. Plants that certainly aren’t poisonous. Myra, a boy named Canter who also stumbles across the garden, and their friends secretly work to restore the garden and uncover its secrets. With rumors of catastrophic problems with the cloned food supply, Myra and her friends prepare to reveal the garden to prove that not all plants are dangerous and non-cloned plants can be safely used for food again. It might just be humanity’s best chance for survival. As they dig deeper into the secrets of the garden, they uncover suspicious deaths and dangers wrapped up in the garden’s history. When their friend, who knew the secrets of the garden, goes missing, they begin to fear people connected to the garden are being silenced. It turns out that a garden is a dangerous and controvertial secret to harbor.
CHARACTERS AND WRITING:
Myra’s a great strong female protagonist without being the stereotypical brave, bold, fearless, arrogant, impulsive, wanted-by-all-the-boys, boy-obsessed, great-at-everything YA fiction female main character. In fact, there’s also no romance, although there might be friendships that could develop into romance eventually.
Myra’s clever, kind, sometimes brave, and relatable. She disobedient, sarcastic, curious, a little bit sneaky, conflict-averse, introverted, self-conscious, secretive, and not very good at making friends at first. She’s a rule breaker, but not an angry rebel type. She can be a little bit morally gray at times. (There are times where lies, rule-breaking, or maybe even a little bit of implicit blackmail are in order if it’s for a good cause.) She builds up confidence over the course of the book and finds the courage to be honest with her parents. Friends worm their way into her life despite her closed off nature. They’re all brought together by the garden. Myra gets better at facing conflict, opening up to friends, and reflecting on her own mistakes.
The main characters are all lovable and imperfect, with hearts of gold. This is a young adult book with teenage main characters, but they mature a lot over the course of the book. It’s also not angsty, immature YA. The main characters all make understandable mistakes. They end up owning their mistakes, trying to do better, working to fix what they can.
Great character development. Well-written friendships, both new and old, that grow with the characters. These friends help each other grow, face their own flaws, learn from their mistakes, and venture out of their comfort zones. They learn to trust each other, teach each other, and work as a team.
Myra and her friends each display strokes of brilliance by the end of the book. They make plenty of rookie mistakes, but they’re all clever in their own way, have unique skills, and are learning fast. Getting sneakier, smarter, and even a bit more cynical and paranoid too. You can see how they’re starting to form a formidable team.
The teenage characters also learn to see adults, including their parents, as imperfect, complicated people who make mistakes. They also start to think about things bigger than themselves, instead of falling into immature narcissism. These protagonists want to be free to be themselves. They want answers. They also want to help humanity. To contribute. To make things better. To make a difference.
For a while, it seemed like the book might side-step the tougher ethical issues of its sci-fi world, but instead it grappled with them head on. Where things could have been written in black and white, the author instead allowed things to be gray. Kids discover secrets the adults have been keeping. Mistakes they’ve made. Instead of condemning them as heartless or completely irredeemable, they acknowledge them as flawed people that believed they were (or are) doing the right thing.
THE ENDING:
To be continued ending. No cliffhanger. The ending is bittersweet, but hopeful. Some things are resolved, new problems have arisen, and there’s a lot more to come for this series. The characters have grown a lot. They’ve got more gardening and more magic to do. And maybe, an old friend of Myra’s to help too.
Warnings: death (off-page), slavery (enslavement of clones, condemned by the main characters, nothing graphic)
I recieved a free eARC of this book via NetGalley. I am writing this review completely honestly and voluntarily.
There’s some secret garden vibes (in a good way), but this story is totally its own thing. Restoring and protecting a secret garden draws together unlikely friends. As the garden comes alive, so do the characters. That’s the extent of the similarity. This book is original, unique, and really quite odd. It’s heartwarming at times, terribly sad at times, and surprisingly emotionally complex.
While I do think the backstory of the plants on earth suddenly evolving to emit poisonous gas and render Earth uninhabitable is a bit ridiculous, I found the story is well worth suspending your disbelief of that premise.
Weaved into the story are themes of self-acceptance, challenging society’s fears and prejudices, loyalty, love, grief, and found families. It’s never preachy or heavy-handed. It also doesn’t shy away from moral complexity and ethical issues. It's a YA book, but it's refreshingly mature and free of romance-related-angst.
THE PREMISE:
Set in the year 2448. Humans have discovered that science and magic are inherently connected, instead of being the separate things they were once thought to be. Myra is attending the Scientific Lunar Academy of Magic, a school for those with science-fueled magic built on the moon. The trouble is, she doesn’t appear to have any magical aptitude. Not the math-driven Number Whisperer magic that her parents practice, the chemistry-based magic of Chemics, the medical magic of Menders, or the electricity-driven magic of Electors. She’s never gotten any magical marks that appear on one’s skin as they develop their skills with one of these branches of magic. Soon, she fears she’ll be kicked out of school and sent to one for kids without magic. Then, her parents will definately find out she has way less magic than they think.
Until, she finds a garden hidden in the school. An illegal garden. As she tends to the garden that’s fallen into great disrepair, she begins to suspect that she might have magic afterall. Plant magic. Magic thought to have died out long ago. Forbidden magic.
Long ago, the plants on earth mutated and began to give off poisonous fumes. Earth was rendered uninhabitable. A third of Earth’s population died. The rest fled to off-world colonies. Now terrified of plants and plant magic, humans outlawed plants and began to live off of cloned plants grown only in carefully controlled laboratories.
But, Myra’s stumbed accross a garden full of non-cloned plants. Plants that certainly aren’t poisonous. Myra, a boy named Canter who also stumbles across the garden, and their friends secretly work to restore the garden and uncover its secrets. With rumors of catastrophic problems with the cloned food supply, Myra and her friends prepare to reveal the garden to prove that not all plants are dangerous and non-cloned plants can be safely used for food again. It might just be humanity’s best chance for survival. As they dig deeper into the secrets of the garden, they uncover suspicious deaths and dangers wrapped up in the garden’s history. When their friend, who knew the secrets of the garden, goes missing, they begin to fear people connected to the garden are being silenced. It turns out that a garden is a dangerous and controvertial secret to harbor.
CHARACTERS AND WRITING:
Myra’s a great strong female protagonist without being the stereotypical brave, bold, fearless, arrogant, impulsive, wanted-by-all-the-boys, boy-obsessed, great-at-everything YA fiction female main character. In fact, there’s also no romance, although there might be friendships that could develop into romance eventually.
Myra’s clever, kind, sometimes brave, and relatable. She disobedient, sarcastic, curious, a little bit sneaky, conflict-averse, introverted, self-conscious, secretive, and not very good at making friends at first. She’s a rule breaker, but not an angry rebel type. She can be a little bit morally gray at times. (There are times where lies, rule-breaking, or maybe even a little bit of implicit blackmail are in order if it’s for a good cause.) She builds up confidence over the course of the book and finds the courage to be honest with her parents. Friends worm their way into her life despite her closed off nature. They’re all brought together by the garden. Myra gets better at facing conflict, opening up to friends, and reflecting on her own mistakes.
The main characters are all lovable and imperfect, with hearts of gold. This is a young adult book with teenage main characters, but they mature a lot over the course of the book. It’s also not angsty, immature YA. The main characters all make understandable mistakes. They end up owning their mistakes, trying to do better, working to fix what they can.
Great character development. Well-written friendships, both new and old, that grow with the characters. These friends help each other grow, face their own flaws, learn from their mistakes, and venture out of their comfort zones. They learn to trust each other, teach each other, and work as a team.
Myra and her friends each display strokes of brilliance by the end of the book. They make plenty of rookie mistakes, but they’re all clever in their own way, have unique skills, and are learning fast. Getting sneakier, smarter, and even a bit more cynical and paranoid too. You can see how they’re starting to form a formidable team.
The teenage characters also learn to see adults, including their parents, as imperfect, complicated people who make mistakes. They also start to think about things bigger than themselves, instead of falling into immature narcissism. These protagonists want to be free to be themselves. They want answers. They also want to help humanity. To contribute. To make things better. To make a difference.
For a while, it seemed like the book might side-step the tougher ethical issues of its sci-fi world, but instead it grappled with them head on. Where things could have been written in black and white, the author instead allowed things to be gray. Kids discover secrets the adults have been keeping. Mistakes they’ve made. Instead of condemning them as heartless or completely irredeemable, they acknowledge them as flawed people that believed they were (or are) doing the right thing.
THE ENDING:
To be continued ending. No cliffhanger. The ending is bittersweet, but hopeful. Some things are resolved, new problems have arisen, and there’s a lot more to come for this series. The characters have grown a lot. They’ve got more gardening and more magic to do. And maybe, an old friend of Myra’s to help too.
Warnings: death (off-page), slavery (enslavement of clones, condemned by the main characters, nothing graphic)
I recieved a free eARC of this book via NetGalley. I am writing this review completely honestly and voluntarily.
March 16, 2025
I adored this Secret Garden retelling! I loved all the nods to the source material while still keeping it fresh and different. I also appreciated the environmental push within the story. Overall a very fun read. I can't wait to read the next one!
November 1, 2022
Myra Hodger is quite contrary. She can’t seem to help it. Sent to a boarding school on the moon for magically-inclined students, Myra prefers wandering the halls to actually attending her classes. Then one day, she follows a little robot to a place that is full of life and beauty and danger: a hidden garden.
The Secret Garden is one of my all-time favorite books. I think I’ve read it at least a dozen times. As soon as I heard about this middle grade sci-fi/fantasy take on the old classic, I jumped at the chance to read it. There are plenty of nods to the original story. Myra and Bin-ro are anagrams for Mary and robin. Canter and Bernie are clearly variations of Colin Craven and Ben Weatherstaff. There is an underlying theme of returning to nature rather than relying solely on modern technology or inventions.
At the same time, this book isn’t afraid to be its own thing. Myra’s parents are alive but preoccupied. Canter is not sickly or unsocial. He thrives at S.L.A.M. and is popular among the students. There is a much larger and more deliberate conspiracy at S.L.A.M. then there ever was at Misselthwaite Manor. There’s also the minor detail that it takes place on the moon. The result is a captivating blend of old and new.
The magic system in this book leans toward the science-based end of the spectrum. Students begin by studying theory for a given subject. If they succeed in their attempts at practical magic, tattoos (referred to as scripts), appear on their arms. Someone who is skilled in their area of magic is covered in ink. The arm of a novice like Myra is bare.
Note: This is the first book in the Plotting the Stars series. It doesn’t quite end on a cliff hanger, but it’s clear that there is much more story to tell. As far as I know, the publication date for the next book has not yet been announced.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pixel + Ink for an Advanced Reader Copy.
The Secret Garden is one of my all-time favorite books. I think I’ve read it at least a dozen times. As soon as I heard about this middle grade sci-fi/fantasy take on the old classic, I jumped at the chance to read it. There are plenty of nods to the original story. Myra and Bin-ro are anagrams for Mary and robin. Canter and Bernie are clearly variations of Colin Craven and Ben Weatherstaff. There is an underlying theme of returning to nature rather than relying solely on modern technology or inventions.
At the same time, this book isn’t afraid to be its own thing. Myra’s parents are alive but preoccupied. Canter is not sickly or unsocial. He thrives at S.L.A.M. and is popular among the students. There is a much larger and more deliberate conspiracy at S.L.A.M. then there ever was at Misselthwaite Manor. There’s also the minor detail that it takes place on the moon. The result is a captivating blend of old and new.
The magic system in this book leans toward the science-based end of the spectrum. Students begin by studying theory for a given subject. If they succeed in their attempts at practical magic, tattoos (referred to as scripts), appear on their arms. Someone who is skilled in their area of magic is covered in ink. The arm of a novice like Myra is bare.
Note: This is the first book in the Plotting the Stars series. It doesn’t quite end on a cliff hanger, but it’s clear that there is much more story to tell. As far as I know, the publication date for the next book has not yet been announced.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pixel + Ink for an Advanced Reader Copy.
January 4, 2025
3.5. Middle grade space fantasy that avoids tired character tropes in favor of more realistic relationships between kids. Also a retelling of The Secret Garden.
February 11, 2023
Sometimes it happens. I'm on the brink of finishing a book. I'm in the last chapter. Mostly less than 15 pages away of the end. All of a sudden I get this craving. This craving for another book. A book that I already own for quite some time. A book I've almost forgotten about. Yesterday I all of a sudden craved this book. So as soon as I finished my read I grabbed this book from the shelves and started reading.
I bought this book because it mixed two things I really enjoy: Sci-Fi (the non-space-war kind) and The Secret Garden. And the author did an amazing job mixing those two and giving them both the attention they deserve. I could recognize a lot of elements from the Secret Garden, but the added sci-fi layer, the world building and the issues of living on the moon because plants had poisoned the earth added an extra layer to the story.
Since the heroine in this book is relatively young this is a middle grade bordering on YA. There isn't really any romance in this book (I didn't miss it either), but the heroine is having a coming of age story, discovering who she is, what her place in this world is and what she can be. It's not an easy journey. It's everything but an easy journey and the author did a great job keeping up the spirits while also showing how hard life could be in this society.
Just like the author did an amazing job mixing magic and science. I wrote it before, but mixing magic and science is very often a disaster in the making. In this case it worked. It actually really worked. And mostly because the magic and the science were walking hand in hand. The science is needed for the magic and the magic is needed for the science. And both are abused by the political leaders (what's new).
I can't wait for the sequel to be released. I'm really invested now and I really wanna know what happens next!
I bought this book because it mixed two things I really enjoy: Sci-Fi (the non-space-war kind) and The Secret Garden. And the author did an amazing job mixing those two and giving them both the attention they deserve. I could recognize a lot of elements from the Secret Garden, but the added sci-fi layer, the world building and the issues of living on the moon because plants had poisoned the earth added an extra layer to the story.
Since the heroine in this book is relatively young this is a middle grade bordering on YA. There isn't really any romance in this book (I didn't miss it either), but the heroine is having a coming of age story, discovering who she is, what her place in this world is and what she can be. It's not an easy journey. It's everything but an easy journey and the author did a great job keeping up the spirits while also showing how hard life could be in this society.
Just like the author did an amazing job mixing magic and science. I wrote it before, but mixing magic and science is very often a disaster in the making. In this case it worked. It actually really worked. And mostly because the magic and the science were walking hand in hand. The science is needed for the magic and the magic is needed for the science. And both are abused by the political leaders (what's new).
I can't wait for the sequel to be released. I'm really invested now and I really wanna know what happens next!
November 9, 2022
Let's start by saying this is a nod to the classic Secret Garden so references in terms of characterization and build up is observed all throughout. However, it also combined sci-fi and magical realism creating the wonderful concept of intergalactic relations.
Typical set up includes highschool cliches, workaholic and highly accomplished parents who assumed their daughter would take after them, semi outcast lead establishing unusual friendship with the hotshot of the campus, a room mate who covers for the lead while she is out during curfew and a side kick robot. Given that the main lead is a 12 year old, the writing style is also geared towards young adults so the mediocre character development of the main lead is understandable.
The magical system and the premise on how humans started occupying the moon and other planetary bodies made up for those clichés. The magical system is geared towards science where all students with initial affinity to certain topics learn and practice their magic. Once they passed their practical exams, they get inscriptions tattooed on their body. Our main cast, just got inscripted to a defunct and forbidden magic called Botan; yes, you got it - plant magic.
While all said and done that the concept is interesting and that this is the first book in the series, it's half bad half good. Half bad because the foundation of the premise was not fully established and might make it difficult for some readers to pick up the next one.
Typical set up includes highschool cliches, workaholic and highly accomplished parents who assumed their daughter would take after them, semi outcast lead establishing unusual friendship with the hotshot of the campus, a room mate who covers for the lead while she is out during curfew and a side kick robot. Given that the main lead is a 12 year old, the writing style is also geared towards young adults so the mediocre character development of the main lead is understandable.
The magical system and the premise on how humans started occupying the moon and other planetary bodies made up for those clichés. The magical system is geared towards science where all students with initial affinity to certain topics learn and practice their magic. Once they passed their practical exams, they get inscriptions tattooed on their body. Our main cast, just got inscripted to a defunct and forbidden magic called Botan; yes, you got it - plant magic.
While all said and done that the concept is interesting and that this is the first book in the series, it's half bad half good. Half bad because the foundation of the premise was not fully established and might make it difficult for some readers to pick up the next one.
July 10, 2023
Do I think lots of students would enjoy this and that I should buy and book talk it? Absolutely! Was it for me? Not really.
I really liked the premise, but I found the pacing to be a little slower than I’d like, and I found the main character to not be sympathetic. I struggle with enjoying a book when I find myself not invested in the main character.
I really liked the premise, but I found the pacing to be a little slower than I’d like, and I found the main character to not be sympathetic. I struggle with enjoying a book when I find myself not invested in the main character.
December 27, 2025
4.5 to 5 star. I think I liked this more than The Secret Garden. I can't wait to read the rest in the series.
September 7, 2022
I first would like to say thank you Netgalley and Michelle Barry for providing me with a copy in exchange for a review.
Let us start:
Myra is a misfit that is having a hard time fitting in at school on the moon. It is assumed she will follow in her parent's footsteps, but she seems not interested. Eventually, she discovers a secret garden (which felt cliche given that we already have a whole book about a secret garden written for children. This is where I took away a star) hidden in an abandoned classroom, behind its walls. Thus, changing her life. She learns that her talent lays with plants but is not sure how long she can hide the fact that she lacks the same abilities as her parents. . Plants and plant magic can no longer be trusted. But due to the crisis, something must be done. So, Myra with the help of others to revive the garden, even though it is a dangerous endeavor.
Overall, the book is good for the group it is marketed towards. Myra is relatable because she does not know where she fits in and later discovers who she is and who she wants to become.
Let us start:
Myra is a misfit that is having a hard time fitting in at school on the moon. It is assumed she will follow in her parent's footsteps, but she seems not interested. Eventually, she discovers a secret garden (which felt cliche given that we already have a whole book about a secret garden written for children. This is where I took away a star) hidden in an abandoned classroom, behind its walls. Thus, changing her life. She learns that her talent lays with plants but is not sure how long she can hide the fact that she lacks the same abilities as her parents. . Plants and plant magic can no longer be trusted. But due to the crisis, something must be done. So, Myra with the help of others to revive the garden, even though it is a dangerous endeavor.
Overall, the book is good for the group it is marketed towards. Myra is relatable because she does not know where she fits in and later discovers who she is and who she wants to become.
March 3, 2025
I had a hard time getting into this because I wanted it to be more like Secret Garden (and I thought if ever there was a time to incorporate a plague/pandemic-type storyline, it'd be a Secret Garden retelling with the cholera outbreak at the beginning). I missed Dickon and Martha (although maybe Lila's supposed to be Martha, I don't know). That being said, I got way more on board once Canter (Colin) got involved in the story and definitely saw more Secret Garden elements at that point. The politics of what is happening in this world is also really intriguing, even if I think there's some holes and things that don't make sense in the worldbuilding. I'm excited to see where this story goes!
October 2, 2024
3.5 stars.
February 23, 2023
Wowza! I had no idea Pixel+Ink were going to send me an ARC of this when it came. And I’m so grateful, especially since I loved this so much, & it made it to my 22 favorites of ‘22 video. Phenomenal read. Centuries ago, Earth’s plants turned deadly, & humanity took to space to cultivate new homes. Myra Hodger is in her first year at an elite school on the Moon, & she’s crumbling under the pressure. She doesn’t fit in &, worse, the tattoos that signal her Number Whisperer magic aren’t developing. In her heart, she knows she doesn’t have a Creer, & soon everyone else will, too. Wandering the halls while cutting class, she discovers a secret lab hidden behind one of the unused classrooms &, beyond that, a secret garden overflowing with plants. Dangerous toxic plants. As she learns more about the garden, Myra begins to wonder if she does have a Creer after all—one that died out when the Earth did. One that could help solve the food shortages the government doesn’t want anyone to know about. This is a re-envisioning of The Secret Garden. That was all I needed to know really lol. Add that in with Steam themes, some magic, a determined female MC, a cute little robot, & more-INCREDIBLE. Every detail in here is superb. Living on the moon because Earths plants turned deadly, the Reps, this school, the skin inscriptions, Creers, plus the backstory of the garden & so many things. There’s an underlying political aspect, with possibility for a revolution to come, & I’m here for it. I flew through this. Great writing that is so engaging & gripping. Amazing characters as well. Our MC Myra is such a strong, determined, & brave kid. I love the unlikely friendship she makes, plus the relationship with a certain little robot who is so cute, & with Bernie-who has my whole heart. Great messages in here also. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out. The finished edition has a STUNNING cover by Sarah J. Coleman as well. 💜
August 29, 2022
What worked:
Myra struggles to fit in at an elite school on the moon called S.L.A.M. and it’s assumed she’ll become a great Number Whisperer like her parents. This ability combines math with magic but Myra’s not showing any interest or signs of inheriting the power. Discovering a secret garden hidden behind an abandoned classroom’s walls changes her life. She feels a connection in this room but knows it’s dangerous to let anyone else at school become aware of its existence. She seems to have a talent with plants but how much longer can she hide her lack of ability as a Number Whisperer? The strange markings appearing on her arms tell a different tale, one that could spell life-threatening problems if they’re discovered.
Myra finds help from an unlikely group of characters. She first finds a chirping, whistling little robot in the abandoned classroom that may remind readers of R2D2 in Star Wars. It understands what Myra says but it’s only understandable replies come as beeps meaning yes or no. She’s then joined by an older human clone assigned to do janitorial work around the school. This character provides useful information regarding the origins of the moongarden and the Botan who developed it. Later, Myra’s surprised to receive help from an older student with ties to the plot’s antagonist and from a roommate Myra’s never gotten along with. The older boy has a talent for technology and Myra’s roommate is developing into a Healer. They’re both invaluable as secrets surrounding the moongarden unfold.
Dystopian novels are always intriguing as readers discover an author’s ideas about the look of human lives in the future. In this case, no one lives on Earth due to toxic plants and they now live on the moon and other planets. The book doesn’t go into any detail as to how this is accomplished so interested readers will need to fill in the gaps themselves. Humans have developed a connection between magic and useful skills that will guide their future Creers and those without Creers are often seen as lesser citizens. Tattoo-like Inscriptions appear on humans’ arms that reflect their growing abilities and potential Creers. Food has been cloned in the past but problems with the process create the backdrop for the entire conflict.
What didn’t work as well:
The idea of plants as the main topic won’t naturally grab the attention of most young readers. However, the problems with cloning food are a fresh idea and the underlying conspiracies and Myra’s adventures with her friends are as engaging as any other middle-grade novel.
The Final Verdict:
Myra strives to fulfill her forbidden destiny. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book but it’s creative with many story elements young readers will love. Myra’s character is appealing and identifiable as she struggles to find her place in the world and uncovers a scheme that will affect humans across the solar system. I recommend you give it a shot.
Myra struggles to fit in at an elite school on the moon called S.L.A.M. and it’s assumed she’ll become a great Number Whisperer like her parents. This ability combines math with magic but Myra’s not showing any interest or signs of inheriting the power. Discovering a secret garden hidden behind an abandoned classroom’s walls changes her life. She feels a connection in this room but knows it’s dangerous to let anyone else at school become aware of its existence. She seems to have a talent with plants but how much longer can she hide her lack of ability as a Number Whisperer? The strange markings appearing on her arms tell a different tale, one that could spell life-threatening problems if they’re discovered.
Myra finds help from an unlikely group of characters. She first finds a chirping, whistling little robot in the abandoned classroom that may remind readers of R2D2 in Star Wars. It understands what Myra says but it’s only understandable replies come as beeps meaning yes or no. She’s then joined by an older human clone assigned to do janitorial work around the school. This character provides useful information regarding the origins of the moongarden and the Botan who developed it. Later, Myra’s surprised to receive help from an older student with ties to the plot’s antagonist and from a roommate Myra’s never gotten along with. The older boy has a talent for technology and Myra’s roommate is developing into a Healer. They’re both invaluable as secrets surrounding the moongarden unfold.
Dystopian novels are always intriguing as readers discover an author’s ideas about the look of human lives in the future. In this case, no one lives on Earth due to toxic plants and they now live on the moon and other planets. The book doesn’t go into any detail as to how this is accomplished so interested readers will need to fill in the gaps themselves. Humans have developed a connection between magic and useful skills that will guide their future Creers and those without Creers are often seen as lesser citizens. Tattoo-like Inscriptions appear on humans’ arms that reflect their growing abilities and potential Creers. Food has been cloned in the past but problems with the process create the backdrop for the entire conflict.
What didn’t work as well:
The idea of plants as the main topic won’t naturally grab the attention of most young readers. However, the problems with cloning food are a fresh idea and the underlying conspiracies and Myra’s adventures with her friends are as engaging as any other middle-grade novel.
The Final Verdict:
Myra strives to fulfill her forbidden destiny. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book but it’s creative with many story elements young readers will love. Myra’s character is appealing and identifiable as she struggles to find her place in the world and uncovers a scheme that will affect humans across the solar system. I recommend you give it a shot.
February 25, 2023
🌌🌑🌘Moongarden🌘🌑🌌
Many years after Earth became uninhabitable, humans live among the stars. Myra lives on the moon, in a prestigious school for those with a Creer. Those who have a Creer are able to harness a mixture of magic and science. Yet only a rare few possess such a skill, and if Myra doesn't show any signs of having Inscriptions, she fears that she will be kicked out of the school. When she stumbles across a secret garden that harbours vivid and colourful plants, Myra finds herself entranced by their beauty. So she returns to this garden time and time again, making friends with Rep and a robot named Bin-ro, until she discovers another who has been visiting this guardian. As she unearths the secrets buried in the school's past, she realises that an important aspect of Creer magic has been kept hidden from many.
Moongarden by Michelle A. Barry was a refreshing mixture of fantasy and science. I loved the atmosphere of the story; that felt very unique. The garden was a place with a colourful palette, assaulting the senses with such awe and intrigue. I love how the author establishes the world-building in a subtle way but lets the reader know enough about the setting to make it feel more palpable. The school setting is interesting, and the way the classes are structured and the Creers are explained made the story interesting.
I found Myra to be an okay main protagonist; I didn't necessarily like her, but I didn't hate her. It's difficult to pinpoint what it is, but I felt like some of her dialogue felt out-of-character or stilted. She goes from being shy to having snarky comebacks that seem quite random. I do appreciate that Myra can stand up for herself and take control of her own life. We go through this book seeing that Myra's parents really want her to be the Number Whisperer, only to have this change quickly at the end.
Canter is a character who goes through a great character arc throughout the story. I found it very interesting to see him from Myra's first impression: (a self-centered jerk). However, throughout the story, we get to really see Canter beneath the first impression and his apparent emotions. This makes the experience of learning about his character more satisfying! I also loved learning about Myra's new friendships. The Inscriptions that were described just sound so beautiful—I loved this aspect of the story! This is a good start to a series that I will continue picking up!
☑️PLOT
☑️PLOT TWISTS
☑️CHARACTERS
Many years after Earth became uninhabitable, humans live among the stars. Myra lives on the moon, in a prestigious school for those with a Creer. Those who have a Creer are able to harness a mixture of magic and science. Yet only a rare few possess such a skill, and if Myra doesn't show any signs of having Inscriptions, she fears that she will be kicked out of the school. When she stumbles across a secret garden that harbours vivid and colourful plants, Myra finds herself entranced by their beauty. So she returns to this garden time and time again, making friends with Rep and a robot named Bin-ro, until she discovers another who has been visiting this guardian. As she unearths the secrets buried in the school's past, she realises that an important aspect of Creer magic has been kept hidden from many.
Moongarden by Michelle A. Barry was a refreshing mixture of fantasy and science. I loved the atmosphere of the story; that felt very unique. The garden was a place with a colourful palette, assaulting the senses with such awe and intrigue. I love how the author establishes the world-building in a subtle way but lets the reader know enough about the setting to make it feel more palpable. The school setting is interesting, and the way the classes are structured and the Creers are explained made the story interesting.
I found Myra to be an okay main protagonist; I didn't necessarily like her, but I didn't hate her. It's difficult to pinpoint what it is, but I felt like some of her dialogue felt out-of-character or stilted. She goes from being shy to having snarky comebacks that seem quite random. I do appreciate that Myra can stand up for herself and take control of her own life. We go through this book seeing that Myra's parents really want her to be the Number Whisperer, only to have this change quickly at the end.
Canter is a character who goes through a great character arc throughout the story. I found it very interesting to see him from Myra's first impression: (a self-centered jerk). However, throughout the story, we get to really see Canter beneath the first impression and his apparent emotions. This makes the experience of learning about his character more satisfying! I also loved learning about Myra's new friendships. The Inscriptions that were described just sound so beautiful—I loved this aspect of the story! This is a good start to a series that I will continue picking up!
☑️PLOT
☑️PLOT TWISTS
☑️CHARACTERS
November 7, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Pixel+Ink for allowing me to read an eARC of Michelle A. Barry's Moongarden. This is a sci-fi, magical, STEAM inspired re-imagining of The Secret Garden set in the year 2448.
The Old World (Earth) had to be abandoned hundreds of years before because the plants became toxic and made the air unbreathable. It is now illegal to possess seeds or grow plants, and there are problems with the food supply for the planets.
Myra Hodger is a 1st year student at the prestigious Scientific Lunar Academy of Magic (S.L.A.M.) located on the moon. Everyone expects her to be a brilliant Number Whisperer like her parents, but she doesn't hear the numbers. She has no friends, does not get along with her 3 roommates, and feels like she doesn't fit in, until she finds the moongarden. With the help Bernie (a clone), Bin-Ro (a small robot) and Canter Weathers (a 2nd year & the school director's son) Myra sets out to prove that all plants are not poisonous and that well tended gardens on the planets will solve the food supply problems.
I really enjoyed this book and plan on purchasing it for my library.
The Old World (Earth) had to be abandoned hundreds of years before because the plants became toxic and made the air unbreathable. It is now illegal to possess seeds or grow plants, and there are problems with the food supply for the planets.
Myra Hodger is a 1st year student at the prestigious Scientific Lunar Academy of Magic (S.L.A.M.) located on the moon. Everyone expects her to be a brilliant Number Whisperer like her parents, but she doesn't hear the numbers. She has no friends, does not get along with her 3 roommates, and feels like she doesn't fit in, until she finds the moongarden. With the help Bernie (a clone), Bin-Ro (a small robot) and Canter Weathers (a 2nd year & the school director's son) Myra sets out to prove that all plants are not poisonous and that well tended gardens on the planets will solve the food supply problems.
I really enjoyed this book and plan on purchasing it for my library.
October 15, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC of Moongarden, a dystopian sci-fi written for a middle grade audience.
Years in the future, humans have colonized the moon ever since plants became toxic and made earth uninhabitable. Myra is in her first year at a lunar boarding school for students with magical abilities. Her year doesn’t exactly go as planned when she discovers a garden hidden at her school and all the dark secrets that go along with it.
Overall I enjoyed this novel. It was an easy read with all the interpersonal drama and angst you’d expect from tweens and teens. I liked the main characters, and the emotion and dynamics they brought to the story. Most of the adult characters in the book seemed like jerks!
Lots of relatable themes for readers of any age such as friendship, being different, and not living up to parents’ and society’s expectations. There were also some complex themes such as a classism and political corruption that surprised me in a middle grade novel but maybe I am underestimating that audience.
I am quite interested to see where things go with the sequel, as the ending left a lot of questions unanswered. Definitely an enjoyable book with some light twists to read with your middle grader, but also for anyone looking for a quick dystopian sci-fi in a boarding school setting.
Years in the future, humans have colonized the moon ever since plants became toxic and made earth uninhabitable. Myra is in her first year at a lunar boarding school for students with magical abilities. Her year doesn’t exactly go as planned when she discovers a garden hidden at her school and all the dark secrets that go along with it.
Overall I enjoyed this novel. It was an easy read with all the interpersonal drama and angst you’d expect from tweens and teens. I liked the main characters, and the emotion and dynamics they brought to the story. Most of the adult characters in the book seemed like jerks!
Lots of relatable themes for readers of any age such as friendship, being different, and not living up to parents’ and society’s expectations. There were also some complex themes such as a classism and political corruption that surprised me in a middle grade novel but maybe I am underestimating that audience.
I am quite interested to see where things go with the sequel, as the ending left a lot of questions unanswered. Definitely an enjoyable book with some light twists to read with your middle grader, but also for anyone looking for a quick dystopian sci-fi in a boarding school setting.
November 2, 2022
A fast-paced adventure in a richly-developed futuristic world!
At her elite school on the moon (the Scientific Lunar Academy of Magic, or S.L.A.M.) Myra feels she doesn't fit in anywhere. The tattoos that are supposed to indicate the 'creer' she's destined for haven't appeared, she doesn't have friends she can turn to, and the pressure she gets from her math-genius parents is crushing. But when Myra finds a garden (plants have been forbidden since Earth was made toxic by certain plant species many years ago), she also finds a purpose, and a network of others who understand and support her.
Tackling important issues, from sustainability to the unreasonable pressures faced by kids, MOONGARDEN is an absolute page-turner of a sci-fi adventure with a break-the-rules heroine who will have young readers hooked. No spoilers, but the ending is a perfect series setup that will leave kids clamoring for more.
My thanks to Pixel & Ink for the ARC.
At her elite school on the moon (the Scientific Lunar Academy of Magic, or S.L.A.M.) Myra feels she doesn't fit in anywhere. The tattoos that are supposed to indicate the 'creer' she's destined for haven't appeared, she doesn't have friends she can turn to, and the pressure she gets from her math-genius parents is crushing. But when Myra finds a garden (plants have been forbidden since Earth was made toxic by certain plant species many years ago), she also finds a purpose, and a network of others who understand and support her.
Tackling important issues, from sustainability to the unreasonable pressures faced by kids, MOONGARDEN is an absolute page-turner of a sci-fi adventure with a break-the-rules heroine who will have young readers hooked. No spoilers, but the ending is a perfect series setup that will leave kids clamoring for more.
My thanks to Pixel & Ink for the ARC.
August 9, 2022
I just adored this book! The synopsis called it a retelling of The Secret Garden, and that sold me! This was a sci fi story of adventurous kids on a mission to save the world after the discovery of a garden, full of plants that are feared by their entire world. But Myra and Canter know better. They know the plants are good, and that they hold the secret to saving their world.
What I loved: Myra is a pretty ordinary kid, standing by watching as her peers find their magic. She is an underdog, a confused kid trying to please her parents, but somehow learning that she can't (and doesn't want to) fight who she was made to be. It is so fun to watch her find her own magic, and to grow confident that what makes her DIFFERENT is what makes her GOOD.
I also enjoyed watching two friendships develop for Myra between herself and kids that she thought she had nothing in common with.
This book would be just perfect for upper elementary through junior high!
I can't wait to share this with my kids!
*received a free arc from net galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
What I loved: Myra is a pretty ordinary kid, standing by watching as her peers find their magic. She is an underdog, a confused kid trying to please her parents, but somehow learning that she can't (and doesn't want to) fight who she was made to be. It is so fun to watch her find her own magic, and to grow confident that what makes her DIFFERENT is what makes her GOOD.
I also enjoyed watching two friendships develop for Myra between herself and kids that she thought she had nothing in common with.
This book would be just perfect for upper elementary through junior high!
I can't wait to share this with my kids!
*received a free arc from net galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 30, 2022
Misfit Myra knows her time is limited at SLAM- her famously brilliant and magical parents didn't seem to save any of those gifts for her.
It's fine though, since living in this magical school on the moon is starting to get uncomfortable with a cramped dorm and a disgusting new cafeteria menu.
When Myra stumbles upon something cosmically rare- a secret garden- she stumbles on a galaxy of trouble. For herself, and the universe.
I am starving for the sequel already.
It's fine though, since living in this magical school on the moon is starting to get uncomfortable with a cramped dorm and a disgusting new cafeteria menu.
When Myra stumbles upon something cosmically rare- a secret garden- she stumbles on a galaxy of trouble. For herself, and the universe.
I am starving for the sequel already.
March 26, 2025
I wanted a HEA in this middle grade cli-fi, dystopian novel. The ending wasn’t depressing, there was hope, but some of the events in the story made me so sad! I don’t know if I will continue this 3 part series as the first book was okay but didn’t make me feel like I needed to continue the story. I see the nod to the classic A Secret Garden, and appreciated it.
July 9, 2025
I was surprised by the depth of this book. The characters were interesting, but the plot was better. I loved the concepts and ideas about a world where plants are evil. It’s about expectations and dreams and how they aren’t always what you think they are. Self-discovery is a big theme in this book. I’m ready for book 2.
March 16, 2023
Such a great feel good book. The themes and conflicts are definitely less in depth and relatable, seeing as this is a tween book, but the ideas, the writing, and everything else about it was such a fun read. It was very exciting and pretty and the characters were done well.
March 17, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ what a great secret garden retelling! I really loved the world that Michelle A Barry built and the discussion of environmental impacts. My only issue was that I found our main character to be slightly annoying but so is Mary in The Secret Garden so i guess that tracks haha
August 1, 2023
This book was interesting and peculiar. It was a bit of a complicated, heavy read, but I loved it nonetheless. I enjoyed the apocalyptic factor and the chaotic tone throughout the story.
March 21, 2025
4 ⭐️
Excellent middle grade read! There was excitement, tension, action, and friendship. I will be continuing the series to see what happens next!
Excellent middle grade read! There was excitement, tension, action, and friendship. I will be continuing the series to see what happens next!
March 23, 2025
Fabulous! A retelling of the classic The Secret Garden, but set in the future when life on earth is no longer possible. The main character is a 12 year old student at a boarding school just trying to figure out her magic powers.
It’s a trilogy, and I can’t wait to start the next one. Loved it.
It’s a trilogy, and I can’t wait to start the next one. Loved it.
March 25, 2025
Super cute!
December 26, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed this story, going to read #2 straight away.
A mixture of things I love, science, magic, plants and underdogs. All set in space in the future. A well thought out world with interesting characters.
A mixture of things I love, science, magic, plants and underdogs. All set in space in the future. A well thought out world with interesting characters.
August 7, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read Plotting the Stars 1: Moongarden.
This was a fun, fast paced read. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the characters. I loved the secret garden story reimagined in an off planet setting. I loved Myra (and her robot) and can’t wait to see what happens next in this series.
This was a fun, fast paced read. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the characters. I loved the secret garden story reimagined in an off planet setting. I loved Myra (and her robot) and can’t wait to see what happens next in this series.
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