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

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

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

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

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

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