The strength of The Girl and the Witch’s Garden is in the characters. Piper is inquisitive and likeable. As the main character, she gets most of the attention, but the other children are fairly well-developed, too, giving this an almost — but not quite — ensemble feel.

As is often the case with middle readers, the adults are more of a mystery and can feel one-dimensional. There’s plenty of room for this to become a full-on series, so I’d expect more development in later novels.

The Girl in the Witch’s Garden is a fast-paced mystery full of charm. I read this in one sitting, and I know when my daughter’s a bit older, she’ll be glued to it, too. Fingers crossed there will be more books in this world.

I really enjoyed this fun magical book. When Pipers dad falls ill she is sent to stay with her mother who she hasn't seen since she was 4. She goes to her grandmother's estate and meets her mother's foster children and discovers they have magic. Her mother wants nothing to do with her since Piper has no magic. But Piper and the other children learn more about life and courage as they work to discover an entrance to a magical garden.

Piper is 12 and for her summer vacation, she's going to spend it with her mom and her grandma, which sounds like it might be fun. Except Piper's pretty mad at her mom for leaving the family when Piper was only 4. Piper's dad is sick and needs treatment at the hospital so it's not like Piper has a choice. But Piper gets really mad when she gets to the family home and finds that her mom does actually have time for kids, because she's fostering 4 other kids. It turns out that Piper's family has a magical inheritance that her mom is determined to find. This is a very fast paced mystery with great characters and fun plot twists. I'm really happy that this is the first one in a series so I can look forward to reading more about Piper and her friends.

In this middle-grade story of magic we follow Piper Peavey as she is sent to live with the mother who abandoned her and her father when she was a child. Once Piper arrives at Mallory Estate, the seemingly run-down grounds of the estate are where Piper finds her true self. With the help of some new friends, Piper learns to cope with loss and that is okay to not always forgive adults, even your own family.

This book teaches us that as children, it is okay to not always forgive when they have wronged you, but to learn to move on and deal with the situation. Another important element is addressing loss, grieving, and acceptance, which is one of the hardest forms to teach children, this book does a great job of addressing and allowing the emotions to take hold of the reader. This tale is fast passed and will keep you reading as you realize Piper herself is not perfect, from lying to her friends and keeping secrets, but it makes her and the other children more real. I did find at sometimes that I thought the story was a little too fast, but I kept telling myself this is also a book for young readers and this type of style works well for their reading and keeping interest. I hope this tale is the first of a series, I would love to see how Piper and her newfound family deal with their growing powers and their growth as young people.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.

<i>The Girl and the Witch's Garden</i> 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.

SO. I'm going to be perfectly blunt here and say that this particular novel was . . . not exactly what I expected when I requested the arc for it. I'm sure this is yet another prime example of judging a book by its cover, but looking at the adorable illustration pictured above, I was expecting something soft and whimsical and--dare I say it--childish between the pages. That's what I love most about Middle Grade, after all. Of course it has deep themes and hard truths of life and all that "fun stuff" about what it's like living through your Youngin' Years, but there's also a simplicity and innocence lurking there, as well--something that Young Adult novels are strikingly without.

However, this book in particular felt more like a read for fans of the Percy Jackson series than fans of The Girl Who Drank The Moon, if that makes any sense. Whereas they're both Middle Grades with an emphasis on magic and the fantastical, they both have drastically different tones to them.

HOWEVER! That being said, this is definitely not a bad thing and should not be taken as a knock against this book! Despite the fact that it wasn't the tone I was initially anticipating (something that is entirely my fault), I still thought this book was very well done.

The theme, in particular, stands out as one of this book's shining qualities. For one thing, it is deep for a children's book. Not in a "this is gonna fly right over this kid's head" kind of way, but in a "this is something that kids should really have more access to/conversation about" kind of way. It was nice to see a topic of such importance handled with such grace and tact, and I truly believe that somewhere out there, there's a child who will benefit greatly from having a book with this particular message in their life. (not to mention that it IS filled with magic and wonder and enchantments, which is clearly what all of us readers are here for anyways, amiright? XD)

While the theme may have been my favorite aspect of this book, the characters were probably my least favorite. (which sounds harsh, but I promise it's not as bad as it sounds.) Actually, the more I think about it, I'm not entirely sure whether it was the characters or the plot which fell a little flat for me--in some ways I think it might have been a mixture of the two working together--but there was definitely something about this novel that felt . . . "off".

Our main protagonist, Piper Peavey, started off with quite a bit of promise. And for the most part, she was a likable protagonist. She was smol and young and sassy--a beautiful combination, truly--but as the story progressed, she began to develop a trait which I'm seeing more and more in the fiction world, and one that I just canNOT get behind, no matter how many times it crops up: lying.

My goodness, if there is one thing we can change in the future years of the publishing industry, can it PLEASE be the storylines that revolve around lies? Like??? Please??? I can't even tell you how many books I have read that have "conflicts" which could easily be resolved in three minutes flat if the characters would just TALK to one another openly and honestly. I've actually considered flinging books at the wall because the characters are acting like utter imbeciles.

But I digress. These characters were not quite as bad as that, and the adorable motley crew of children living at Mallory Estate were, as a matter of fact, my favorite characters of the bunch. Especially Teddy and Kenji. (which is probably why it bothered me so much that Piper, who had JUST MET THESE SMOL PRECIOUS BEANS, started lying to them, even if I can understand the reasoning behind her secrecy.)

If you've been a reader of my blog for any length of time, you'll already know that characters MAKE a story for me. Plot is important, of course, but if your characters are flat, chances are I won't enjoy your story, even if it IS the coolest concept I've ever seen. So, with that being said, I truly believe that the smol beans of Mallory Estate brought the story together in a way that wouldn't have otherwise happened had they not been included in the cast.

Piper's grandmother, on the other hand . . . well, she's part of the reason the story felt a bit off, simply because her and her daughter's character arcs felt slightly unnatural and forced. (Sophia Peavey, especially, was a bit of a disappointment as far as character development goes. I didn't really understand the reasoning behind her choices, even at the resolution of the story. it felt inorganic, in a way. definitely unnatural for the woman I had initially believed her to be, but maybe that was the point. . .?)

Overall, if I can stop thinking about the plot and characterization from a writer's perspective and view it as a reader simply looking for a good dose of the fantastical, I can honestly say I found this book to be a rather pleasant read. I wouldn't say it's an absolute favorite, but for readers looking for a sweet, enchanting Middle Grade novel with deep themes of love, loyalty, and family, I'd definitely recommend giving The Girl and the Witch's Garden a try!

This book was beautifully written with a relatable main character, however I could not get over how cruel her mother was being. It was hard to read and made reading the book kind of depressing.

Sweet, magical story. This is definitely something I would have loved when I was younger and read more middle grade. It was a quick and easy read and had a really intriguing plot, even as an adult. The magic and world-building, in general, felt pretty special and unique.

I appreciated the serious undertones a lot, too. The main character Piper’s parents have been divorced since she was little and now her had is struggling with cancer. It’s the kind of situation some kids need to read about. Although, Piper’s mom was kind of hard to read. Her character was just so cold and without understanding why, it seemed kind of unnecessary at times.

I had a few other small problems, but I think that just comes with the territory of being older and reading a book meant for children.

Overall, a fun read for anyone.

A little bit Matilda, a little bit Secret Garden, I'm a fan of magical kids finding and using their powers! I like that this book gives some doubt that things will turn out okay. Kids know that in real life, everything doesn't always work out for the best, and reading about other kids who have a bit of turmoil is a good thing. Piper and her friend Teddy say the funniest things to each other, and again I'm all in for magic saving the day.

The Girl and the Witch's Garden is a perfect middle grade book. It has magic, mystery, and dynamic relationships. I started this book knowing nothing about it but the title. It is beautifully written and the characters will stay with you long after you finish it. Hoping that there will be a sequel.

This is an engaging exploration of a magical mystery. There's a good amount of tragedy in this book--Piper, the main character, was abandoned by her mother at a young age, and her dad is suffering from terminal cancer--but I think the book offers an effective analysis on trauma and grief within some of the more fast-paced elements. I also appreciate the imperfect way the friendships developed in this book. While there are a couple of truly terrible adults (a pet peeve of mine), it makes sense within the plot.

What a wonderful story about love, family and friendship with a magical mystery thrown in. It was a thoroughly delightful read with an amazing main character that is strong and resilient in the face of true heartbreak.

Piper is a young girl that many children will be able to relate to. She has been raised by her dad, her mom left when she was quite young, and they have a beautiful and loving relationship. But with her dad dying she is sent off to spend the summer with her mom and grandmother. Although she saw her grandmother yearly, she never saw her mother as she was growing up, and now she has to face seeing her everyday. To make matters worse she discovers that her mother and grandmother are fostering children in their home. How could her mother not want her? The complex emotions around this are very well done, and will be easily understood by the readers.

I loved the mixed and diverse group of children that Piper finds herself begrudgingly befriending. They are a wonderful group of kids who just want to find a permanent home and all of them have had tragedy in their pasts as well. Their magical abilities are also very interesting and have caused them issues in the past as well. They also end up working well together to solve the mystery behind the garden.

I really enjoyed the plot and the mystery around the garden. The puzzles that Piper and her friends have to solve are very interesting and also hard, especially the one where they have to face their fears. The story is well paced with lots of action, but also some down time to let you catch your breath. The ending will certainly tug at the heart strings of many.

There is no indication that this will be a series, but I really hope that it will be. The plot and characters certainly could be continued in many more books as there are magical secrets hidden around the world for the children to find. But this was also a satisfying stand alone as well.

I really liked this book. it felt like something out of a studio ghibli film. I really enjoyed piper and her relationship with her dad, I really felt for them.

This book is absolutely delightful.
When her father becomes too ill to care for her, 12 year old Piper is sent to live with the mother who left her when she was only four. Hurt to find her absent mother has been fostering children, Piper is even more shocked when the children begin speaking of spells and magical gardens. Highly skeptical, Piper is convinced the children are playing a joke on her. But after meeting her mother for the first time in years, she learns her mother not only comes for a long line of witches, but is cold and dismissive of Piper when she learns Piper doesn’t have an affinity for magic.
Hurt, scared, and frustrated that she can’t communicate with her father, Piper spends her days bitter towards her new foster siblings and exhausted by their long list of chores. When Piper joins the children in their search for the secret, and magical, entrance to the dead gardens, she discovers that there is more to the story than she has been led to believe.
Full of mystery and action, The Girl and the Witch’s Garden is a beautiful story of family, friendship, and finding our inner strength.
I really enjoyed this middle grade fantasy novel. Piper is such a complex character that many children will relate to. She has grown up feeling abandoned by her mother and now has a dad with cancer and his treatments aren’t working. Her feelings of abandonment are intensified when she discovers her mother left not only for work, but begins fostering children. Not once has she tried to have a relationship with Piper but she wants one with other children? Piper has so much to deal with in this story and yet still remains strong and determined to make it to the end of the summer and see her father again. When she finds that she does have magical ability, Piper doesn’t use it just for herself, but to help out the children her mother has promised adoption to only if they can give her the secret to the gardens. Piper doesn’t want the other children chosen over her, but she also wants them to have a home.
The magic system is really well done with each child having their own affinity, or special ability. There is a creepy cat that always appears to be spying on the children-cats are creepy so I love that it was a cat. The children have to solve clues and find keys to unlock various parts of the secret garden mystery and it’s all very action packed and full of self discovery.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

What a great concept: an old estate, decaying garden, orphans and magic. Piper is the only child that actually belongs at Mallory Estate as her grandmother owns it and it's where her mother went when she left Piper and her father years ago. So when she's sent there because her father's cancer has advanced and her aunt is travelling it's no wonder she's apprehensive. The three other children there distrust her and fear she'll disrupt their plans to be adopted; Piper is confused when they tell her how wonderful her mother has been. And that's where the book lost me: the Piper/mother relationship. The magic, the quest, the garden were all great. But when a mother goes out of their way to be deliberately mean to their child for no apparent reason? It just didn't work in this book.

eARC provided by publisher.

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!

Erin newest novel is captivating she captures the magic of being a kid. She has a strong sense of imagination. The characters are so realistic and life like they’re such a delight as well. She has written a brilliant fast paced story that will keep the reader engaged.


If you need a book to get you out of a slump
this book is for you. !

This was a fun book to read, with some of the best elements of fantasy and relationship development. Piper is a lonely child; her best friend has pulled away and made new friends, her mother left when she was 4, (she's 12 now), and her father has cancer. When her father enters the hospital for yet another round of treatment, Piper is sent to to the enigmatic Mallory Estate, to live with the mother she hasn't seen in 8 years. Piper's grandmother, Melena M. Mallory, who has taken Piper out to lunch every year on her birthday (much more than her mother has ever done), is mysteriously missing - something Piper finds out from Julius, one of several foster children Piper's mother has recently taken in. All the foster children agree that Sophia Peavey, Piper's mother, is wonderful, and her grandmother a bit off - but Piper's experiences are the opposite. Which one is good, and which evil? Both? Neither? As Piper spends more time on the Mallory Estate, she will discover that all the foster children have magic - but does she? Journey along with Piper as she discover the truth about her family, and about herself.

This is an engaging, sometimes dark novel about magic, grief, abandonment, and adventure that will likely appeal to middle grade fans of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Adult readers or slightly savvy child readers are likely to figure out the central "mystery" long before it is revealed due to heavy telegraphing, but given much of the joy of the novel is in the development of the characters rather than the mystery of the garden this does not detract much. Sensitive readers may struggle with the bittersweet conclusion and plot elements focused on parental death and related health decline