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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
One of the first fantasy books I read as a child. Wonder if I should read this again?
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This has become one of my favorite children's books, alongside [b:Understood Betsy|347151|Understood Betsy|Dorothy Canfield Fisher|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1245261923s/347151.jpg|3234038], [b:A Little Princess|3008|A Little Princess|Frances Hodgson Burnett|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327868556s/3008.jpg|1313599], and [b:The Chronicles of Narnia|11127|The Chronicles of Narnia (#1-7)|C.S. Lewis|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166457868s/11127.jpg|781271]. The thing is, I love those other books because the main characters inspire me. I love Tom's Midnight Garden because the story enchants me. I don't think I've ever been drawn so into the wonderful "magic" of a story.
The story is set in England. A young boy has to go live in the city with his aunt and uncle because his brother has the measles. One night, he discovers a garden where the back alley is during the day. Each night he sneaks down into the garden to play and makes friends with a young girl who used to live in the house where his aunt and uncle now live in a flat. I won't tell more so you can discover it for yourself.
There is nothing objectionable in this book other than that the boy sneaks downstairs at night. It's necessary for the story and overall Tom is a very honest, sweet boy. The magic is never described as magic...just a play on Time. (In fact, the Time thing is quite similar to how the children enter Narnia through the wardrobe and spend time there, but when they come back, "real" time hasn't moved ahead at all. The difference is, Narnia is a fantasy world and Tom goes back into historical time.)
I ordered three copies of this book to give away. I just loved it!! I hope there is a good audio version so the girls and I can listen to it together.
The story is set in England. A young boy has to go live in the city with his aunt and uncle because his brother has the measles. One night, he discovers a garden where the back alley is during the day. Each night he sneaks down into the garden to play and makes friends with a young girl who used to live in the house where his aunt and uncle now live in a flat. I won't tell more so you can discover it for yourself.
There is nothing objectionable in this book other than that the boy sneaks downstairs at night. It's necessary for the story and overall Tom is a very honest, sweet boy. The magic is never described as magic...just a play on Time. (In fact, the Time thing is quite similar to how the children enter Narnia through the wardrobe and spend time there, but when they come back, "real" time hasn't moved ahead at all. The difference is, Narnia is a fantasy world and Tom goes back into historical time.)
I ordered three copies of this book to give away. I just loved it!! I hope there is a good audio version so the girls and I can listen to it together.
This is another book I loved so much as a kid that I just had to read it with my own daughter years later. The story seems ordinary, but I think the reason it catches my heart so strongly is the way it portrays the loneliness that can be felt both by some children and some elderly people. It also evokes a powerful sense of place, and the way places can be destroyed with the passage of time.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this book started a little slow for me but the end definitely touched my heart
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes