Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
I enjoyed Plotting the Stars 1: Moongarden (Pixel+Ink, 2022) by Michelle A. Barry very much. A girl who doesn’t fit in, a hidden room, unexpected friends including an old robot, shortsighted adults, and magic. All on the moon. (And isn’t the cover gorgeous?)
Myra Hodger is attending The Scientific Lunar Academy of Magic, but is not the Number Whisperer her parents expect. The tattoos aren’t developing, so she hides her forearms with long sleeves. Then she stumbles across a hidden lab with a secret garden. As she learns about the plants, Myra wonders if her newfound magical gift could help solve the food shortage problem the government is trying to hide. But will anyone let her?
Just out this month is the sequel, Seagarden. I’m looking forward to it, too.
This book was the author’s debut and has been called an update to the book The Secret Garden. Read about Michelle here.
It’s a beautiful cover! And the story itself sounds intriguing…What’s a number whisperer??? 🙂 Thanks for the recommendation!
I love the mix of scifi and fantasy.
Very intriguing plot and the setting is also unique. I’ll try and fit this one into my busy reading schedule. HAPPY MMGM!
If all we had to do was read…
Yes, the cover is inspiring.
The HP series has done “magic” et al a great favore, and those who love it have a continuous stream of new MG releases.
Definitely.
I really, really admire your ability to synthesize the plot into one pithy paragraph. I will have my teen readers read your reviews to see how you do it. Thanks for the recommendation!
So cool you’ll share with your teens!
Hidden rooms and friend robots! Sound like to elements that are winners. 🙂
Right?
There are so many retellings of classics like The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, and even The Little Princess, but I’m not sure that young readers will get the connection. It’s a struggle to get them to read the originals, at least in my library. This does sound intriguing, though.
I don’t know if they need to get the connection. I read many of the classics such as Anne of Green Gables when I was an adult not a kid.
I remember reading this one. The idea of retelling The Secret Garden in space is really clever. Thanks for sharing your review!
You’re welcome. 🙂