Molly and Kip are Irish orphans that have traveled to England looking for work in exchange for food and a roof over their heads. Kip was born with a disability and he has difficulty walking without his cane. Molly's storytelling skills help them gain employment (or work for room and board) at a spooky manor owned by the Windsor family.
We are first introduced to the Night Gardener as he roams about the Windsor manor at night, leaving a trail of dirty footprints and moldy leaves. Yet he is not the only tall, menacing character. You or your reader will learn when they start to read this dark tale is that the large, black tree depicted on the book's cover is also a major player in this creepy, haunting story. This befouled tree has a dark magic that enables it to fulfill one's deepest desires, but at what price?
If your reader loves creepy natural elements in their stories, have them check out Mary Downing Hahn's Closed for the Season (invasive kudzu vines) or Kenneth Oppel's The Nest (wasp's nest). The Night Gardener is perfect for your fifth grade-up reader who is not afraid of getting nightmares from a chilling story.
No comments:
Post a Comment