The Garden of Hope

Maya and her dad and Pip the dog live alone now that mum has gone away.  Has mum died, or has she left them for some other reason?  This is not specified, and that is a good thing.  They are suffering; that is all we need to know.  And the anxiety and worry are clear.  They are in “a bit of a mess”, both in the house and in the garden.  When dad tells Maya that mum used to plant flowers in the garden when she felt low.  Maya determines to do the same thing, and in the true spirit of that classic, The Secret Garden, she does just that, first weeding and getting the soil ready and then planting many different seeds.  Sometimes Pip digs them up, but Maya perseveres, and when the garden begins to bloom, other creatures appear, such as butterflies and beetles and birds and bugs of all sorts – even a hedgehog and a fox!  The pages of the story bloom too, gloriously, and we see all this growth and joy and bliss, and dad and Maya know hope once again.  This is a thoroughly uplifting and beautiful book with outstanding illustrations that really lighten the heart and spirit.