Friday 14 April 2023

Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #238 featuring **The Girl and the Witch's Garden** by Erin Bowman **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins

Amber's Book Reviews Banner ©BionicBasil®  March 2023
Hello gorgeous library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Thank mew for joining me in the stacks today, and I must say I've had a most enjoyable time at BBHQ this week, even though it's been a little rainy, moderately windy interspersed with some sunny spells.

Amber's Book Reviews #238 ©BionicBasil® Amber Chilling in The Sitting Room

I did even poke my nose out of the patio doors, but decided that really in all honesty, it wasn't warm enough for my old bones outside, so I've been enjoying the warms of the woodburner from various locations around the sitting room! MOL

And something that really tickled me this week was Fudge and his catnip carrot, he really does go off on some tangents. I actually suggested that he should create a fudgy, carroty cake, what do mew think?  


Part of The Mewton-Clawson Library ©BionicBasil®
Amber's Book Review Library Mice Divider ©BionicBasil®
Today the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.
1. ______________ is like nailing jello to a wall.
2. I could use a break from ________________-.
3. I’d like to thank _________ for _________.
4. Just in case _________, I _________.

The P.A.'s answers are...

1. Trying to reason with some inhabitants of earth is like nailing jello to a wall.

2. I could use a break from lots of things, probably tthe hardest thing for me is switching off my brain, it's always coming up with new story ideas, things to make, stuff to sew etc..., so in essence I could use a break from that endless swell of creative ideas, so I had chance to just focus on one thing at a time.

3. I’d like to thank you all most sincerely for sticking with The B Team and I for all these years. I know we've not been very good at commenting in recent times but know that we adore your blogs, your comments and your friendship. 

4. Just in case in case of emergency, I suggest hitting the nearest panic button or heading directly without pause to the BBHQ bunker in Mewton-Clawson.

Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

Let's see what I've got to show mew this time!

Amber's Book Review Divider ©BionicBasil®

This week's top book pick is...

Amber's Book Reviews #238 What Are We Reading This Week ©BionicBasil® The Girl and the Witch's Garden by Erin Bowman
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

The Girl and the Witch's Garden


by

Erin Bowman

  Here's a little snippet of the book blurb:      

Mallory Estate is the last place twelve-year-old Piper Peavey wants to spend her summer vacation. The grounds are always cold, the garden out back is dead, a mysterious group of children call the property home, and there's a rumor that Melena M. Mallory--the owner of the estate and Piper's wealthy grandmother--is a witch.

But when Piper's father falls ill, Mallory Estate is exactly where she finds herself.


Amber's Book Review Mice Divider ©BionicBasil®

This is a modern take on The Secret Garden with a magical twist and elements, our heroine Piper Peavey has her summer vacation turned upside down when she is forced to spend it with her estranged mother, who I must say is rather unpleasant and most unmotherly in all resepcts. Not a nice lady at all.

The plot is well crafted and the descriptive writing is very well done, giving a real sense of place. I do enjoy books where mew can see it in your minds eye in glorious technicolour as the words fly off the page, and this one fills that brief completely.

Piper has a lot to contend with for a twelve year old; her father is on his last round of chemo, she's in a place where she's not wanted, yet there's a chance that in the magical garden at Mallory Estate, hidden in a place that mere mortals cannot see, is the possibility of an elixir which could potentially save her fathers life. 

 The kitty in the book, is a rather astute white Persian called Wolf, who appears to have neferious intentions, I won't say anymore as mew know I don't like to spoilerize things. 

This is a highly enjoyable read, and if mew like a magical genre with some gritty real world dilemmas, then this will tick all the boxes, and in my opinion is suitable for all ages.

And the bonus is, if mew have an Audible subscription, mew can listen to this for fee.

Age: 8 - 12 years
Audio book: 5 hours 53 minutes
Paperback: 288 pages
Amber's Book Review Library Mice Divider ©BionicBasil®
My Ratings Scale

Amber's Book Review Paw Ratings Scale Pink ©BionicBasil®

Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

Ratings of:

The Girl and the Witch's Garden


Overall Enjoyment

Amber's Book Reviews 5 Paw Rating ©BionicBasil®

Amber's Book Review Divider ©BionicBasil®

Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today



Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

I really hope mew enjoy the book as much as I did.

It's time for me to say BFN or bye-for-now as mew know the drill, so many books, so little time and I'll be back next week with another specially paw-picked book just for mew, and don't forget that all my previous reviews can be found on my Book Review page.

Until next time...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 


Amber's Book Reviews Pink Review ©BionicBasil®







Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

& @BionicBasil® on Instacat

Don't furget to subscribe and never miss another review! 

Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®
 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com 

22 comments:

  1. Great fill ins. I agree with #1. You are wise to stay by the wood burner rather than outdoors, Amber. We have had storms and hale force winds with lots of trees and power lines down. Thankfully we weren't affected by power cuts, but we will have plenty of wood for the wood burner when it has seasoned.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is such a pretty photo of you sweet Amber. I also agree with the first fill-in answer, so very true these days. I enjoyed your book review, the cover looks magical and the book sounds good. Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Amber, you do a purrfect book review. And look purrfectly lovely today. Your PA is so creative, those kinds of hoomans think and act all the time. Nice fur the rest of the hoomans to see the results. Precious

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amber...you are my kinda lady cat! WE think a lot alike. Love to visit you in your liv\brary and go over the books. Well, crawling and reading...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your posts are always full of the most interesting information. Thank you!

    Purrs,
    The Chans

    ReplyDelete
  6. Okay, so here goes...

    1. Peepers keepin' the kitchen (and herself) clean while bakin' is like nailing jello to a wall. Totally IMPOSSIBLE, for sure.
    2. I could use a break from Peepers' constant beggin' for attention.
    3. I’d like to thank my brother Saffron for makin' me look good when Peepers lets him out in the evenin' and he doesn't come back in the first time she calls.
    4. Just in case Peepers might try to scoop me up in her arms when I'm not watchin', I like to keep my hind claws sharpened just in case I need to make a getaway.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great book review. Love the kitty picture.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely picture of you, Amber! And great review, the book sounds really good! I really enjoyed The Secret Garden as a child, and I think I'd enjoy this book too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Book and kitties make me so very happy.
    Thanks for stopping by today.
    Hugs Cecilia

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sometimes you have to wait until spring is around for certain before outside is a good idea.

    People who don't want to have an intelligent conversation, but just want to call names, well, i 'm with you on that answer, talking to them is nailing gelatin to a tree.

    Amber, thank you for the most enlightening review.

    Thank you for joining Feline Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nice photo of you Amber. I would love to give you a hug. That book looks like something my great nieces will enjoy in a couple of years. Thank you to the PA for participating in the fill-ins, great answers, especially #1- so true. XO

    ReplyDelete
  12. Looking gorgeous as ever AmberšŸ˜» sounds a great read.xxšŸˆšŸˆ‍⬛šŸ˜»šŸ¾šŸ¾

    ReplyDelete
  13. How pretty you are, Amber!
    We humans despair about most other humans these days.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hello Miss Amber, thanks for visited me and make a nice comments.
    I can see how busy you are, Miss ! Thanks for your book reviews
    My mom love reading too, but slow .... lol
    Have a lovely weekend

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thank you for stopping by my Musings blog and commenting on the wildlife sightings.

    Amber, books and cats (and other non-humans) definitely are the best therapy for a lot of life's woes. šŸ™‚

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oooooooooooooooooooo! Books! Mum loves books and reading. Me too as I get to sit on mum's lap when she reads. It was really nice to meet you Amber!
    Purrs, Julie

    ReplyDelete
  17. This sounds like a good one, Amber. We enjoyed the Secret Garden, so we look forward to reading this one!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Yes Amber, I must say you are really STACKED! And you are very brainy to boot. Shake that booty.
    1. Putting worms on a hook is like nailing jello to a wall.
    2. I could use a break from the rollercoaster of life.
    3. I'd like to thank my husband for putting up with me.
    4. Just in case I croak, I want to acknowledge all the frogs who have gone before.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Super fill-ins- especially #1....so very very true! hugs to Amber!

    ReplyDelete
  20. We like a new spin on an old classic. The cover looks awesome too, just right for a middle grade read.
    ERin

    ReplyDelete

❤️*Waves Paw* we love comments, thanks so much fur leaving one ❤️
FYI Comment Moderation is on due an influx of SPAM - so if mew don't see your comment straight away, DON'T PANIC!