I really enjoyed the world building in this book! The fact that as an adult I could predict the overall arc and moral did not detract from it being a nice one, and the plot had enough twists that I was at times surprised as well. 

 How do you take the Secret Garden, put it in an even more goth setting than the moors, and somehow make it...boring? Our Mary Lennox (Lottie) is orphaned and has to go live iwth her uncle in the land of hte dead. That could be a cool story. OR the story of how colors are magic and losing them is a sign of grief, and hope can be regained, that's another story that could be written. Or a story about a child ghost being stuck in a garden to harvest his grief, that's cool. But as it is, all these elements come together in a jumble in which each detracts from the next. Moreover the world-building is incomplete, and the imagery overly Christian. I really really wanted to love this book. Perhaps that's why I think so poorly of it now, because I had high standards. But the author even made Dickon weak! I love Dickon, so that piece on its own would have been a deal breaker for me. 

Radically changed the way I think about, approach, and handle food, both for myself and my children

A good primer to all the things one needs to know. 

Quite well done. To my mind the only drawback is the short story format, which is just not my favorite because you have to stop and learn a whole new cast of characters for each story. Still, this is a great collection. 

A fun sequel, but not as good as the first. Still, I'd read another if it was published. 

I love how the magic works in this world, and how it is used as a way to open the conversation about borders, immigrants, resource hoarding, and inequity. There is a lot to love here! Unfortunately, I don't think the ending is much of a resolution, and feels kind of...little, compared to the weighty subject matter. 

Simple and direct, a good introduction to the concept

A solid "this is how x culture does things" book, detailing an important moment in a young child's life. 

Completely believable inspiration, full of characters with nuance and depth, but without sacrificing the plot at all. Community organizing, children as the voice of the people, enforcers and mafia vibes, this book has it all. And emotionally vibrant and real as well.