Parents' Guide to

The Gardener

By Jennifer Gennari, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

A tale of hope to treasure.

Book Sarah Stewart Adventure 1997
The Gardener Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

Amanda_Amador
Amanda_Amador Parent of 12-year-old
April 29, 2011
age 12+

Thrilling

I loved it! It was very interesting and a great thriller i was determind to read all of it i never put the book down even for a second. When the book came to a end im hoping theres going to be a part two,it was also very romantic but also very thrilling it kept me on the ege of my seat waiting to see what was going to happen next! Im also hopeing many other kids and parents will read this book and witness many exiting,romantic,thrillers of all time!

This title has:

Great messages
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Because of her family's financial woes during the Depression, Lydia Grace is sent to work in Uncle Jim's bakery in the city. In her upbeat letters, Lydia Grace shares her joy as she fills her uncle's empty window boxes and makes new friends.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):

Lydia Grace's talent for seeing and creating beauty makes THE GARDENER a tale of hope to treasure. Lydia Grace arrives in a gloomy train station, shown in a wordless double-page spread that communicates perfectly her smallness in the vast city. Undaunted by the change in her surroundings and by her unsmiling uncle, she immediately sets about planting flowers. When she finds a secret place and devises a plan, the excitement builds. We are as eager as Lydia Grace to share the secret.

David Small's watercolors with pen and ink perfectly complement the text, highlighting details such as a cat's scrawniness and the bare light bulbs in the kitchen. Children will be excited to see Lydia Grace create beauty from squalor, to see if she can get Uncle Jim to smile, and to see the surprise conclusion which avoids cliche.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the way Lydia Grace brightens the world of the people around her. If you were in her shoes, do you think you'd be able to be so upbeat? Where do you find beauty when life seems dark?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate