The Green Kingdom by Cornelia Funke and Tammi Hartung is a fascinating new book for children/middle grades. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity of an ARC. It is due to be published on 6 March (in the UK).
This is another post joining in Marvellous Middle Grade Mondays, run by Greg Pattridge at Always in the Middle. I had a load of MG reads to review, so I’ll see how long it takes me to get through them if I post on the third Monday of the month.
The Green Kingdom
By Cornelia Funke
Caspia‘s summer is transformed when she discovers a bundle of letters containing ten botanical riddles in this enchanting adventure.
Twelve-year-old Caspia hates big cities, especially one as busy as New York. So she isn’t thrilled by the news that her parents are taking her to stay in Brooklyn. It’s summer-devouring bad luck! But everything changes when Caspia discovers a bundle of letters, hidden in an old chest of drawers. They belonged to two sisters who lived there long ago. Each letter contains a ‘green’ riddle, with clues leading to a different plant.
Caspia sets out to solve the riddles and, as she does, she meets friends she could never have imagined and discovers that anywhere can feel like home, if you are just brave enough to put down new roots.
The newest adventure from renowned and award winning author of Inkheart and Dragon Rider, Cornelia Funke weaves magic into every sentence of this new and exciting mystery set in the heart of New York City. The Green Kingdom is perfect for fans of the Greenwild series. [goodreads]
My Review
The blurb for the Green Kingdom says it all, really. It’s a lovely story, with riddles about plants, and Caspia, transplanted from her home in Maine, sets out to find them, even in the urban jungle of Brooklyn.
I was fascinated by the riddles myself, and although there was usually one clue that sent me to the right answer, I learnt a lot about plants even I knew well. And I’ve been brought up to learn the alternative uses for common plants! I’m absolutely sure I would have loved this book as a junior, although I might not have appreciated the diversity and the wonder of Brooklyn Botanic Gardens when I was a kid, it absolutely rings true for now.
As always, Cornelia Funke writes with a little bit of intrigue and a lot of great characters and scenes. This does not have the fantasy that her other books I’ve read had, but that is all to the good. And the illustrations are wonderful, although tricky to piece together on a Kindle. This is a wonderful way for modern kids to learn about the plants that are right beneath their feet, or just around the corner. And I so wish the Books & Blooms store would open a branch near me!
The only thing is… I think there’s going to be a sequel. It stopped very suddenly.
I loved the Inkheart series and Dragonrider. I can’t wait for her newest book to be released based on your review. Thanks!
This one sounds like one I would enjoy. Riddles, plants, and a great main character says it all.
I’ve enjoyed everything of hers I’ve read so far. I’m sorry it has that “sequel coming” ending, though.
I loved the Inkhart books. Mayby I’ll give this a try. Thanks for the review.
This book sounds fantastic. I recognized Inkheart. Thanks for the review.