I first thought of writing a sequel to The Secret Garden years ago – after a wonderful conversation with
my editor about our favourite children’s books. It’s a wonderful subject – full
of “Do you remember?” and “What about this one?” and “Oh, did you ever read
that?” Somehow it’s even more exciting than discussing what you’re reading
right now, but it’s hard to pin down why. The glory of rediscovering something
that you loved first as a child? Perhaps we do identify more fully with books
and characters we first meet when we’re younger.
I read a lot growing up – there were a lot of books in the
house, plus there was a fairly eclectic set of bookshelves at school. I got
banned from taking books outside after leaving When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit lying around in the playground…
Looking back, many of the books I read were “classics”, perhaps because my
parents shared the books they’d loved too. C.S. Lewis’s Narnia books, Arthur
Ransome, The Treasure Seekers and The Railway Children by E. Nesbit, Little Women (and all the sequels!), Anne of Green Gables (likewise, and I
sympathise hugely with any child who loves a series, that wonderful feeling
that there’s more). The Wind in the Willows – especially the
picnic basket list which I learned off by heart just because I loved it so much
(I always wanted to know, what exactly was potted meat?) But I particularly
loved Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The
Secret Garden and A Little Princess
(Sara to me still looks like Margery Gill’s illustrations, thin-faced and
dark-haired). For me, these books were favourites because of their heroines.
Sara was almost but not quite annoyingly perfect, and Mary was so imperfect
that she was gripping. But then who wouldn’t be horrible, with Mary’s loveless upbringing?
I adored the setting of The
Secret Garden too – the garden was nearly as special as the girl. The idea
of a private, secret, near-magical space was enchanting. It felt like an
amazing gift to write my own story about Misselthwaite, and to take another
child into the garden.
Summary:
It's 1939 and a group of children have been
evacuated to Misselthwaite Hall. Emmie is far from happy to have been separated
from her cat and sent to a huge old mansion. But soon she starts discovering
the secrets of the house - a boy crying at night, a diary written by a girl
named Mary and a garden. A very secret garden...
Information about the book
Title: Return to the Secret Garden
Author: Holly Webb
Release Date: October 1st 2015
Genre: Historical MG
Publisher: Scholastic UK
Format: Hardback and
E-book
Giveaway
Information
Scholastic are giving away
a copy of The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett and a copy of Return to
the Secret Garden by Holly Webb to one lucky blog tour follower! [UK AND IRL
ONLY]
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour
Schedule
Monday
5th October
Tuesday
6th October
Wednesday
7th October
Thursday
8th October
Friday
9th October
Saturday
10th October
Sunday
11th October
An old favourite.....hope (and trust) Webb will do it justice!!
ReplyDelete'A Little Princess' was - and still is - one of my favourite books and Holly is so right about Sara Crewe being perfectly embodied by the dark-haired, spiky and slightly sad girl on the vintage Puffin book cover by Margery Gill. Looking forward to Holly's book.
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