Middle Grade March Group Read: Moongarden

This year’s group read for Middle-Grade March is Moongarden by Michelle A. Barry. I listened to the audiobook since I didn’t have a physical copy. I generally have trouble focusing on audiobooks, but this had an engaging narration that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Moongarden is a modern sci-fi/fantasy twist on The Secret Garden, one of my favorite books from my childhood. Centuries into the future Earth’s plants have grown toxic, and humans were forced to live on other planets. Now, there are problems with the manufactured food, and Myra discovers a secret garden that could save them all, if she can just convince everyone else.

I loved that this book had both fantasy and science-fiction elements. It felt like a very original world that values both magic and knowledge. The story stands on its own, but if you’re a Secret Garden fan, you’ll enjoy the references.