This one was tough for me. The writing was well done, I just couldn't make myself like or empathize with the main character. I did purchase it for my library though, but I don't think any of my students have read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to the free advanced digital copy of this book.

I love the classic Secret Garden so was both intrigued and hesitant when I learned that this was a retelling of that classic. Often retellings can leave something to be desired but Riazi has outdone herself with this book. I loved the way she was gracious with the classic while also telling it in a new setting, time period and whole new cultural take. It was amazing! No review could do it justice. This has defiantly gone onto my "must read again" list and I would recommend this title to all, young and old.

This was a great twist on The Secret Garden! I loved all the characters and the plot. It was really interesting and I felt connected to the storyline.

I enjoyed this retelling of The Secret Garden. A lovely contemporary retelling with a Pakistani/Bangladeshi main character and a locked up garden she brings back to life, that will enchant you with its verse/prose and keep you reading chapter after chapter.

The sudden death of her parents forces Maria to move from Pakistan to an unknown family in Long Island where she discovers an abandoned garden, friendship and healing. Free verse and text.

I wasn't sure that a modern retelling of The Secret Garden would really work. So many of the plot elements of the original story aren't really relevant any more. But the bones of the story are here - a disagreeable child sent to live with people who don't really know what to do with her; a boy who doesn't want her around; the restorative power of working in the earth. There are significant differences, of course, but I think those changes work in this book's favor. They make Maria's story a bit more universal. We all have moments where we don't feel like we belong in the place where we've found ourselves. There are some plot elements that are underdeveloped, especially the role of the two Mrs Claybornes but overall I think it's an interesting read, especially for a kid who has recently read the classic original.

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This retelling of The Secret Garden was lovingly updated & I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.

Maria is having to grow up while being shipped from place to place after being recently orphaned. Her "sour" demeanor is completely understandable from that perspective and I truly appreciated the care the author put into her grief.

In addition to South Asian rep there's neruodivergent rep.

This is a beautiful retelling, and I definitely recommend.

I adored this book which hooked me from the beginning with its self-described prickly main character. I also love the fact that through the novel she learns and grows but she does not lose her "prickliness," that part of her character uniquely hers as many other authors may have forced her to lose. I also really appreciated all the parallels to the Secret Garden once I learned (about 60% of the way through the book) that this was a retelling. While I think that the book wrapped up just a tad too neatly, I still appreciated everything Riazi did with the narrative.

I love reading a reimagining of a classic, and although A BIT OF EARTH’s fresh take on THE SECRET GARDEN will appeal to those who love the original, I felt there was more depth to this story. Maria is sent to the United States to live with friends of her parents after being bounced around between family members following their deaths. Her prickly disposition makes it difficult for others to accept her and for Maria to feel like she belongs anywhere. She discovers a locked and abandoned garden in the backyard of the home in which she’s staying, but her desire to revive it forces her to connect with two neighbourhood kids and a testy teen that challenge her beliefs about setting down roots. It’s unusual to see a story through the eyes of a character that many will consider very unlikeable, but the author’s letter at the beginning of the book set me up to read with compassion and understanding, which led to a uniquely enjoyable reading experience.

“It wasn’t a ghostly haunt, or a beautiful hideaway. But it was Maria’s…. She was going to make this garden as green as she had imagined it to be.”

Maria Latif has never really had a place she can call home. She grew up in Pakistan, but her parents were always shuttling her between relatives while they traveled—and when they died, it seemed like that would continue to be the case. But when self-proclaimed “difficult” Maria is shipped off to family friends in the United States, it isn’t what she expects. Mr. Clayborne—still mourning the loss of his first wife—is away on a business trip, his second wife is still trying to figure out how she fits into the family, and his sullen son is sent home from his fancy music conservatory under mysterious circumstances. Then, nature-loving Maria discovers a locked gate to an off-limits garden and things start looking up. But when her secret sanctuary is threatened, Maria must figure out how she can belong in a new place and what the meaning of home truly is.

A BIT OF EARTH is a fantastic reimagining of a classic story with brilliant elements that make it a classic in its own right. I loved the lyrical prose and the interspersed poetic verses that truly brought the story to life. Author Karuna Riazi demonstrates a complete mastery of who the characters are and the intricacies of the plot, bringing her own heritage and culture to the story in a way that captivates the heart and provides a fresh perspective. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Maria and Colin in this version of THE SECRET GARDEN, and I couldn’t help but hear the renowned songs from the musical in my head the entire time I was immersed in the story. Let me plant the seed in your head to grab yourself a copy of this enchanting novel today!

Content Warnings: Racism, death of a parent, mentioned car accident

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Magnificent one by Karuna and I really enjoyed reading this retelling. I was familiar with a film adaptation long ago before reading this one but it didn't disappoint.

I really enjoyed this Desi re-telling of The Secret Garden. I love to read stories with characters from all over the world and as a mother of 4 children I can tell you that my children do too.

The story starts our with orphaned Maria (more on the name later) arriving in NYC and being transferred from the care of an auntie to Mr. Clayborne's 2nd wife. From here we meet the usual characters: the grumpy old lady, the flighty middle aged lady, the spooky boy in the spare room, the nature boy and his sister in the yard... Very good adaption of the original plot, spun to a Hamptons settings.

I will add that this novel does a lot for the Pakistani / Bangladeshis / Muslim community. It shows the positives and negatives from being in such a diverse and generally religious community. Maria, Mimi, Colin, are all shown to be real people who treat their religion with reverence even as they are flawed. I would suggest a glossary because although I teach ESL and have students from all over the world from all religions in the world, some phrases were new to me and would certainly be new to anyone reading this book who is not part of this community.

The only thing that took me out of this story was the pronunciation of the main characters name. It is a few pages into the book when we learn that Maria's name is not pronounce Mar- I - a like one would in Spanish, Portuguese,
or other romance languages but Mahra. This took me out of the story every time I saw it for the whole 210 pages. It was a very foreign pronunciation to me even as someone who speaks multiple languages.

Other than this small qualm, I look forward to seeing more from Karuna Riazi

I would love to talk to Karuna on my podcast, Raise Your Words. A Bit of Earth is a fantastic book for Muslim kids. I can’t wait to read whatever Karuna writes next!!

I enjoyed this retelling of The Secret Garden. A lovely contemporary retelling with a Pakistani/Bangladeshi main character and a locked up garden she brings back to life, that will enchant you with its verse/prose and keep you reading chapter after chapter.

As I read A Bit of Earth, one of my first students came to mind: a quiet girl, a little prickly like Maria. Sydney didn't say much about her life outside the classroom, but she loved to read and talk about books. I'm pretty sure she would have devoured this one.

The introduction alone captured my heart; the world does need more books with "unlikable" characters finally getting the love and acceptance that they need. Author Karuna Riazi filled A Bit of Earth with warm and caring characters -- friends, neighbors, grandparents -- who show kindness and compassion to Maria when she really needs it.

A highly readable adaptation of The Secret Garden set in the contemporary US and told through the lens of a young Pakistani immigrant orphan. The cast is primarily BIPOC and compelling. The pleasant characters are easily likeable while the villains are suitably unpleasant without ever becoming over the top. I had mixed feelings about Colin's disability being transitioned to ADHD, but I have to admit the topic was handled sensitively overall. There's a lot of really excellent sounding meals described throughout the book, so don't read it hungry.

this was a cute and easy middle grade read! i wish there was a little more character development and i wasn’t as engaged as i’d like to have been but overall this was really enjoyable and i know i would have adored this as a kid :)

Secret Garden was one of my favorite childhood books. I found this retelling to be very sweet and light. It is also faithful to the original! liked the diversity aspect and liked learning about other cultures. Therefore, I recommend this for fans of House of Yesterday, Marya Khan, and Aru Shah!

https://www.slj.com/review/a-bit-of-earth

My starred review in School Library Journal:

Gr 4-8–This contemporary reenvisioning of The Secret Garden features Maria Latif, a Pakistani-Bangladeshi Muslim girl. Orphaned after her parents’ accident, Maria has been labeled difficult and is bounced from house to house. She is dispatched to stay with a friend of her father’s on Long Island, but arrives to find he is away on business and she is in the care of his second wife Lyndsay, his judgmental mother, and indifferent son, Colin. Exploring the grounds to escape the tense household, Maria discovers a locked gate and an old unkempt garden. With the help of new friends Mimi and Rick, Colin, and resources from Lyndsay, they collaborate to resurrect the garden that was originally cultivated by Colin’s deceased mother, Saira. Found family is a central theme as Maria struggles to find a place she can truly call home. The undertones of colonialism in the original version are changed appropriately. Maria’s character evolves, gently showing readers the coping skills she has developed to deal what she has been through, and how she is making new connections. Her Desi identity is represented authentically via foods, scents, clothing/dupatta, prayers, and mehndi, and the bit of earth she tends to brings up with memories of her parents. All of this provides comfort and familiarity. The hybrid prose/verse format provides a narrative that feels genuine, raw, and allows readers into the minds of the characters. A content warning is advised regarding the death of parents, racism, and colorism.VERDICT Destined to be a new classic, this refreshing of the canon is long overdue.Reviewed by Lisa Krok , Mar 01, 2023