children’s literature is the most important thing to ever exist ever ??????????26 s1 comment Brin115 6

I'm honestly blown away by how good this book is. Might well be my top read of the year so far, and it's going to be hard to beat.

Greenwild is about a little girl called Daisy who travels the world with her famous journalist mother. When her mother takes a dangerous job she leaves Daisy behind in the care of a boarding school and it's when she's left alone that, through means I shan't spoil, that Daisy finds her way into a magical other-world called the Greenwild.

It's tempting to n Greenwild to Alice in Wonderland, or in general the Isekai genre, and I would say it falls into that category as one of the best examples of the trope I've come across. The world building is fantastical, botanical and hugely satisfying, drawing on the author's obvious knowledge of plantlife (and their definite love of botanic gardens!) to create an achingly beautiful and endlessly fascinating setting you'd give anything to visit.

The story also has some strong messages, both about caring for our environment and about what it's to feel 'othered'; how small Daisy is made to feel when she the people in the Greenwild insult or alienate her because she is from the 'Greyside' (our world), and how it runs parallel to her experiences as an Iranian-English girl and as someone who has spent their life uprooted without any real sense of home.

The most satisfying thing about the story is how so much comes together at the climax of the book. Some of it I saw coming and other parts I didn't, but what matters isn't whether you 'call' a plot twist so much as how the author handles the delivery, and Pari absolutely nails it.

My only thing I didn't so much was that whilst Pari Thompson has an incredible talent for similes, and comes up with the most amazing comparisons that read so beautifully, I did feel there was an excess of them (oftentimes 3 a page) and so, especially towards the climax when I was utterly enthralled by the story itself, I kind of wished that a few had been cut for the sake of keeping up the pacing.

All in all, Greenwild fully deserves to be a worldwide acclaimed children's novel, and frankly not being animated one day by studio ghibli or something with a similar eye for beauty and detail would be an injustice. PLEASE tell me there's going to be a sequel?21 s Renee Godding729 858

5/5 stars

“Planting a seed is an act of hope” said Brightly’s voice in her ear. “It means you have faith in the future. Think of that hope, and don’t let go.”

Magical school, botanical magic, found family and a cast of delightful characters, including a cute animal companion. Has Pari Thomson penned my perfect middle-grade comfort-read...? I think so!2023-releases childrens-and-middlegrade renée-recommends ...more17 s Jamie Dacyczyn1,824 100

Ehhh....three stars. This middle reader fantasy was *fine*, but I don't feel any desire to read the sequel, and I almost DNFed a few times because I was bored with the story.

Ok, now as much as I hate referring to books as a Such-and-Such Wannabe...I have to. I have to. This book, to me, feels a plant-based Harry Potter wannabe. There were SO many parallels, that once I noticed a couple of things, it was hard not to pick apart everything that followed.

Orphaned(ish) 11 year old discovers that they belong to a hidden magical world where everyone has ridiculous names. They're enrolled in a magical school, and quickly make new friends (including a really brainy girl and a boy who feels overshadowed by his older siblings). There is another kid who's really pointy-faced, really mean, and really xenophobic. The adults are kind, except for a dark brooding suspicious man who's disgruntled about not getting the promotion he wanted....Our protagonist does a lot of sneaking around, spies on this dark brooding guy, gets caught, gets in trouble (the brainy girl is horrified at getting school punishments), and in the end the dark brooding guy who seemed totally sus was actually on the side of good, and the double-dealer helping the ultimate baddie was actually the feeble innocent-seeming teacher that no one suspected. Oh, also, mail is delivered by bird. Oh, also there's a magical stone that the ultimate baddie wants, as well as another magical object that grants extended life. Oh, also there's a sort of portal that allows the main character to see their father, whom they'd never met. Oh, also, in the end the main character is arbitrarily awarded all kinds of points so that they basically win, even though they didn't follow the rules.

Honestly, the primary difference between Daisy and Harry Potter is that Daisy isn't immediately good at magic, and doesn't become, , the youngest Seeker in a hundred years. Yeah, she turns out to be the granddaughter of the wise old leader so she's still special, but it's less Chosen One feeling.

Basically, if you wished Hogwarts was just Herbology class all the time, this book's for you.

I will say that the audiobook narrator was good. She really gave it her all.fantasy good-as-audio middle-readers ...more15 s2 comments Celeste1,015 2,442

Actual rating: 4.5 stars.

Is there anything more delightful than finding a magical new story that can be loved by readers of any age? The last such book I found was Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, and the series that follows it. While created for middle grade readers, the writing and the story being told are well-crafted enough to appeal to any adult reader. I would put Greenwild in the same category. As an added bonus, the book itself is gorgeous, chock-full of illustrations, large and small. There’s even a full-colored map serving as the endpapers!

Daisy Thistledown has lived life on the road. Her mom, Leila, is a famous investigative journalist specializing in environmental politics. The globetrotting nature of Daisy’s childhood has been charming but lonely, and she regrets that she’s never been able to put down roots. But when Leila goes missing and Daisy is being chased through London, she finds her way into a world within our world: Greenwild, the home of a botanical magic that Daisy never knew existed. While Daisy is terribly worried about her mother, she also finds her place in the world for the first time. In Greenwild, she finds not only magical plants, but friends and a sense of belonging and, for the first time in her life, a home.

Greenwild was billed as The Secret Garden meets A Wrinkle in Time. I absolutely agree with that first comparison. The second is a bit more of a stretch; the only real commonality is the fact that the Greenwild, the magical world of this book, exists in pocket dimensions within our own world. The pockets are entered through various botanical gardens, which I thought was a really fun decision. I’ve also seen some Harry Potter comparisons that I think are fair. The magical school here feels very much life a Hogwarts that is completely focussed on Herbology. There’s a Snape character, a bit of a Draco and a somewhat Hermione. There were things about the story that felt very reminiscent of Harry Potter. However, I didn’t find it derivative. I thought it was unique enough to feel in part inspired by these stories while still being very much its own thing.

There is going to be at least one more book in this series, and I can’t wait to see what happens never with Daisy and her friends. I really enjoyed my time with this story, and it’s one that I think my niece is going to love in a few years. I would recommend this to readers of any age who are looking for something fantastical and whimsical with plenty of plot. And if you happen to be a plant person, I think you’re really going to love Greenwild.fantasy middle-grade6 s Christine Heron636 4

Let me tell you - this is THE book that should follow Harry Potter to the top of children’s publishing. It is that good! A strong, somewhat quirky female heroine. Fun, whimsical animal characters that make you smile. Evil characters and eccentric characters that make you question which is which. Mystery and intrigue keeping you guessing. Science and magic intertwined in beautiful writing. Give this to every kid, big and little, that loves to read!6 s Hannah Rials JensenAuthor 8 books55

An absolutely timeless magical adventure story. I felt I was reading a book from my childhood - a mixture of Narnia and Journey to the Riversea but with botanical magic.
Great, lovable characters, action filled plot with twists, an epic amount of danger. Loved it!6 s Sarahmarie14

I wanted so much to this book! But too much telling rather than showing, combined with too-long descriptions of the magical world & too little plot or dialogue...maybe I'll revisit it someday when I'm feeling more patient.6 s Hanna Fogel232 18

I unfortunately kill most plants I come into contact with, but I loved this world so, so much and I hope we get more of it!arc macmillan-farrar-straus-and-giroux middle-grade6 s Tracy Wood1,058 12

Ever since the death of her father, twelve-year-old Daisy Thistledown has spent each day with her mother, Leila, as she is home schooled, and is already an experienced traveller because her Ma is a famous political journalist. Her latest assignment, investigating a spate of missing scientists, is deemed too dangerous for Daisy however and she is sent to a boarding school where she will wait for Leila to return.

When the school tells Daisy her mother has disappeared she gathers all the special things Ma had left with her and heads to Kew Gardens, one of their happy places. Without meaning to Daisy finds her way through into an amazing world known as the Greenwild, where she witnesses things beyond her imagination. Still worried sick about Ma, Daisy enlists her new friends and the commander of her new home to try and discover what happened but it's soon clear everything in Greenwild is under threat and that threat is getting ever closer.

I just loved this book so much! Daisy and her friends are very able and everything that happens has a reason behind it, all of which comes together in an amazing final few chapters to provide the most satisfying of endings. The book is beautifully written with many special moments and is an outstanding series starter. I read a lot of Middle Grade fiction and this is one of the best yet. Book two is already on my shopping list.

Highly recommended.5 s Shauna119

I really wanted to this book. It started out well, and Daisy is a likable character. But it's too much of a Harry Potter clone.5 s Reilly Zimbric270 9

Basic4 s Vanessa N Bock56 4

The first book in an eco-fantasy middle grade series.
The book combines adventure and exploration with vibrant green magic, the love for nature in all its wild and animate forms and fantastic worldbuilding along with beautiful illustrations. If you are interested in portal fantasy, botany and diverse and quirky characters (human and non-human a), feel free to dive in. It's a wild ride.
Do not hesitate to pick up this book regardless of your age. It is stunning and you won't regret every hour you spend immersed in this story. Embedded in this, is a highly important message about the importance of caring after our environment and planet. Love it. Cannot wait for its sequel. Stunning.
I love stories where humans and nature are working together, their gifts combined, the reciprocity and being in relation with. 4 s Tess Evens196 29

Ahhhh!!! This was so good! I want to live in the magical world of Greenwild
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