Hannah's Garden [Hardcover]

Midori Snyder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 14, 2002

Seventeen-year-old Cassie Brittman is looking forward to her violin recital and the prom-and then the hospital calls. Her grandfather, noted painter Daniel Brittman, is dying. Cassie, her mother, Anne, and Anne's new boyfriend drive upstate to the farm where Anne was raised-and find that things are far from normal. The house is almost destroyed, except for Great-Grandmother Hannah's herb garden, and someone (or something) seems to be stalking them. Cassie soon finds herself at the center of an age-long battle between two supernatural clans-the sinister Red Clan and her own family, the Green Clan. For it turns out that Cassie's grandfather is half nature spirit, half human. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A mystical spiral garden that is also a gateway to another world blooms at the center of Snyder's (The Innamorati) tightly woven fantasy, a potent blend of faery and family conflicts. Cassiopeia Emma Brittman, 17, and Anne, who's more like a sister than a mom, haven't visited her grandfather, Daniel Brittman, in over two years, due to his serious illness. When the hospital calls to let them know the famous artist's condition has worsened, they rush to his side, accompanied by Anne's new boyfriend. They are shocked to find Poppie not only seriously ill but possibly in danger from his secretive caregiver. The family farm has been systematically vandalized, as has the elaborate garden planted by Cassie's great-grandmother, Hannah. The discovery sends a wake-up call to Cassie, who has been preparing for a violin recital, finals and the prom, wholly unaware that two faerie factions, the Green Clan and the Red Clan, have been waging a war for control of the all-important garden. Her mom, the late-blooming college student, receives a similar jolt, and both learn that power of love makes the real magic. Thanks to Snyder's gift for description, readers may feel as if they can hear the music or smell the fragrance of the garden's rare woodland species; the audience will be hooked. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-This inventive, beautifully written fantasy tells the story of a seemingly ordinary 17-year-old swept up in the battle between two clans of supernatural beings. Cassie Brittman lives with her mother, Anne, a self-absorbed college student. Despite an unusual family history, she struggles to be a regular teen, practicing her violin and spending time with her boyfriend. When her reclusive grandfather falls ill, her mother forces her to drop everything so that they can rush back to the farm where she was raised. The first half of the story centers on the conflict between Cassie and Anne, whose irresponsible ways often push her daughter into the parental role. However, Snyder drops hints from the beginning-Cassie's green thumb, her odd encounter with a winter hare, a dangerous but strangely alluring boy on a motorcycle-that this is more than a novel about a dysfunctional family. Eventually, Cassie learns the truth: the Brittmans are linked by blood to nature spirits who want her help in fighting a dark and threatening rival clan. Some readers may grow impatient as these secrets are slowly revealed, but they will be riveted by the thrilling battle in the final chapters. Snyder's use of language is especially poetic in describing nature, including the farm's flora and fauna and the magical creatures of the Green Clan. This satisfying mix of real-life problems and lovingly described magic will please most fantasy readers.
Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (October 14, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670035777
• ISBN-13: 978-0670035779
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #176,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"Midori Snyder is the author of eight books for children and adults, published in English, French, and Dutch. She won the Mythopoeic Award for The Innamorati, a novel inspired by early Roman myth and the Italian "Commedia dell'Arte" tradition. Other novels include The Flight of Michael McBride (a mythic western), Soulstring (a lyrical fairy tale), The Oran Trilogy: New Moon, Sadar's Keep, and Beldan's Fire (imaginary-world fantasy, recently re-published in Vikings's Firebird line), and Hannah's Garden (a contemporary faery novel for young adults). Except the Queen, a novel written in collaboration with Jane Yolen is forthcoming in 2010.

Her short stories have appeared in numerous venues including the The Armless Maiden; Black Thorn, White Rose; Xanadu III; Swan Sister; Borderland; and The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror. Recent stories have appeared in Young Adult anthologies, The Greenman, Tales From the Mythic Forest and Troll's Eye View, A Book of Villianous Tales. Her nonfiction has appeared in Realms of Fantasy and other magazines, and in essay collections including Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Women Writers Explore Their Favorite Fairy Tales.

In addition to writing, she co-directs The Endicott Studio for Mythic Arts with Terri Winding. She co-edited and designed the online Journal of Mythic Arts from 2003 - 2008; and she served as chairwoman on the judges' panel for the 2007 James Tiptree, Jr. Awards.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hannah's Garden the best book in the libray., March 22, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Hannah's Garden (Hardcover)

Hannah's Garden is the best book in the libray at my school and in my towns too.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book, July 2, 2009

By 

Jessica Jarvi (Fairfield, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hannah's Garden (Paperback)

I really liked this book. It was a quick read, but was beautifully written and enjoyable.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hannah's Garden is a Mystical Story, January 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Hannah's Garden (Hardcover)

Midori Snyder's book Hannah's Garden is a wonderful journey through a mythical world where two ancient clans battle in a world hidden through out nature. This story draws the reader in through the eyes of Cassie Brittman, a typical teenager with a life that turns far from typical. Other colorful characters are added to the plot to build the suspence and interest. Some are realistic and others are strange and mysterious that keeps the reader wondering where they fit into the big picture.

I found this book very interesting and at times even a bit confusing, but it was a magical tale that made me keep turning the pages to find out what would happen next. This would be a wonderful book for anyone who likes fantasy tales that dance with magic and add a touch of the unusual.