There is something magical about looking at the world with a teenager’s eyes, at least for me. Maybe it is one of the reasons I like reading a well written YA book so much, especially when the setting is a fantasy or paranormal world. I can just tag along with the main character and see the world through their eyes. ‘The Midnight Gardener’ is a perfect example of this: Thaddeus is fifteen, has moved from place to place too often to want to remember, and now that he has arrived in Superstition, a small and slightly creepy town with a very fitting name, he is about to discover some unexpected truths about the world, his parents, and himself. I watched with bated breath as a whole new world unfolded before him, filled with not just the magic of a new friendship with Teofil, the boy next door, but also a lot of revelations about his past.

Thaddeus has not had a stable life. His father kept moving them from town to town as Thaddeus grew up, and Thaddeus has given up on ever having friends. This newest move to Superstition feels no different – until Thaddeus discovers the mysterious “midnight gardener” next door. His name is Teofil, he is about the same age as Thaddeus – and he is a garden gnome! This is only the tip of the iceberg though, and Thaddeus makes one discovery after another, not all of them as benign as Teofil’s true heritage. There are threats, monsters, family secrets, an ancient feud, and magic to discover. I can’t say much more without spoiling the story for you, but I can say that there is lots of action and some great moments in this novella.

If you like stories set in a magical world, if you enjoy finding out secrets of all kinds right along with the main character of an action-packed story, and if you’re looking for a read full of mystery, discoveries, and the beginning of a boy’s first love, then you will probably love this novella as much as I do. It ends on a cliff-hanger of breathtaking proportions, and I can’t wait to read the sequel!


NOTE: This book was provided by Harmony Ink Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )