anyaemilie's reviews
1507 reviews

Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline

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4.0

I think a lot of the people giving this book negative reviews and DNFing because of "immature characters" or "condescending writing" need to take a second to remember who the target audience for these books is. No, this series isn't about 17, 18 or 19-year-olds dealing with end of high school issues or having sex or riding dragons or killing people or whatever else happens in a lot of YA these days. (That's not to say those books don't have a place.)

But YA readers are also younger, and often overlooked. A 15-year-0ld MC in a YA book is a rarity these days, and one that I welcome as someone who struggled to find books appropriate and, yes, easy enough for middle schoolers to read. The gap between middle grade and YA is HUGE. Much more so than when I was of the age to read books like this. So to find a book that bridges that gap, and one that does it well, is a gift, in my opinion.

No, this book won't be for everyone. No book is. But I ask that adults reviewing this book, and any of the other books in this series, stop for a second to think who this book might actually appeal to. Think about the fact that that so much YA is unfortunately marketed towards adults instead of the teenagers it should be written for. I have loved all the books I've read in this series, and I expect to enjoy the ones I haven't yet read. I would hope that the rest of the adults reading these can be slightly more open-minded when approaching these books, especially since they're very different from most YA novels that are being sold right now. 

I didn't say much about the book itself in this long-winded review, but I did really enjoy it. As someone who loved The Secret Garden as a child, I thought this twist on the story offered unique perspectives and history while retaining the message and heart of the original story.