âKaruna Riazi has a way with words. This story will find its way into your heart.ââTae Keller, Newbery Medalist for When You Trap a Tiger
âAs timeless as it is timely, A Bit of Earth is a rare gift.ââLaurel Snyder, author of National Book Award nominee Orphan Island
âExtraordinary, poetic, and inventive. A Bit of Earth is such a special book. Prickles and all, Maria Latif captured my whole heart.ââJasmine Warga, author of Newbery Honor book Other Words for Home
âAn ambitious re-envisioning of a long beloved classic, this book is sure to be a big hit.ââPadma Venkatraman, award-winning author of The Bridge Home
âBeautiful! Simply beautiful! My heart needed this!ââEllen Oh, author of Finding Junie Kim
âA sweet and warm-hearted tale with unforgettable characters.ââAisha Saeed, bestselling author of Amal Unbound
Maria Latif is used to not having a space of her own. But what happens when she feels the sudden urge to put down roots in the most unexpected of places? Karuna Riazi crafts a tender coming-of-age story about friendship, family, and new beginnings. A Bit of Earth is a reimagining of the classic The Secret Garden, perfect for fans of Other Words for Home and The Bridge Home.
Growing up in Pakistan, Maria Latif has been bounced between reluctant relatives for as long as she can rememberâfirst because of her parentsâ constant travel, and then because of their deaths. Maria has always been a difficult child, and it never takes long for her guardians to tire of her. So when old friends of her parents offer to âgive her a better lifeâ in the United States, Maria is shipped to a host family across the world.
When Maria arrives on Long Island, things are not quite what she was expecting. Mr. Clayborne has left on an extended business trip, Mrs. Clayborne seems emotionally fraught, and inexplicable things keep happening in the Claybornesâ sprawling house. And then Maria finds a locked gate to an off-limits garden. Since sheâs never been good at following rules, Maria decides to investigate and discovers something she never thought sheâd find: a place where she feels at home.
With a prickly main character, a sullen boy, two friendly allies, and a locked garden, A Bit of Earth has everything a reader could want from a retelling of The Secret Garden. Karuna Riaziâs evocative prose is interspersed with poetic verses, illuminating each characterâs search for a place they can truly call home. This tender yet incisive reimagining of a classic work will captivate fans of the originalâand widen the appeal for a modern audience.