Greenwild The world behind the door

Daisy Thistledown is used to the more ordinary magic that comes in the form of international travel and high-seas adventure, as her fearless journalist mother often whisks her away to to far-off places for her investigative articles. But when her mother goes missing on a dangerous assignment, a bereft Daisy discovers an unusual key that accesses Greenwild, a miraculous world of magic--specifically, a botanical magic that used to be accessible to the whole world but is now available only to the very few. When it's revealed that someone is out to use Greenwild's power for nefarious purposes, a determined Daisy resolves to find her mother and save her newfound home. This fabulous first entry in a series is brimming with marvels and magic, but it also tackles topics like environmental destruction and fear of immigrants and outsiders. Stunning imagery and a deeply detailed magic system will draw in young readers, and occasional illustrations and illuminations add to the enchantment. A reassuring reminder of the endless amount of magic in the natural world.

Plant magic and majestic botanicals add fresh twists to debut author Thomson's series kickoff, a novel tinged with Frances Hodgson Burnett vibes. Eleven-year-old Daisy Thistledown, who is of English and Persian descent, usually travels the world with her intrepid reporter mother, but she's left at a London boarding school while her mom chases a dangerous assignment in Peru. When her mom is presumed dead after a plane crash, and the school Matron's actions turn both cruel and suspicious, Daisy and kitten Napoleon flee for London's Kew Gardens, where her mother bid her go if anything went wrong. There, Daisy--who's always had a strange connection with plants--is stunned to find an entry to a botanical realm called Greenwild, cared for by magical Botanists. Discovering that her mother is one of many Greenwilders to go missing from the Amazon, Daisy seeks to find out what is behind the disappearances in the mundane world, called the Grayside. Though conveniently rendered circumstances sometimes detract from this bright conservationist fantasy, Daisy's globe-trotting experiences grant her a mature worldview as she contends with a new magical reality, and a hidden-garden-set subplot proves affectionatly wrought. Lavish b&w illustrations by Paganelli and Baker portray characters, gardens, and botanical visuals. Ages 8--12. Author's agent: Peter Knapp, Park and Fine Literary. (June)

Gr 5 Up--A superbly written, exciting debut that will leave fantasy lovers wanting more. Eleven-year-old Persian-British protagonist Daisy Thistledown lives a nomadic life of adventure, following her journalist mother as she chases global stories. Then, Ma goes missing while on assignment. Following her mother's last request, Daisy seeks refuge in Greenwild, a hidden world of botanical magicians ("Botanists") and discovers she is one of them. While unraveling the mystery of Ma's disappearance, Daisy and her new friends uncover a plot that threatens the entire planet. The children's harrowing adventures propel the story. Their efforts to stop the nature-destroying Grim Reapers end in a dramatic battle where Daisy's heroism shines. Thomson expertly uses figurative language to establish setting and engage readers. This title is perfect for fantasy fans and as a fiction accompaniment to conservation units. VERDICT With its clever worldbuilding, high-stakes plot, and well-developed characters, this first novel in the "Greenwild" series is a must-purchase.--Maria Bohan

A hidden door in Kew Gardens leads a child to life-changing truths about herself and her family. Having spent most of her life traveling around the world with Leila, her intrepid eco-journalist mother, 11-year-old Daisy Thistledown has acquired useful skills, from shoplifting to slingshot expertise, but not magic--or so she thinks. In the wake of her mother's sudden disappearance in the Amazon, Daisy enters Mallowmarsh, one of a set of pocket universes called the Greenwild where magical flora and the Botanists who preserve and study them shelter from the hostile Grayside, as they call our world. Met with both welcome and suspicion, Daisy quickly fits in without losing her determination to return to the Grayside to search for Leila and goes on to play a pivotal role in saving Mallowmarsh from mysterious eco-cidal villains dubbed Grim Reapers. The author tucks in a standard-issue magical school for Daisy to attend, though largely just as a setting for occasional class encounters with viciously feral plants, and kits her out with a lively supporting cast complete with a ghost, several previously unknown relatives, and (in the role of Draco Malfoy) bully "Poison" Ivy Helix to sneer at her supposed lack of magic and deride her for being an "unlawful immigrant." Daisy's mother is Persian, and her deceased English father is cued White. Finely detailed illustrations by Paganelli join Baker's equally exact botanical ones. Another magic school story, albeit expertly wrought and worth planting on shelves for its cogent themes. (map) (Fantasy. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.