The Garden of Eve
by K. L. Going

    THE GARDEN OF EVE by K. L. Going
    Category:  Fantasy
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  10/1/07
    Publisher:  Harcourt
    Reviewed by:  Dianna Geers
    Rating:  5 Stars


    Evie’s mother used to make up stories for her. They were magical, beautiful, and so terribly missed when her
    mother died. Evie is miserable without her mother, and her father decides to sell the home their family had once
    shared and move onto an apple orchard. That only makes life more miserable for Evie.

    The apple orchard is grey, the trees are all dead, and they haven’t produced fruit in years. Evie’s father is busy
    beyond belief working in the orchard. That leaves Evie with endless hours of time alone. In the cemetery she
    meets a boy who tells her his name is Alex. Except Alex is the little boy from their new town who died. His
    gravestone is right there.

    Evie begins to spend more and more time with Alex. She also receives a mysterious seed that grows into a tree
    overnight. And that tree produces apples. Apples that, when bitten, take Evie and Alex to a magical place—lush
    plants and life are everywhere. It’s exactly like the town they live in now, except everything is beautiful. Plants
    are growing everywhere. Father’s orchard is growing well; beautiful curtains are on her house. It is the way it
    would be if her mother lived there.

    Is this the place where her mother told her she’d meet her? She said that after she died, she’d wait for Evie in a
    beautiful garden. Evie had given up on all of that magic and nonsense. But, maybe, just maybe, she'll find her
    mother. But why does Alex keep running around? What is it that he’s looking for so desperately? And won’t
    her father be worried about her?

    Should she stay in this beautiful place? Should she go back? Is this where Alex is supposed to stay? Should she
    leave without him?

    It’s difficult to explain the complexity of THE GARDEN OF EVE. It is beautiful, painful, and I wasn’t even able
    to convey the suspense and surprises that fill the pages without giving away too much of the story. This book is
    sad. It is hopeful. It is magical. This will be another award-winner for the author, K. L. Going.