A Bit of Earth

By: Karuna Riazi

Narrated by: Subhadra Newton

“Destined to be a new classic.” —School Library Journal, (starred review)

“This story will find its way into your heart.”—Tae Keller, Newbery Medalist for When You Trap a Tiger

What might happen when a young, overlooked orphan feels the sudden urge to put down roots in the most unexpected of places? This tender coming-of-age story about friendship, family, and new beginnings is a reimagining of the classic The Secret Garden. Perfect for fans of Other Words for Home and The Bridge Home.

For as long as she can remember, Maria Latif has been bounced between reluctant relatives. And it never takes long for her guardians to tire of her. So when old friends of her parents offer to “give her a better life” in the United States, Maria is shipped to a host family across the world.

Nothing in Long Island is what Maria expected. The Claybornes seem unprepared and inexplicable things keep happening in their sprawling house. Could it be magic? Or Maria's overactive imagination? And then Maria finds the locked gate to an off-limits garden. Since she’s never been good at following rules, Maria decides to investigate and discovers something she never thought she’d find: a place where she feels at home.

Told in rich prose interspersed with evocative free verse poetry, this tender yet incisive reimagining of The Secret Garden will captivate fans of the classic—and widen the appeal for a modern audience.

“As timeless as it is timely, A Bit of Earth is a rare gift.”—Laurel Snyder, author of National Book Award nominee Orphan Island

“Extraordinary, poetic, and inventive. A Bit of Earth is such a special book.”—Jasmine Warga, author of Newbery Honor book Other Words for Home

a beautiful retelling

This retelling of The Secret Garden was lovingly updated & I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.

Maria is having to grow up while being shipped from place to place after being recently orphaned. Her "sour" demeanor is completely understandable from that perspective, and I truly appreciated the care the author put into her grief.

In addition to South Asian rep, there's neruodivergent rep.

This is a beautiful retelling, and I definitely recommend.