Plotting the Stars 1: Moongarden

Plotting the Stars 1: Moongarden by Michelle A. Barry, published by Holiday House on September 12, 2023, is a 368-page work of juvenile fiction that blends science fiction with themes of self-esteem and social challenges. This story follows Myra Hodger, a student at an elite school on the Moon, as she grapples with the pressures of living up to her famous parents’ legacy while confronting her own insecurities. When she discovers a hidden garden filled with toxic plants, Myra embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about herself and the secrets that lie within this mysterious space.
Readers will find a narrative that intertwines adventure and personal growth, as Myra navigates her feelings of isolation and the weight of parental expectations. The book explores the implications of failed climate change policies and the quest for identity in a dystopian setting. With a vibrant heroine and a robot sidekick, Moongarden presents a fresh take on classic themes, inviting readers to engage with both the magic of the garden and the challenges of self-discovery.
Official synopsis Publisher
“Moongarden blooms with heart and adventure. A stellar update of The Secret Garden, woven with a little science-fiction, a lot of magic, a vibrant heroine, and a plucky robot sidekick to rival R2-D2.”
—Victoria Aveyard, New York Times bestselling author
Now in paperback! The Secret Garden meets The City of Ember as an unlikely heroine confronts loneliness and crippling parental expectations, finding her seed of courage to weed out an intergalactic government conspiracy tied to failed climate change policy in this STEM-inspired series starter.
Centuries ago, Earth’s plants turned toxic, rendering life on the planet impossible, and humanity took to space to cultivate new homes. Myra Hodger is in her first year at an elite school on the Moon to train and develop her Creer in math as a Number Whisper—like her famous Number Whisperer parents. But she’s crumbling under the pressure, she doesn’t fit in, and worst of all, the tattoos that signal her Creer growing aren’t developing. In her heart, she knows she doesn’t have a Creer, and soon, everyone else will, too.
Wandering the school while cutting class one day, she discovers a secret lab hidden behind one of the unused classrooms, and beyond that, a secret garden overflowing with plants. Dangerous toxic plants.
But as Myra learns the garden isn’t a threat, she begins to wonder if she does have a Creer—one that died out when the Earth did. If she wants to learn the truth about the garden and herself, she’ll have to hurry. There are those who’ll do anything to take these secrets to the grave.
Re-envisioning The Secret Garden for a new generation, Moongarden introduces a dynamic heroine who just might grow a revolution.
Named to the Texas Lone Star Reading List
An Indiana Young Hoosiers Book Award Nominee
Named to Read Aloud Indiana Middle Grade List
Named to the Great Words Great Books List (Official Book List of the Scripps National Spelling Bee)
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Plotting the Stars 1: Moongarden” about?
Who is the author of “Plotting the Stars 1: Moongarden”?
When was “Plotting the Stars 1: Moongarden” published?
What is the ISBN for “Plotting the Stars 1: Moongarden”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
