The Song of Orphan's Garden by Nicole M. Hewitt

What worked:

A middle-grade novel in verse, especially one with over 350 pages, is uncommon but this one tells an engaging story. The king of the giants is a ruthless man and he’s learned to control the Winter Spirits. He views Humans almost as parasites and he’ll be happy if they all die in the winter wastelands. His cruelty is on display when he punishes one of his soldiers for not killing a group of Humans and letting them get away. A twelve-year-old Giant boy named Brob watches his father face the king’s wrath and is shocked when his family is exiled into the land of the Winter Spirits. At least the king didn’t have them all executed but that may have been a kinder fate than the slow, painful death that awaits.

The story is mostly told from the perspectives of Brob and a Human girl named Lyriana. Lyriana and her little brother Zave have lost their mother so they’re struggling to survive the Winter Spirits, hoping to reach the rumored Orphan’s Garden. Lyriana is a very rare Storysummoner and she can use her mother’s ocarina to play magical tunes. She can summon Fermata from the ground which can be used to combat the Winter Spirits. However, the song takes something from the Storysummoner, and Lyriana’s mother died from giving too much. Only a rare Giant called a Greensgrower can convert the Fermata into something useful and guess which Giant can do it? Brob created the Orphan’s Garden at the age of six and its song is now guiding him back to the sanctuary. The Garden understands the symbiotic relationship between Humans and Giants but will Brob learn it in time?

An advantage to writing in verse is the author can emphasize certain thoughts and emotions to manipulate words and language and create more meaningful descriptions. “Searing, ice-cold pain – ripping through – my chest with each breath” describes Lyriana’s suffering while journeying to the Orphan’s Garden. When Brob discovers Humans in his garden… “My head shouts MINE! – My heart howls MINE! – ‘THIS PLACE IS MINE!’ I roar.” The author even shares thoughts of a wall built around the garden. “I make no judgments – just silently watch the – clash of Giants and Humans – and the rise of the Winter Spirits – who threaten to rip you all apart. – If you don’t manage to do it yourselves.”

What didn’t work as well:

A full book of this length in verse won’t appeal to every middle-grade reader. It’s written in free verse as there’s no rhyming pattern or stanzas of the same length. This style works better since rhymes and patterns might make the book feel monotonous.

The final verdict:

I’m not typically a fan of books in verse but this one tells a heartfelt, gripping tale of discord and harmony. The author skillfully crafts the words that elicit a myriad of emotions. Overall, it’s a spellbinding story and I recommend you give it a shot.