I have been looking for this young adult’s book for some time without success. I can’t remember any words of the title, it was aimed at 10-12 year olds. I read it in around 1990-1995, but it may have been published in the 1970s or 1980s. I’m pretty sure it was a British author, but it may have been American/Canadian. It was a slim paperback and I seem to remember that it came in a boxed set with a 3 or four other books, not necessarily by the same writer, but similar fantasy/magic genre. The story followed a young boy or girl who was staying with a relative somewhere, perhaps on holiday, who one day crawled under a hedge in the neighbourhood and into the garden/grounds of a wealthy and mysterious family, who turn out to be magical (possibly wizards). S/he meets and befriends the young girl who lives there who shows her various magical things but they keep their friendship secret as the other wizards/magical relatives would be angry if they found out she had come in to the garden. The family lives in a large and beautiful house and there is a magical lake in the garden which the two children sail across to an island in the center. They are later placed in danger when someone finds out the child is in the magic garden. I remember this being a wonderful story and would so love to find it! It is not Tom’s Midnight Garden or Timothy and the Witch.
Stump the Bookseller
New format, same book stumper solving.
Is it Magic by the Lake or The Time Garden in Edward Eager’s Half Magic series?
Thank you very much, no, I’ve looked these up and they’re not the book I’m looking for, but they look like great stories so I’m going to get them for my niece.
Could it be The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit? I think that’s the one with an island in the lake, but it might have been one of her other titles. Wet Magic, perhaps.
Thank you very much for your suggestion. I’ve had a look at the synopsis of this book and unfortunately it’s not the one I’m looking for. Thank you for your help though!
oh! My last post made me think of Andre Norton’s Magic Series. Could it be one of those? In Steel Magic, three siblings find an island in a lake after going through a hedge. I don’t remember much more, but it might be worth checking.
Thank you so much again, Kelly. I’ve looked this up and it’s not the right one, sadly, as there definitely wasn’t anything to do with King Arthur in the book I’m looking for. I’m very grateful to you for taking the time to suggest it though.
Long shot, but if it’s none of the above, it might be something by Jane Langton.
Thank you very much for the tip, I will look up her books and see if one of them could be the book I’m looking for. Thank you!
Perhaps “A Visit to Folly Castle” by Nina Beachcroft? A british girl named Emma finds a family living in a previously deserted mansion. There is a girl her own age who she secretly visits- the family is very secretive and have magical powers. I believe at the end they are revealed to be descendents of the lost civilization of Atlantis. All the elements you describe in your query are in the book.
I think this could be it!!!! THANK YOU!!! I have ordered it and will let you know once I’ve looked at it. Fingers crossed!!! Thank you very much for suggesting this.
Dear Sherri, I’ve received ‘A Visit to Folly Castle’ and you were absolutely right, this is the book I’ve been looking for (for years!)! Thank you so much for you help, I’m overjoyed to be reunited with it!
So happy I could help!