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The Serial Garden

The Complete Armitage Family Stories
By Joan Aiken, MBE
Series: Virago Modern Classics
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Check link for latest rating. ( 749 ratings, 154 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Serial Garden by Joan Aiken is a delightful collection of short stories centred around Armitage family adventures. An unexpected discovery of a magical garden introduces them to whimsical and mysterious happenings. Each tale combines charm and creativity, featuring encounters with fantastic creatures and enchantments, captivating young readers with its imaginative narrative style.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this collection if you love magical tales full of whimsical adventures and a touch of the unexpected. These stories offer a delightful escape into a world where imagination takes centre stage, perfect for children and anyone young at heart. The author's enchanting storytelling and imaginative characters make it a charming read for those who appreciate classic children's literature.

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The Serial Garden

Joan Aiken, classic author of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, wrote the Armitage family stories from when she was a teenager onwards. This is the first time the stories have been collected together.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE

'She's one of the most important and interesting children's fiction writers of the last fifty years' NEIL GAIMAN

'What a thrill to discover this gem from the witty and endlessly inventive Joan Aiken' CHRIS RIDDELL

'She is one of the writers I admire most in the world' KATHERINE RUNDELL

'She was a literary treasure, and her books will continue to delight for years to come' PHILIP PULLMAN

'The most swooningly romantic story you'll ever read - The Serial Garden' FRANK COTTRELL-BOYCE

'I wish we'll have two children called Mark and Harriet. And I hope lots of interesting and unusual things will happen to them. It would be nice if they had a fairy godmother, for instance. And a phoenix or something out of the ordinary for a pet. We could have a special day for interesting and unusual things to happen - say, Mondays. But not always Mondays, and not only Mondays, or that would get a bit dull'

As a result of their mother's honeymoon wish, Mark and Harriet Armitage have a fairy godmother, a pet unicorn and are prepared for anything life can throw at them (especially, but not always, on a Monday): hatching griffins in the airing cupboard, Latin lessons with a ghost, furious Furies on the doorstep and an enchanted garden locked inside a cereal packet. Life with the Armitages can be magical, funny, terrifying - but never, ever dull.

'A delightful summary of one side of Aiken's talent: whimsical, funny, a series of brilliantly imaginative ideas stitched together with dream logic . . . It is the mixture of irrepressible gaiety and invention with the tragic that makes Aiken one of the great children's authors . . . impossible to calculate the number of people who have enjoyed her books - who have had some magic injected into the mundane' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Series: Virago Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Serial Garden by Joan Aiken is celebrated for its inexhaustible invention and sheer storytelling zest, making her a treasured figure in children's literature. Critics highlight her wild humour and unrestrained imagination, ensuring her works continue to captivate new generations.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349005850

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 August 2015

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Virago Press Ltd

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Peter Bailey

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 167.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 307g

Pages: 448

Collections

Children's Books Children’s, Teenage and Educational Joan Aiken, MBE Series: Virago Modern Classics

About the Author

Joan Aiken (Author)

Joan Aiken (1924-2004) was born in Rye, Sussex. She was the daughter of the American poet Conrad Aiken, and her step-father was English writer Martin Armstrong.

Joan Aiken wrote over one hundred books for young readers and adults and is recognised as one of the classic children's authors of the twentieth century. Her best-known books are The Wolves of Willoughby Chase chronicles and the Arabel's Raven series, but she is also famous for her brilliant short stories. Joan Aiken received the Edgar Allan Poe Award in the United States as well as the Guardian Award for Fiction. She was decorated with an MBE for her services to children's books.

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