“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
Maria has never had a place to call her own. But in the overgrown paths of a forgotten garden, she might just find one.
- A Modern Classic Retelling: Discover a heartfelt reimagining of The Secret Garden, where a prickly, overlooked orphan named Maria Latif finds a locked gate and a chance to put down roots.
- Heartfelt Story of Healing: A powerful story about navigating grief, discovering the family you choose, and finding a place where you truly belong.
- South Asian Heroine: Follow Maria as she's shipped from Pakistan to a new life on Long Island, carrying the memories of her family and culture with her.
- Lyrical Prose and Poetry: Told in a unique mix of rich prose and evocative free verse that brings Maria’s inner world to life.
Karuna Riazi is the author of the acclaimed A Bit of Earth and Sabrena Swept Away as well as the duology The Gauntlet and The Battle. She holds a BA in English literature from Hofstra University and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Hamline University. She is an online diversity advocate and an educator, and her work has been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Shondaland, and Teen Vogue, among others. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Karuna Riazi lives on Long Island.
