The Witch's Garden

Matter-of-Fact Magic

by Ruth Chew

"Run, dearies! It's a dragon!" the witch said.

Genres: Fantasy, Witches, Childrens, Young Adult, Fiction

112 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Ruth Chew is the author of a number of popular books for young readers, including Secondhand Magic and The Wednesday Witch. She was born in Minneapolis and grew up in Washington, D.C. She studied art at the Corcoran School of Art and worked as a fashion artist. She was the mother of five children.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my third Ruth Chew book. They have all been pretty similar: a couple of pleasant but very forgettable kids have some fantastical but very mild adventures.

I read this book last night and have already forgotten the names of the two kids: something common and Anglophone like Susie and Paul. While engaged in the forbidden naughtiness of roasting hotdogs over a fire, they go to get more wood from the garden of the empty house next door, which turns out not to be empty. They have a new neighbor. No spoiler: she's a witch. The plants have magical properties. Adventures Short mishaps ensue.

It's actually rather impressive how not-scary Chew manages to make scenes like being shrunk and chased by giant insects and animals. The kids seem a lot more worried about the girl's parents getting mad that they accidentally threw out the paper before Father was done with the crossword. Maybe that's realistic.

I recommend this for timid kids who don't like suspense, or for bedtime reading. In addition to not being scary, there isn't much plot (incidents happen, but there's no serious danger or ultimate problem to solve) so it won't keep anyone awake.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the last of this little collection of three.

The Witch's Garden was probably my favorite of the Ruth Chew witch stories that I've read. It was very cute! It had the magical touches that you want, and the same kinds of strange experiences that I think you'd want children to "experience" while reading these books, but there was just something extra enjoyable (for me) about the little events in the garden.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all Ruth Chew books. They're about witches and/or magic. The witches are always kind but eccentric. Her books are short, easy reads for young people. Unfortunately they are quite outdated in setting and out of print. If you can find them and have a young one who likes the subject of magic and witches AND doesn't mind a setting during their grandparents time, I encourage you to find this one and all the others.

[JKR · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title seems very scarce and therefore somewhat sought-after, but I found it quite similar to the author’s other books. I think Ruth Chew’s greatest strength lies in dreaming up commonplace objects imbued with magical powers - in this book, they were sunflower petals which can be ridden like hoverboards, among others.

[Veronica The Demigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book and I think that any one who likes to find a book to read in under a certain time frame this is the book for you! I hope you read it and like it as much as I did!

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shrinking children, a dragon, what else could come out of the witch's garden next door?

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is some great Ruth Chew!

The story follows the formula pretty well. A girl and a boy (cousins this time, rather than brother and sister) find magic practically in their own back yard. (The magic is actually in the yard next door, in the long abandoned house where now lives--you guessed it--a witch!)

My favorite scene is when the kids fly around on the giant flower petals. That sounds like a lot of fun.

The end of the book comes too quickly and is rather abrupt, but that's a problem I'm willing to live with in a book that's otherwise sweet and fun.

I so love that the witch is a gardener!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A witch moves next door to a girl and boy, and they have magical adventures when they discover what is in her garden.

[Chade66 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not at good as The Witch's Buttons or No Such Thing as a witch, but still respectable!

[Crystal Allen]

Ruth Chew was one of my favorite authors during my childhood. I have fond memories of reading her Witch books. They fostered my love for children's literature.