miaricks's review against another edition
4.0
Good modern day version of Secret Garden. Slightly creepy like the original that also doesn't go into too much detail about the parent's death. Quick read.
rachreads36's review against another edition
3.0
Great setting, quirky and interesting female character who struggles to fit in anywhere.
melissapalmer404's review against another edition
4.0
Book #69 Read in 2012
The Humming Room by Ellen Potter (YA)
This book was inspired by the classic book, The Secret Garden. Roo's parents are murdered and she is sent to live with her uncle, whom she has never met before. Roo is exploring her surroundings when she hears humming. She tries to locate the source but cannot. She does, however, find a garden that has been so neglected that it is almost dead. She vows to bring it back to life. Shortly after discovering the garden, she meets Phillip, her cousin, who is the mysterious hummer. He is basically trapped in his room and is trying to grapple with his mother's death. Roo decides that bringing the garden back to life will invigorate Phillip as well.
This was a quick read. Roo is an interesting character--she is tough yet caring. She says she is better with animals than people. She connects though with her cousin Phillip, more than she believes she is capable of doing. There are good secondary characters in this book such as Violet, Jack and Phillip. The plot can be a little slow as not much happens on an action level in this short book; the action is more psychological in nature as you see Roo and Phillip change. The book has an element of mystery and ghost story to it which will interest a certain type of reader.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
The Humming Room by Ellen Potter (YA)
This book was inspired by the classic book, The Secret Garden. Roo's parents are murdered and she is sent to live with her uncle, whom she has never met before. Roo is exploring her surroundings when she hears humming. She tries to locate the source but cannot. She does, however, find a garden that has been so neglected that it is almost dead. She vows to bring it back to life. Shortly after discovering the garden, she meets Phillip, her cousin, who is the mysterious hummer. He is basically trapped in his room and is trying to grapple with his mother's death. Roo decides that bringing the garden back to life will invigorate Phillip as well.
This was a quick read. Roo is an interesting character--she is tough yet caring. She says she is better with animals than people. She connects though with her cousin Phillip, more than she believes she is capable of doing. There are good secondary characters in this book such as Violet, Jack and Phillip. The plot can be a little slow as not much happens on an action level in this short book; the action is more psychological in nature as you see Roo and Phillip change. The book has an element of mystery and ghost story to it which will interest a certain type of reader.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
onegirlreads's review against another edition
3.0
Very neat story, I haven't read the Secret Garden so it was all new to me... but it was a good quick read :)
wiseowl33's review against another edition
4.0
For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. I am a huge Ellen Potter fan. I didn't think the whole ghost aspect was well played out. Referred to the ghost of the father, but then never fleshed that out... or the ghost of the mom either... but still enjoyed the book.
thebookguru's review against another edition
4.0
i love Ellen Potter's writing style. her stories aren't predictable nor are they boring but she definitely makes you keep turning the pages.
i'm always slightly creeped out by her stories but i love her connection with nature and fascinating characters such as Roo and Jack and
the name Roo Fanshaw is brilliant.
i just feel like saying it a lot. =D
so the book is beautifully written and i don't really remember The Secret Garden but i do recall it was a great adventure and reading the humming room was a great adventure and BRILLIANT ESCAPISM.
also the cover is absolutely amazing.
i'm always slightly creeped out by her stories but i love her connection with nature and fascinating characters such as Roo and Jack and
the name Roo Fanshaw is brilliant.
i just feel like saying it a lot. =D
so the book is beautifully written and i don't really remember The Secret Garden but i do recall it was a great adventure and reading the humming room was a great adventure and BRILLIANT ESCAPISM.
also the cover is absolutely amazing.
abstract_amber77's review against another edition
2.0
I picked this book up at the library on a whim, then I checked the reviews on here, which seemed to be mostly good, so I decided to read it. I can't say that I thought the book was good though. It was rather bland. It's about a girl who is orphaned and moved to a strange place with her even stranger uncle. It says it's based on The Secret Garden, but I've never read that book, so I don't know if I would like this book more or less had I read it. This book doesn't exactly make me want to read The Secret Garden either.
lindacbugg's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the story but then it just ended so abruptly. I'm actually still feeling annoyed whenever I look over and see the book. How hard would it have been to add some sort of resolution to some of the story lines?? Not that I don't appreciate the joy in using one's imagination but...
daisycakesco's review against another edition
4.0
Inspired by the Secret Garden. I had to go get a copy of that title too, as I'm not sure I've actually ever read it.