The last thing 12 year old Caspia wants is to spend her holidays in the city. Unfortunately, her parents decide that the family is to be based in New York for a few months in order for them to pursue their own dreams.

But everything changes for Caspia when she finds a most unusual bundle of old letters. The contents of the bundle keep her more than occupied, and change her perspective on nature, the city and the the dreams that she might have for her own life in the years ahead...

This is world class world building, firing the imagination of the reader and nurturing a love for the natural world in general, and plants in particular.

There is intrigue and adventure aplenty to be had here. Highly recommended for readers in the target group, and adults who want to remain connected with how their inner child engages with the wonders of the world around them.

Heartwarming city adventures

I am way outside the target audience for this book, but my daughter is a big fan of Cornelia Funke’s fantasy series and keeps saying I should read her books, so when I was offered an ARC I decided to give it a go.
A few hours later (it’s a quick read for an adult) I am so happy I did so, this is a delightful story of displacement, and of finding friendship and beauty through nature in one of the biggest cities in the world. I was also surprised about finding the theme of foraging and appreciation of what plants and flowers have to offer us, clearly the influence of co-author Tammi Hartung, who I also suggest to look up if you’re at all interested in modern herbalism.
I heartily recommend The Green Kingdom for children and adults alike, now I have one more prolific author to add to my ever expanding fiction reading list, and another for my cookbook wishlist :)

Note: I received this book for free as an ARC from #NetGalley but the opinions above are mine and unbiased.

I found out about this through NetGalley and the plot and author were enough for me to claim it.  It's very definitely a children's book but that's okay, it makes it a nice easy read.  The basic premise is that a young girl is spending her summer in Brooklyn and finds some old letters between a pair of sisters.  The letters contain riddles to various plants and the young girl investigates them, finding new friends and connections to the city as she does so.  I quite enjoyed it and I think it will be appealing to younger readers.  I really liked how the riddles included myths and legends for the various plants as well as historical facts for their uses.  It would be nice if the younger readers were introduced not only to the natural world as a result of this book, but also to the various myths and legends mentioned.  

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a copy to review.

I came to Cornelia Funke's stories as a grown-up, when my daughter would borrow, and re-borrow, and borrow again 'Dragon Rider' and I wondered what had so captured her attention! I enjoy her style of writing, and this new book didn't disappoint. It's the story of Caspia, a young pre-teen who has to spend the summer in Brooklyn, much to her dismay, but she soon makes a host of friends after discovering a mysterious bundle of letters between two sisters from long ago. They each contain a puzzle about a plant, and Caspia finds herself wandering across Brooklyn, trying to discover all of these plants, and putting down roots of her own along the way.

As someone who moved a lot as a child, I definitely identified with Caspia's feelings around living somewhere new. I would have devoured this book as a child, and even as a grown-up I raced through it quickly and found it very enjoyable. It's quite simply told, but the characters are interesting, and I liked all the puzzles around real plants, some of which I found easy to figure out and some less so. It perhaps lacked some of the depth that Inkheart has, but it is still a really lovely story.

Whilst this is a book probably directed for a younger reader I really enjoyed it. Whilst the story itself was fairly simple and very pleasant. The details around the plants, their history, properties and legends were fascinating.
The story explores what happens when a family uproot even for a short period. And how what was unfamiliar can quickly become familiar and how quickly friendships can develop. I liked the interlinking between the different culture, the pleasure of cooking and the skills of the gardener and how they weaved the story.
A very enjoyable read and certainly one I will be buying for my teenage granddaughter

12-year old Caspia and her parents are spending a few months in Brooklyn over the summer, and Caspia is not excited. On her first day there, she finds 10 letters from Rosalind to her sister Minna, who lived in the apartment they're staying at. Rosalind was traveling with her father, and would send riddles to her sister describing various plants. This means - of course - that Caspia spends her summer solving the plant riddles, making great friends along the way, while her mum tries to come up with new recipes to go with every plant she identifies.

I haven't read anything by Cornelia Funke since I aged out of the target audience about 15 years ago. I do have clear memories of my dad 'borrowing' the inkheart books after I'd gone to bed and spending several days waiting for him to stop reading so I could start. Infuriating back then, but after reading 'The Green Kingdom' I completely get it - I'd probably steal this off a child too 😇

It's a lovely little novel from an author who clearly appreciates that kids are smart and curious. It's also very likely to have your child attempting to identify every plant she sees for a while (and wanting to cook with it). I'd happily recommend it for all generations - but either read it together or wait until your child is done!

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC❤️

An absolutely joyful story of family and friendship; of discovering yourself, and putting down roots; and the wonder and beauty of plants and stories

Caspia isn't looking forward to the summer, now that she's heard she won't be spending it at home in Maine with best friends Ellie and Laryssa. Her dad has a job in Brooklyn so Caspia and her parents will be living there for the eleven weeks of summer. Caspia is even less impressed when she sees where they'll be staying; the apartment is old-fashioned and everything is covered in floral patterns. It's so much noisier than her quiet home and she's unsure how she'll survive the boredom of the trip, until she finds the letters. In a flower-patterned chest of drawers, Caspia finds a bundle of letters written by a previous occupant of the apartment and these, with their green-themed riddles, set her off on an adventure that helps to open her eyes to everything Brooklyn has to offer, if she'll just give it a go.

I really enjoyed this story. It's a proper feel-good, fast-moving story full of lovely characters, places and things: books, plants, cooking and friendship.

You'll need to suspend belief a bit and just go with it but it's really nice to read a good adventure where there are no 'baddies' or adversity, just a nice story of a girl moving to a new place, embracing what it has to offer and meeting lots of lovely people on the way.

Caspia hates cities, yet her parents take her to Brooklyn one Summer. But finding a bundle of letters from two sisters leads her on a voyage of discovery, unravelling their riddles.
It’s been a while since a new Cornelia Funke novel and this has a perfect blend of fantasy and real life. New and old friendships are cultivated alongside the plants central to the story.

Now, I’ve never actually read a book by Cornelia Funke, which seems like a punishable act to be fair. I will definitely venture out to try and red more of her books, especially if they’re anything like this one.

I’m a teacher and a mum, so I am forever on the search for good kids/YA books for both my own children but also for children in school. Specifically to add to the curriculum to work on, so it can be difficult to find a book that’s worth while.

The concept of this book is too cute! We follow 12 year old Caspia who ends up in Brooklyn, to her dismay, and finds a chest that’s filled with old letters from two sisters, who lived there long ago. Each and every letter contains a riddle that leads Caspia to a different plant every time she deciphers the letter. Caspia spends her time then educating herself on each plant she finds, which is incredibly cute.

During Caspia’s time in Brooklyn, she learns new things, makes new friends and really puts down roots in this place where she really didn’t want to go. Caspia and all the other characters are the “cute and cosy” vibe, which really did make the book that much better. They were all portrayed beautifully.

This book will now be added to my cart and I will be buying it for my children to read.

Thank you for sharing this ARC for me to review. I've thoroughly enjoyed this kind and thoughtful YA book that touches on a lot of important topics. It's a heartwarming and beautifully written story full of kindness and adventure. I'd definitely recommend this for younger readers.

I am a huge fan of historical sagas where generations speak to each other through the form of letters, teaching the new generation to see the world from a different perspective.

Caspia and her family are moving from Maine to Brooklyn for the summer for her Dad’s work. Caspia is devastated to be leaving her home and best friends. On her first night in this strange apartment they are renting, she discovers a ribbon tied bundle of letters. Feeling slightly awkward, she decides to open them and what this does is open Caspia’s eyes to her new surroundings and to feel confident in meeting and making new friends.

Each letter contains a riddle around a specific plant and Caspia dedicates each day to learning about it while her mother finds creative ways to cook with it. As the letters and days in Brooklyn dwindle, so to does Caspia’s heart. She has put down roots in this city and has made some incredible connections.

As she explores her neighbourhood she learns so much about plants, interacts differently with her friends and finds a purpose to her summer.

They say Brooklyn is a village throughout this story and it is a heartfelt and heartwarming tale I have just embarked upon with Caspia. True friendships, adventures and new opportunities are celebrated in this delightful and enchanting story.

Loved this.
Letters found in an old chest of drawers are like a treasure hunt but for plants.
Love the place you're in, don't pine for the place you've left behind. Tough lessons for anyone never mind a teen leaving her friends for the summer. The plant treasure hunt helps her see the city with different eyes.
Highly recommend for any age now just YA

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. #TheGreenKingdom #NetGalley
I remember reading and enjoying the Inkheart series many years ago, so I was interested in this book to see if it would be something my daughter would enjoy. I'm so glad I've read it.
This is such a wonderful story. It focuses on Caspia, a girl who has to move to Brooklyn for the summer, and finds letters with botanical riddles that she starts to solve. Along the way, she adapts to her new surroundings, makes friends, and becomes more adventurous while learning to put down roots at the same time. A fantastic and inspiring story for children, highly recommend!916059578?book_show_action=false

Even as an adult I still enjoy childrens books. They really do take me away from the mundane reality of life and this magical tale is just divine.

I loved the cover, but the story and the characters were really well drawn.

The plot is amazing, i enjoyed the riddles and the botanical theme.

I will be putting this in a few Christmas Eve boxes..

I loved this book and I'm sure children will too. Caspia age 12 moves with her parents from Maine to Brooklyn for the summer due to her dad's work. She isn't very happy about leaving her friends and home behind but when she finds a bundle of letters in the apartment they're staying in she finds herself searching for plants and herbs in a "green" treasure hunt. The letters are between two sisters in the late 1950's early 1960's. One of the sisters is blind and is travelling with her father and the treasure hunt is a fun way of staying in touch. Caspia makes new friends and yet manages to keep in touch and include her two best friends from home. Her mum also finds her own confidence through cooking with some of the delicious herbs and spices that Caspia finds on the treasure hunt. The summer changes the lives of the whole family. A great family read.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

What a lovely book. This was my first Cornelia Funke book and will definitely not be my last.
Whilst reading the letters I felt like I was transported back in time.
I liked all the characters and watching their friendships develop. The plant puzzles were intriguing and I found myself trying to figure them out before the answers were revealed.
I would recommend this book to readers of all ages.

Thank you to Netgalley for proving me with an early copy to review.

I got this book for my 2 girls - 11 year old was reading it by herself and I was reading it together with my 8year old. Both of my kids loved it. It's a perfect read for curious minds but it's also a great read to remind children about power of friendship and also love to nature. What I found amazing is that both of my girls loved the idea so much that they've decided to create their own letters with clues and riddles and I'm really looking forward to it with all those dark and gloomy evenings ahead. Massive thanks to Netgalley for providing us with a early copy for an honest review.

What a lovely, magical book! Perfect Cornelia Funke style, but I'm impressed that she managed to set it in "today" and yet make it feel timeless!
My only negative feedback is that I WISH Cornelia had illustrated it herself. I truly miss her illustrations and these don't live up to them.

I liked Caspia, and the other characters. They are all very likeable and sweet and make the book so cute and cosy. I also liked that the book doesn't dwell on a love story, but is primarily about friendship and family. It's a children's book, but I found the topic of plant puzzles very fascinating and can recommend this to adult readers too.

The author made it very clear how much she cares about the environment.