The China Garden

by Liz Berry

Book Overview

Clare is chilled by her mother's warnings to stay away from Ravensmere, but she knows she has to go there - it is not a choice but a compulsion. And she only intends to stay a few weeks anyway, just... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380732289
• ISBN13: 9780380732289
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Harperteen
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 7.0"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

Fascinating

This wasn't masterfully written, but it was frequently breathtaking, and what a fascinating world she creates! The authenticity, completeness, intricacy, and creativity of her reality makes this book well worth the read. If you have any love or interest for Celtic mysticism, ancient indigenous religions, or heroes tall, dark, and enigmatic, you must read this book. Very satisfying and thought-provoking, exciting, and intriguing. Don't miss it!

A wonderful, multifaceted piece of literature

I first read this book at 13 and I have to say it is still my favorite. The sheer detail of it is amazing; liz berry makes you feel like you are actually there. A blend of a love story, history, (perhaps made up for the book?) fantasy and spirituality this book is almost impossible to put down. I would recommend it to anyone who likes love stories, though it is so much more than that. This book's true treasure lies deep within its pages.

"The China Garden" Review

This suspenseful, romantic, and mysterious book, "The China Garden", is what keeps you turning the page to read more. Liz Berry has done a wounderful job grabing the readers attention in the first chapter.In this book, Clare Meredith, is a teenager who is living in London with her mother and is planing to go off to college. However things didnt go as planned. Her mother needed to mave to Ravermere to become a nerse to an old sick man and to pay off a debt. While not being able to understand some of the secrets that her mother was keeping, she was determined to go with her, leaving behind her school and her boyfriend Adrian.When they finally settle in, things start to act strange. Clare begins to feel like people know her and as she figures out some of her mother's secrets she starts to wonder about all the things that her mother told her when she was little. Now Clare finds some unexpected things about herself since she came to Raversmere. She will also meet a handsome young man named Mark in which she will soon have strong feelings for.The way Liz Berry describes every object and place makes you feel like you are in the room and can actually see the item that she describes. As she slowly reveals the secrets, you cant help but to keep reading. Overall, I found this book to be extreamly well written and would recommend this to people who enjoy suspenceful,mysterious and a romantic book.

Great Young Adult mystery!

Clare Meredith and her mother move to a historical estate named Ravensmere, for the summer. Her mother will work as a private nurse for the Ravensmere's owner, Mr. Aylward. As Clare explores the town, Stoke Raven Village, she finds that everyone knows more than she sees. She soon meets Mark, the classic bad boy biker who enchants our heroine. Clare is determined to find out Ravensmere's true meaning and intention and what happened with her mother who reveals her tragic past linked with Ravensmere. She takes midnight walks to the abandoned China Garden and must figure out a way to unravel the mysteries of Ravensmere.Liz Berry has amazing imagery in this book, the garden and the whole region of Ravensmere is beautifully depicated. She described a good 'Picture postcard England'. The mystery puzzle was always amusing to guess. The suspense was packed for the next piece of the puzzle. I loved trying to find the true meaning of the Bension, the true purpose of Ravensmere. The foreshadowing is laughable when you finish the book, making you wonder why you did not see it. Mark and Clare have a modern day romance. Mark's bad boy affect and his characterization makes almost any teenage girl lust for him. The simple incorporation of every and modern day fantasy is a wonderful touch to the alluring mystery. The pieces are woven brilliantly and this is what a Young Adult mystery should be. A great Young Adult mystery, suspense, romance and fantasy novel. It captures you.

AWESOME BOOK!

If I could give this book an infinate amount of stars, I would. This was such an awesome story, I recommend it to ANYONE! This book had adventure, mystery, romance, sadness, happiness, tension, suspension, I could not put this book down. Liz Berry is obviously a very creative writer, and an extremely talented one too. About a young girl who goes to this place where she discovers parts of her past that she never knew were there, discovers a missing part of herself, and finds a new guy, Mark, who loves her, but does she love him? Read to find out what the Benison is, what happens between Mark and Clare, and how this book makes you think about yourself too.