Fiction - Social Issues, Fiction - Historical Fiction, People with Special Needs, Fiction - People with Special Needs, Fiction - Family Life

Locked Garden

Name: Locked Garden
Author: Gloria Whelan
ISBN: 9780060790943

by Gloria Whelan

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Overview

It's the year 1900, the dawn of a new century and a chance for a new beginning for Verna and Carlie, whose mother died two years ago. They are headed to their new home—the grounds of an asylum for the mentally ill. Their father, a doctor, has been hired to treat its patients while the girls are under the strict and watchful eye of their aunt Maude. The towering asylum, the murmuring patients with their tormented pasts, the exquisite locked garden at the center of the grounds—Verna perceives forbidden mystery and enchantment everywhere. Even Aunt Maude's temper will not keep her from striking out on her own exciting adventures.

But is Verna ready to confront all the secrets and emotions that have been locked within—even those of her own heart?

Synopsis

But is Verna ready to confront all the secrets and emotions that have been locked within—even those of her own heart?

Publishers Weekly

National Book Award-winner Whelan (Homeless Bird) sets this straightforward and thoughtful story at an asylum for the mentally ill in 1900. Narrator Verna and her younger sister, Carlie, move to a house on the hospital grounds with their psychiatrist father and dour busybody Aunt Maude (the girls' mother died of typhoid). Verna immediately feels a kindred spirit with Eleanor, the cheerful asylum patient who begins working as a maid for the family. Jealous of the girls' affection for Eleanor, Maude grows increasingly vindictive, until Papa is forced to send her packing. Fearing the appearance of impropriety, given that he and Eleanor (of whom he's clearly grown fond) are both single, Verna's father dismisses her, which sends the young woman spiraling into depression. Though overwrought imagery ("Eleanor was always on my mind, a singing bird hidden high in a treetop") occasionally bogs down the narrative and an abrupt, inconclusive ending will leave some readers feeling cheated, Whelan adds authentic period flavor and crafts affecting moments-some in the asylum's locked garden-between the sisters and the recovering Eleanor. Ages 8-12. (June)

About the Author, Gloria Whelan

National Book Award-winning author Gloria Whelan weaves rich historical detail into this compelling mystery. Ms. Whelan is the bestselling author of many novels for young readers, including Homeless Bird, winner of the National Book Award, Parade of Shadows, and Listening for Lions. She lives in northern Michigan.

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Editorials

Booklist

"The evocative setting is a backdrop to the sensitive, sometimes comedic family story."

Publishers Weekly

Vicki Sherbert

In the year 1900, Verna's papa, a well-known psychiatrist, has moved her, her younger sister Carlie, and their stern Aunt Maude to Michigan where he will work in an asylum with mentally ill patients. After losing their mother to typhoid, the girls are hesitant to leave the city, but eager for new adventures in their country home. When Eleanor, one of the patients who has made a remarkable recovery, comes to work for the family, Aunt Maude objects, voicing the prejudices and rumors that abound regarding those who live and work in the asylum. Whelan's descriptions and characterization give the reader a taste of what it was like for those whose mental illness was not treated as an illness in the early 20th century. By choosing an adolescent girl to narrate the story, Whelan allows the reader to approach this topic with innocence, compassion, and kindness. Reviewer: Vicki Sherbert

Children's Literature - Ellen Welty

Verna and her family have moved away from their home to a new home at a remote mental hospital because her father has accepted a position there on the staff. Verna and her sister have fond memories of their life in their old home before their mother died. Now strict Aunt Maude takes care of them and has accompanied the family to their new home. Verna and Carlie become friends with one of the asylum patients who has been assigned to help with housekeeping tasks at their house. This makes Aunt Maude jealous and spiteful and she takes out her jealousy on Eleanor, the young patient. Verna decides to take matters into her own hands and she and Carlie plot to get Aunt Maude to leave so that Eleanor can take care of them permanently. The situation soon gets out of control however and cannot be resolved as simply as Verna wishes. This is a charming and often humorous family story with some lessons about compassion and history tucked in. Reviewer: Ellen Welty

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6–Verna and her sister Carlie are still dealing with the death of their mother and the arrival of her harsh and dour sister, Aunt Maude, when their father accepts a position as a staff doctor at a hospital for the mentally ill. When he brings Eleanor, a young patient recovering from depression, into the home to help with the chores, Aunt Maude sees her as a threat while the girls welcome her with joy. Though Maude and Eleanor’s father bring condemnation and pain into Eleanor’s life, the children, their father, and the hospital administrator reach out to her with acceptance and love. The story explores the prejudice that shadowed the lives of the mentally ill at the turn of the century as well as what it means to be “normal.” As Verna stands up for what she thinks is right while trying out questionable means to attain her goals, the author allows readers to experience the development of her maturity and character. At the conclusion of the story, readers see a real girl who has not learned all of life’s lessons and has not made all the right choices but is still in the process of learning and growing. A thoroughly enjoyable read.–Debra Banna, Sharon Public Library, MA

Kirkus Reviews

From page one, National Book Award winner Whelan establishes a strong sense of time, unusual setting and characters-an asylum for the mentally ill in 20th-century Michigan. After Verna and younger sister Carlie's mother died, their psychiatrist Papa moves the family to a house on the grounds of an asylum for his work. One of the patients, a young woman who is recovering, is sent to keep house, and the girls becomes very attached to her, much preferring her to their strict and disapproving Aunt Maude. Though the girls would like her instead of Maude to take their mother's place, having a single woman living in the same house with a widower would be a scandalous social impropriety. At the core is Verna's strong-willed determination to keep Eleanor from her abusive father. This convincing melodrama portrays an atypical attitude toward treating mental illness by involving patients in gardening, singing and farm chores. While some plot details are convenient, this exceptional story never lets the focus override the characterization. (Historical fiction. 9-13)