Book Review – The Ice Garden by Guy Jones

Jess is allergic to the sun. She lives in a world of shadows and hospitals, peeking at the other children in the playground from behind curtains. Her only friend is a boy in a coma, to whom she tells stories. One night she sneaks out to explore the empty playground she’s longed to visit, where she discovers a beautiful impossibility: a magical garden wrought of ice. But Jess isn’t alone in this fragile, in-between place…

***

4.5/5 Stars

4.5 stars for a really beautifully written and heartwarming story. For a start, it’s always nice to see representation for something more unusual – in this case extreme photosensitivity. And then to follow that up, there is just a lovely tale of friendship and magical elements to the real world. 💙💙💙 I dare you to read this and not feel a bit warm and gooey after!

Jess is a pretty relatable main character. She’s 12, stubborn and frustrated at her life. She’s not always the nicest person either – I really felt for her Mum even if I agreed with her about the doctor! But she’s a good person who just wants more than her body allows. I loved her and Davey, especially her interaction with him in the early scenes. And Owen is a nice foil for her as a friend, again showing her softer side.

I wish we knew more about the magical part of this world, but I think part of its charm is leaving us guessing.

Just a genuinely lovely read.