The Magic Within

Kim Van Vliet is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer.

This is an unusual book: a story about magic. It begins when Junie meets
the summer librarian, Miss Quarterberry, who takes to calling her
“Juniper Tree.” With her best friend gone for the summer and her
mother busy with her gardening business, Junie is ripe for adventure.
The mysterious Miss Quarterberry leaves a trail of magical clues.
Corridors and doorways appear and disappear; talking animals, a
recurring dream about green boots, and a book full of living images tell
a story about a lost garden. Only Junie can see the garden, and Miss
Quarterberry, who helped create it, believes that only the “Juniper
Tree” can restore it to her. With the help of her friend Marcus, and
with the unwitting assistance of her mother, Junie tries to find her way
into the garden, but she must go alone; through her own courage and
faith, she finds the way to make the garden whole again.

This is a meandering tale, full of quirks, bends, and unusual
characters. The book is about paying attention to the mystery of life
around and within us, and trusting it to show us the way. Reading it
demands some perseverance; the story tends to wander and become
cluttered with nonsensical details. But ultimately it is a good story,
written with sensitivity and skill. Recommended for serious readers 10
and over.