By Brit Trogen and Kari Trogen
Kids Can Press, $15.95, 176 pages
Margaret Grey has bounced from one caregiver to another since the death of her parents when she was a toddler until she finally arrives at the Hopeton orphanage. Margaret’s hopes for happiness are soon dashed by the matron, Miss Switch, a nasty and punitive woman. Finding a refuge in a nearby tree with a moth colony, Margaret finds friends in unexpected places and soon works on turning the tables on Miss Switch.
Margaret and the Moth Tree is a nicely told story of a powerless child who uses her wits and limited resources to take back power from an evil grown-up. The story is not new in literature but this one is well written and very descriptive. It nicely shows how Margaret grows in confidence and determination to help herself and the other children. The writing style does change from third person to narrative style throughout the book, which is disruptive to the pace of the story but other than that, it is an interesting and enjoyable book. Older children (10 and up) will enjoy hearing Margaret’s story.
Reviewed by Barbara Cothern
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