“Storytelling and the secret desires of the heart wind together in this atmospheric novel that doubles as a ghost tale…Auxier gives readers a spooky story with depth and dimension…Storytelling as a force to cope with life’s challenges is subtly expressed and adds complexity to the fast-paced plot.” - School Library Journal (starred review) “The Night Gardener is a highly satisfactory instance not only of the traditional Gothic thriller but of a thriller in the broad sense, with a great deal of action and genuinely appealing protagonists.” - National Post (Toronto) It’s very refreshing to find such a comprehensive story in a standalone book, especially one with humor, kindness, and some real evil.” - Globe and Mail (Toronto) “Very imaginative and clever, with traditional fairy-tale storytelling, it’s a richly spooky read…It is much more a fable about avarice and the inherent goodness in storytelling than anything else, and more Sleepy Hollow and Jane Eyre than Harry Potter. “This ghost story, set in Victorian England, is rich with memorable characters, which narrator Beverley Crick splendidly brings to life…Crick dynamically renders fourteen-year-old Molly, a sublime storyteller, as well as her lively, smart younger brother…Crick sounds genuine as the snobbish wealthy family members, and her best creation is Hester, a wise and wily witch who teaches the kids valuable lessons. With Auxier's exquisite command of language, The Night Gardener is a mesmerizing read and a classic in the making. Soon the children are confronted by a mysterious spectre and an ancient curse that threatens their very lives. But the house and its family are not quite what they seem.

The Night Gardener follows two abandoned Irish siblings who travel to work as servants at a creepy, crumbling English manor house. More than just a spooky tale, it's also a moral fable about human greed and the power of storytelling.

Compact Disc (November 1st, 2012): $14.This much-anticipated follow-up to Jonathan Auxier's exceptional debut, Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, is a Victorian ghost story with shades of Washington Irving and Henry James.

'The fast-paced, episodic story, accompanied by Auxier’s occasional pen-and-ink drawings, is inventive, unpredictable, and-like its hero-nimble.' 'Auxier has a juggler’s dexterity with prose that makes this fantastical tale quicken the senses.” The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

'The lightning-fast pace and terrifically engaging protagonists make this an ideal suggestion for reluctant readers and young fantasy fans.' Readers will enjoy the unique Peter, whose adventures, from facing and overcoming hardships to discovering the true meaning of heroism, make for an absorbing debut.' 'This fantasy-adventure has a classic-storytelling flavor.

Peter nimble audiobook