Do you have a kid who hates change? They will understand Lydia. She loves her home in Mulberry Glen, where she lives with a philosopher, a fairy, a cook, and a pair of mischievous twins (a young boy and girl). Why would she ever want to grow up and leave this safe, cozy place?

But, she must. Lydia must start an apprenticeship if she wants to become an herbologist one day. Lydia is like Jo March on the brink of going to New York.

But before Lydia is assigned an apprenticeship, something else happens that forces her to leave even earlier than expected and not on safe, predictable terms.

There is a Darkness that’s spreading from the forest of Tenebrae, and rumor has it that the only thing that can vanquish the darkness is a flower called Omni Res Mundi (Latin translation: “everything in the world”).

Lydia teams up with some colorful characters to accomplish her mission and (maybe) vanquish the Darkness for good.

There is a great discussion here about what it takes to beat back “the dark.” So many of us struggle with dark thoughts, depression, despair—and other people seem to be happy as clams, so why aren’t we? How do you stop those dark thoughts from spreading and taking over? This is a timely topic but one that’s as old as time.

This book offers an answer to this question, and I agree with the beautiful message. I hope that a lot of kids and young people take it to heart. It’s the truth.

To parents of sensitive kids: Even though this book ventures into the darkness, it isn’t dark, so approach it without fear.

As someone who isn’t familiar with Latin, I hope they include a translation page somewhere in the front or back matter.

Check out my interview with author Millie Florence on Library Binding.