Ahh... The Night Gardener may be one of my favorite books of all those published in 2014! I'm a sucker for a great cover (I know-- how shallow!), and that was one thing that drew me in. I had also heard wonderful things from the folks in the Mock Newbery 2015 group, and so I decided to get at least one more of the 2014 releases in before the Newbery is awarded. 
 This story tells of a sister (Molly) and brother (Kip) who are on their own after escaping the Irish famine, and find work as servants at a spooky, old English manor. The two are glad for the work and a place to stay, despite the fact that the family members are odd and seem to be ill... and getting sicker. Molly and Kip start to question their decision as things in the old house get stranger and scarier-- everyone has nightmares throughout the night, and both Molly and Kip think they've seen a tall, dark figure moving about the house and grounds at night. 
 The Night Gardener is a book filled with beautiful language, masterful story-telling, and a storyline that keeps you turning pages to see what Molly and Kip are really dealing with in their new home. The book does have some "spooky" parts, but nothing that most 4th or 5th graders wouldn't be able to handle, and the lessons of this story and its ending are quite satisfying. I love this book, and think most kids will as well! 
 (view spoiler)[ I was delighted when I got to the end of the book and read Auxier's notes about what influences played into the writing of this book. He mentions Ray Bradbury's book Something Wicked This Way Comes, and that's when I knew why this book affected me the way it did. As I got into the middle of the book, and realized what the "evil" was drawing on, I had the same feeling that I did when I saw the movie version of that book 30 years ago-- fear and dread! I'm not sure that kids today would react the same way I did to that movie... but it remains one of the spookiest movies to me to this day. Auxier did a wonderful job of recreating that similar fear in me! Wow! (hide spoiler)]