Huguenot Garden

I really enjoyed this book. It was bought for my child’s book report and I read it as well. I was surprised to find the historical accuracy so sad. Upon further research, this book shed light on the hurt the Roman church forced on Protestants.The book arrived in new, mint condition.

I just finished reading this book aloud to my children. They liked it well enough to keep asking for more although it was not as action-packed as Scottish Seas, the childrens' favorite book written by Douglas Jones.The heroes are twin french girls in La Rochelle, France, 1685. I'm guessing they are around 6-8 years old (the book doesn't tell). Two of their great joys are caring for their lamb "Boucle" and tending a small plot of land where they grow flowers and vegetables. Their parents actively teach them about the Lord. There are many sweet glimpses into every day life, from trampling grapes at their cousin's farm in the country to running errands in town with their older brother. There's also a childbirth, visits from dragoons, psalm singing, secretive night journeys, and more.The backdrop of this book is the persecution of the French Huegenots by Louis XIV and the Roman church. While this could have been quite a fearful subject, Jones has chosen to underscore God's faithfulness rather than the tyranny of men.I would recommend this as a very readable story that introduces children to the overarching theme of persecution and particularly, what the Huguenots endured. The girls with their family ultimately find safe haven in Southampton, England.I did find some portions a little pedantic, as another reviewer mentioned, but my children didn't seem to mind. As a parent, this kind of picture of godly family life is a great encouragement.It would be interesting to follow up with research about the siege on the Huguenots which occurred fifty some years earlier at La Rochelle (rather callously described in Dumas' The Three Musketeers).I give this book 5 stars but I can't seem to get the stars to click past 4 on this.

The story was not boring, and was a kid-friendly, fictional representation of historical events. Should be read to show what happens in society when people aren't free to choose what they believe and how they worship.

This book is cute but I’m not sure I would recommend it to anyone. We bought it as a supplement for homeschool section on the Middle Ages and Renaissance and we have Huguenot ancestors, so it felt like a easy way to connect my kids to their experiences.While the history and family were interesting, I had to constantly explain to my kids that we don’t feel that way about the Catholic Church (even though we aren’t Catholic). The family is very unkind in its discussion of the Catholic Church.

My daughter and I read this as a read aloud for their history class, my daughter really enjoyed it. It's a really good book.

*Huguenot Garden* is quite good as a child's book. The French pronunciations are helpful. I hoped it would have more Huguenot history, but as a child's book, I guess it is all they need to be introduced to the subject. Because my paternal ancestry reaches back to the French Huguenots who migrated to Carolina in 1686, Isaac DuBosc and Suzanne Couillandeau II, I am looking for a more in-depth history. I recommend *Huguenot Garden* to be read TO a child with explanations from an adult -- then the child can read it alone and see the French spellings.

Sweetest story! A great read aloud.

Came quickly. It’s a cute book and my kids love it!