This author is well known for her bestselling children's books, particularly 'Inkheart' which I remember enjoying many years ago. 

This, her latest title, has a wonderfully nostalgic feel to a modern day quest. It involves identifying plants in the city and Funke has written it with horticulturalist Tammi Hartung and with illustrations by Melissa Castrillon. 

Twelve-year-old Caspia has to spend the summer in Brooklyn, New York. She hates the city, preferring to be amongst the natural world so is dismayed by this decision by her parents to relocate the family.

However, in their new home she finds a bundle of letters hidden in a chest of drawers. Each one contains a riddle with clues leading to a particular plant. Caspia decides to solve the riddles and in doing so she makes lots of new friends.

It's a lovely story, quite sophisticated in some ways while also being traditional and nostalgic. It's a simple idea for the structure of the book, but it presents a mystery and shares a joy in plants and nature, as well as highlighting the importance of relationship and community.