Time is one of the fundamental elements of life that we don't often stop to think about. Every second marks a transition in an individual's life, but rarely does anyone reflect on the true magic of this small measure of history. In Tom's Midnight Garden, Philippa Pearce examines the concept of time in a truly unique way by telling the story of a child who comes to terms with time in an extraordinary way. As Pearce crafts this beautiful yet simple novel, she interweaves both a moving plot and universal ideas to reveal more than meets the eye in terms of the power of time. The novel revolves around a young boy named Tom Long who, in an unfavorable situation, is kicked out of his home to live with his childless uncle and aunt for the summer. While Tom is unhappy with this idea, he comes to adjust his perspective when he discovers a magical garden that opens his eyes to new experiences and feelings. With the discovery of this mysterious world in the garden, Tom is forced to decipher the power of time, companionship and imagination and through this journey he evolves from the childish and inconsiderate young boy he once was to a more mature and sensitive boy. look at his own life and the world as a whole. The novel opens with a scene of a desperate and aggravated child being sent away from home due to a contagious disease. Tom Long's brother, Peter, has been stricken with measles and to protect Tom, his parents have decided that it would be best for him to spend the coming weeks with his Uncle Alan and Aunt Gwen while Peter recovers. From the beginning, it is obvious to the reader that Tom is extremely unhappy at the thought of leaving not only his family and home, but also the ...... middle of paper ...... ultimately surrenders realizes that this can only temporarily satisfy his desire for knowledge and friendship, and that eventually, like everyone else, he will have to grow up and turn to new passions and explorations. In fact, the entire book returns to this idea several times as Tom must struggle with the meaning and importance of time. Just as Tom must solve the problems he faces, everyone must learn to answer life's seemingly unanswerable questions. At one time or another, we all face situations that seem impossible, but as Tom learns, there is always a reason or explanation for the path life takes. As Tom constantly questions the concept of time and reality versus imagination, we too must ask ourselves the same questions, as Pearce asks repeatedly throughout the novel: "What than time? (Pearce 168) and how can what seems impossible actually happen?