Mariah Marsden

The Secret Garden

maitha mana

A magical story brought to life with Hanna's illustrations. I've recently gotten back into gardening and loving the greens, so this was the perfect light read. I especially love the colors used, and the fact that the graphic novel includes a glossary at the end, with the type of flowers Frances Burnett maintained in her own garden.

Briar's Reviews

I'm going to tell you something shocking: I haven't read The Secret Garden yet. I actually just recently got my hands on a copy and it's on my TBR (who knows when my TBR will ever shrink though).

I REALLY wanted to jump into it sooner, so this book seemed perfect! It's a graphic novel, I can sink into the images and learn about the story. Then when I read the original, I will have a better understanding and be able to learn. It's something nice, ya know?

The illustrations in this book make it feel very whimsical and magical. It feels like I'm in a child's world - which we are. Learning about The Secret Garden and watching the story for the first time - it was truly an experience. I think this is a wonderful book to read. I can't tell you if it's accurate to the original yet, but it was one miraculous story and it's told in an engaging way.

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Frida Kahlo

I received an eARC copy from Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For the first time ever reading The Secret Garden, I am so happy that I stumbled upon this delightful graphic adaptation; I have thoroughly enjoyed this lovely read, and I've felt loved while reading it. 

The Secret Garden is a story of a young orphan, Mary, who was sent out to live with her uncle in a mansion on the dreary moors. She seems immediately drawn to them and ready to explore her surroundings, seeing the moors being somewhat off-limits to her and her movement around the property. In the beginning, Mary seems very cheeky, perhaps even rude at times, but things take a better turn when she meets her new unique friends. There is a robin, a pretty little bird that brings Mary joy when chirping. She meets a young boy with a mobility impairment, Mary's cousin Colin, who finds pleasure, warmth, and love when Mary visits him for a talk. Not to forget Dickon, a boy that understands the language of animals and plants, and helps Mary learn about the secret garden, how to care about the flowers, animals, and how to melt her uncle's heart. 

Mary, as the main protagonist, grew with each sentence, panel, situation, and page. I loved how her directness found its way into people's hearts. Her words and actions moved others to change themselves for the better; her uncle and Colin became welcoming and appreciative of Mary's efforts while at the same time absorbing the new surroundings with their hearts and eyes open for new experiences. 

While reading about the original novel, the synopsis and the reviews, I realised that some elements from the original story were omitted in this graphic adaptation. However, I think this took away nothing from the story presented here to us, the readers, as we focus on Mary and her experiences with new friends and a new secret place nobody had the right to enjoy for such a long time. Skipping the part that "doesn't do justice to the history of British oppression in colonial India" mentioned in the writer's note at the end of the book was a great and creative move; highly appreciated by me. 

The art style looks so endearing and somewhat nostalgic. I wished to be a child again so that I could, perhaps, enjoy this graphic translation of one of the classic works of literature more. I loved the colourful settings and the intricate detailing of each panel, bringing spirits of secrets and magic, family closeness, and healing into the story. 

The new and fresh perspective this nostalgic, whimsical, emotional graphic novel brings will be pure joy for all lovers of the original The Secret Garden.

Camila Eduarda Vilela Lobianco

Between every book that I read, I'm trying to read a children's book and this was the chosen one. I love this, this is cute, portrays magic in a really personal and peculiar way. I love this idea of magic being something of the nature, something that makes things happen, grow, exist. This is a simple book, one that I would love to read to my kids one day. Really great, the art is beautiful and an awesome book for children, but also people my age (I'm in my twenties now).

Thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity, that was a really nice read!