Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden, a classic loved for more than seventy-five years, is all that its title implies. It is, as one might imagine, a mystery. But it is also a love story and the love is as passionate and fervent as one could imagine. It is a story of the love of nature, of science and the scientific method, and of isolated and lonely human beings who learn to care not only for others, but equally important, for themselves. This deluxe Children’s Classic edition is produced with high-quality, leatherlike binding with gold stamping, full-color covers, colored endpapers with a book nameplate. Some of the other titles in this series include: Anne of Green Gables, Black Beauty, King Arthur and His Knights, Little Women, and Treasure Island.

The Secret Garden

Love the insight to the differences of the two girls. My favourite part is how it shows cold Mary warming up to Martha bit by bit 

Lauren

If Martha had been a well-trained fine young lady’s maid she would have been more subservient and respectful and would have known that it was her business to brush hair, and button boots, and pick things up and lay them away. She was, however, only an untrained Yorkshire rustic who had been brought up in a moorland cottage with a swarm of little brothers and sisters who had never dreamed of doing anything but waiting on themselves and on the younger ones who were either babies in arms or just learning to totter about and tumble over things. 

If Mary Lennox had been a child who was ready to be amused she would perhaps have laughed at Martha’s readiness to talk, but Mary only listened to her coldly and wondered at her freedom of manner. At first she was not at all interested, but gradually, as the girl rattled on in her good-tempered, homely way, Mary began to notice what she was saying

When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said shewas the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen. It was true, too. She had a little thin face and alittle thin body, thin light hair and a sour expression. Her hair was yellow, and her face was yellowbecause she had been born in India and had always been ill in one way or another. Her father hadheld a position under the English Government and had always been busy and ill himself, and hermother had been a great beauty who cared only to go to parties and amuse herself with gay people.She had not wanted a little girl at all, and when Mary was born she handed her over to the care of anAyah, who was made to understand that if she wished to please the Mem Sahib she must keep thechild out of sight as much as possible. So when she was a sickly, fretful, ugly little baby she was keptout of the way, and when she became a sickly, fretful, toddling thing she was kept out of the wayalso. She never remembered seeing familiarly anything but the dark faces of her Ayah and the othernative servants, and as they always obeyed her and gave her her own way in everything, because theMem Sahib would be angry if she was disturbed by her crying, by the time she was six years old shewas as tyrannical and selfish a little pig as ever lived. The young English governess who came toteach her to read and write disliked her so much that she gave up her place in three months, andwhen other governesses came to try to fill it they always went away in a shorter time than the firstone. So if Mary had not chosen to really want to know how to read books she would never havelearned her letters at all.One frightfully hot morning, when she was about nine years old, she awakened feeling very cross, and she became crosser still when she saw that the servant who stood by her bedside was not herAyah

Complete

Bella

When new, beautiful thoughts began to push out the old, hideous ones, life began to come back to him.

i loved this book so much I can’t even describe 

amelia <3

Ten-year-old orphan Mary Lennox is sent to live in a largely uninhabited mansion on the Yorkshire moors and discovers an invalid cousin and the mysteries of a locked garden.

The secret garden

This was honestly a really lovely read. The old language combined with the Yorkshire dialect was a bit difficult to get into and understand as a non-native, but you do get used to it. I didn’t think I’d end up liking the book at first, and the beginning was a bit slow with unlikable characters, but as I continued reading and got to learn more about them and their development, I really fell in love with the plot and the message of this book and how magical and beautiful it makes everything seem. Wonderful book, I’d really recommend it.

E. H. BURNETT

Secret Garden

i would want to reborn as this specific book without the racism 

Malia

Anna 

it was alright, but it was that kind of book I'll totally forget about in a month

chaca

my feeling is all over the place while reading this book :___)

neglected children finding comfort and growth in the beauty of nature. what a lovely, lovely story.

Monicap

I remembered enjoying an abridged version of the Secret Garden as a child and let me tell you I'm very glad I read the unabridged story as an adult.

The Secret Garden follows Mary Lennox, a girl born in English-occupied India who was largely neglected by her parents until their sudden deaths at which point she is sent to live with a reclusive uncle in England. There are a variety of mysteries at her uncle's estate: There's a garden which was shut up ten years ago and the key buried; she sometimes hears someone crying in the halls but when she asks after it, she's told she's hearing the wind. Mary makes up her mind to find the secret garden and befriends an old gardener, a robin, a boy who lives on the moor, and eventually, the source of the mysterious crying. In searching for, finding, and tending to the secret garden, Mary brightens her own attitude on her life, viewing it as Magic.

This is an incredibly sweet, uplifting story in which orphaned Mary gets a little found family. When I initially closed the book I was a bit perturbed that the closing image was on Colin and his father instead of Mary but upon reflection I think Colin healing his relationship with his father is a kind of symbolic unification of Mary's found family--Mary will never get a chance to improve her relationship with her parents, but Colin gets to with his father. Both Colin and Mary found a mother figure in Susan Sowerby, and friendship in each other.

Idk like I get how the ending is a little bit, um, of it's time in it's approach to mental health but I don't care I really love this story. (though that is what is keeping this from being a five star read for me)

I listened to Carrie Hope Fletcher's audiobook rendition on audible while reading along and I can not recommend it enough. Her performance brought so much life to these characters it's unreal. 

Yeah, yep, good book, do recommend.

julia

Christine

Liz Hunsaker

Deepika Ramesh

If I were given a chance to trade my life with a literary character, perhaps I would choose Dickon from 'The Secret Garden.' Full review here: https://worncorners.wordpress.com/201...

Laura Mauler

Very sweet little tale. You can predict exactly what's going to happen, and I don't think that there's anything wrong with that so long as it is good reading along the way.

While I found the story to be charming, I did notice a few repetitive words that were a bit distracting. However, the overarching message I gleaned from the narrative is the importance of altering our perspective at times to recognize the kindness within people and to treat them with greater compassion. Life presents challenges to everyone, and it serves as a reminder that being unkind or rude does not contribute positively to anyone's journey.

Jovana Gjekanovikj 

becky oh

Secret garden, The

Naomi Okechukwu

4.5 ⭐️

This book made me reminisce about my childhood, which was great for my idealistic mind. I did lose motivation towards the end as I felt it becoming a bit repetitive. Otherwise, it was a beautiful and enjoyable story! 

I recommend.

The Secret Garden (Gift Books)

Colleen

4.5 Stars
 
I’ve been revisiting a few old classics lately. The Secret Garden was a favorite of mine growing up. While this time I viewed the story through different eyes, I nonetheless enjoyed it. It truly is a classic for the ages.
 
While rereading this, the first thing that popped out at me was that the main character, Mary Lennox, was described in such unflattering ways. Literally from the first page, it is mentioned repeatedly that Mary is sour in looks and disposition. She is described as ugly and unpleasant and spoiled rotten. Far from being insulted by this, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Literature these days is so inundated with gorgeous Mary Sues that a plain and unlikely heroine was an absolute delight. And yes, the book certainly carries lessons about true beauty coming from inside, but I found I rather enjoyed sour little Mary is spite of (or perhaps because of) her faults.
 
Another thing that I didn’t see clearly before was that The Secret Garden has a lot of Gothic flavor to it. The tragic backstories, an orphan, a desolate, old mansion on the English moor, family secrets, hidden locations… all that was missing was a ghost. This book definitely peaked my interesting in the setting, and now I can see how it subconsciously led to my like of other Gothic stories.
 
Yes, the language is dated, and the phonetic writing of the Yorkshire accent is a bit over the top at times. The message that children thrive best out of doors gets a bit heavy-handed at times. That’s something I never noticed as a child because – other than reading – my parents were very much of the “playing outside is best for child” mentality. So that was a normal sentiment to me. But I think there is still some useful food for thought in The Secret Garden. Sadly, parental neglect and child inactivity is still an issue today. Although I do also have to admit that Mrs. Medlock didn’t seem nearly as villainous to me now as she did when I was little. I may have unfairly judged her. Rereading books is such a good way of showing you differences in yourself.
 
A garden is such a simple thing, and yet there is a sort of magic in them. This book captures that magic and the magic of imagination. It is definitely a story that I will continue to treasure. A story that makes me think of Spring and second chances and the joy that a flower or a book can bring.


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 5 Stars
Writing Style: 4 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 5 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 4 Stars
Level of Captivation: 5 Stars
Originality: 5 Stars

Lynn

This story was a beautiful middlegrade tale. It had a darkness to light element, a touch of magical realism with lush descriptions of nature and character development some other books could take a note on. It did feel a bit ‘childish’ at times and I felt a bit distant from the characters. Therefore I personally wouldn’t reread, yet I would recommend it to anyone looking for a light and young spring read - thus the 3 stars. Audible narration was impeccable though, Yorkshire accents and all.

It is a very beautiful book and wonderfully written. It is brings me a feeling of joy and wonder reading it.

Olivia Marie 

Anna South

Anna

The Secret Garden is a story that has been with me for almost as long as I can remember.
I don't remember how small I was when I first saw the movie (1993) but it has instantly become one of my long time favourites. When someone says garden I can only see the secret garden before me. I think it thought me more than I ever realised.

But for long years it only stayed with me as a movie. I think I only realised it's a book about 2 years ago and I just couldn't wait to have my hands on a copy. And about a month ago I've got this beautiful copy as a present from my Mom. I still have a laughing fit when I remember how afraid she was that I wouldn't like it. Never in my life was I more in love with a book. 

While reading I just fall more and more in love with an already very loved story. I even learned to love Colin. I love how Hodgson Burnett descripes Magic, how she makes me forget the real world around me and takes me to a places filled with joy and laughter, how she makes feel like I'm standing in the Secret Garden.

This is a book I recommend to everbody and one that I'll be sure to read to my future children and any nephews or nieces I might have.

Siya S

Ahh, the all-time classics about a sickly child discovering a garden and realized how cool it was to socialize and be surrounded by nature. I think part of me will always be in love with Dickon, because I keep looking for his qualities in a guy - a green thumb, kindhearted, animal expert, and people expert (friendly). I wish I could strangle Colin when he had tantrums (I know I'm horrible), but the kid had the best character development in the history of character developments, so there's that. 

Ahh, Mary Lennox, the protagonist. I love her determination and stubbornness. I could identify her loneliness well, since I'm also an only child myself. It took me ages to find a bestfriend, so I was happy ats fuck when she came across Dickon and the garden. The girl glowed up awesomely. I dreamed of discovering such gardens in my backyard when I was younger, but I live in a suburban home with no garden. Damn. 

It's my 4th-5th time reading this (I lose count). I listened as an audiobook and got annoyed a bit by the children's dialogues (also the over-the-top Yorkshire accent). I think I like reading it myself better.

This is the most beautiful book I’ve ever read

Shari Ilg

While Mary Lennox's adventures in "The Secret Garden" are cherished by many, the book sadly missed the mark for me. The slow pace, heavy descriptions, and characters I didn't connect with created a reading experience that felt stagnant. Though I recognize its classic status, the unlikable protagonist and lack of suspense made it difficult to maintain interest.

Liana

Ten-year-old Mary comes to live in a lonely house on the Yorkshire moors and discovers an invalid cousin and the mysteries of a locked garden.

If I had to describe The Secret Garden with one word, it would be wholesome. The Secret Garden is a sweet story about friendship and a shared love of nature.

The protagonist of The Secret Garden is Mary Lennox. After the death of her parents, she is shipped from India back to England to live in the countryside manor of her uncle. Since her parents had little attention or love left for little Mary (she is around ten years old), she is quite a sour and bitter little girl. From the moment she arrives at Misselthwaite, she undergoes significant growth physically and mentally. In that aspect, the plot was character-driven. Furthermore, I loved the friendship Mary develops with both Dickon and Collin. Their friendship came across as realistic and genuine through their shared love of the secret garden. Through their friendship both Mary and Collin developed more compassion for the people in their surroundings. I loved that the secret garden was not only the connecting factor for the friendship but was also a metaphor for the character growth of both Mary and Collin. As the secret garden came to live and blossomed, so did Mary and Collin. Lastly, I loved the sweet ending. It fitted the story well and it tied up the story nicely.

The children were the stars of the story. Their characterisation and character development felt realistic compared to their respective ages. For example, Mary and Collin become kinder and happier, but they remain spoiled. Everything about them including their friendship radiated wholesomeness. The author did an excellent job of describing the giddiness, the adventurous nature, and the boundless energy of children. Moreover, I loved that all three children had a positive influence over each other. There were also adult characters in the book, but they were the supportive characters. The adults created a safe and healthy environment for the children to grow.

I thought the writing beautiful. The descriptions of nature, spring particularly, and the weather were masterfully done. These descriptions added much atmosphere to the story. Furthermore, the writing had that unique quality of the writing a lot of classics authors had, while the personality of Burnett also shines through the writing. I particularly loved the chapter written from the perspective of the robin. It was hilarious.

Rating breakdown: plot (4.4/5), characters (4.8/5), writing (4.8/5), worldbuilding (5/5), overall enjoyment (4.5/5)

Trigger warnings: Negative references to the native people of India, death of parents, child neglect.

Lisa van der Heijden 

ＢＯＯＫ ＲＥＶＩＥＷ

 

Title: The Secret Garden

Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett

Pages: 352

Published: 1911

Rating: 4.7/5.0 stars

 

If I had to describe The Secret Garden with one word, it would be wholesome. The Secret Garden is a sweet story about friendship and a shared love of nature.

 

The protagonist of The Secret Garden is Mary Lennox. After the death of her parents, she is shipped from India back to England to live in the countryside manor of her uncle. Since her parents had little attention or love left for little Mary (she is around ten years old), she is quite a sour and bitter little girl. From the moment she arrives at Misselthwaite, she undergoes significant growth physically and mentally. In that aspect, the plot was character-driven. Furthermore, I loved the friendship Mary develops with both Dickon and Collin. Their friendship came across as realistic and genuine through their shared love of the secret garden. Through their friendship both Mary and Collin developed more compassion for the people in their surroundings. I loved that the secret garden was not only the connecting factor for the friendship but was also a metaphor for the character growth of both Mary and Collin. As the secret garden came to live and blossomed, so did Mary and Collin. Lastly, I loved the sweet ending. It fitted the story well and it tied up the story nicely.

 

The children were the stars of the story. Their characterisation and character development felt realistic compared to their respective ages. For example, Mary and Collin become kinder and happier, but they remain spoiled. Everything about them including their friendship radiated wholesomeness. The author did an excellent job of describing the giddiness, the adventurous nature, and the boundless energy of children. Moreover, I loved that all three children had a positive influence over each other. There were also adult characters in the book, but they were the supportive characters. The adults created a safe and healthy environment for the children to grow.

 

I thought the writing beautiful. The descriptions of nature, spring particularly, and the weather were masterfully done. These descriptions added much atmosphere to the story. Furthermore, the writing had that unique quality of the writing a lot of classics authors had, while the personality of Burnett also shines through the writing. I particularly loved the chapter written from the perspective of the robin. It was hilarious.

 

Rating breakdown: plot (4.4/5), characters (4.8/5), writing (4.8/5), worldbuilding (5/5), overall enjoyment (4.5/5)

 

Trigger warnings: Negative references to the native people of India, death of parents, child neglect.

The Secret Garden

Reviews

Highlights