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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is an absolutely gorgeous edition of a well loved classic.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A beautiful and heartwarming classic. The Secret Garden is a story about the power of friendship, thought, and quiet transformation. While often labelled as a children’s book, its emotional insight and subtlety make it rewarding for readers of any age.
What stayed with me most was the way the book treats “magic.” It’s not supernatural, but rooted in belief, attention, and will — the idea that thought itself can be powerful. That felt surprisingly modern and very moving.
The characters were incredibly lovable, and I especially enjoyed the relationships between the children. The story reminded me a little of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, but with a softer, more hopeful tone. It was an adorable and emotionally rich read.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved this as a kid but rereading this as an adult for the second or third time, I am much more aware of the (post)colonial and feminist criticism that this novel has rightly been subjected too and I find it a bit more exhausting to read. It's not just a tale about nature and friendship that heals, the didactic submessage just cannot be ignored.
I was drawn to this because of the (pardon the gen z) cottagecore vibes. It did not disappoint in that aspect as I really enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the moor, the mansion, and the secret garden itself. Juvenile handling of grief (the lord of the mansion), but perhaps that's to be expected from a middle grade book. I find more interesting the grief and growth that the young bratty protagonist experiences. All the new feelings of empathy and kindness and love for others she discovers in herself like little gifts are portrayed in such a charming way that one cannot help but gain appreciation for their presence in one's life as well. Like Mary, the garden is of course much more magical in its mystery, but to share it with others is magic in itself. I appreciate this overall but wouldn't go back to it again as I feel like I've outgrown this genre and feel no nostalgia for it, and Mary and Colin's brattiness is quite annoying to me as well. I do love Dickon and the robin as characters--so much whimsy and love for nature, cute in its fulfillment of a fairytale.