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disabledbookdragon's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? No
5.0
mags1119's review
adventurous
emotional
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
3.0
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up.
I enjoyed this creative, queer remix of The secret garden that's set in Georgian Bay, Canada and sees an orphaned Mary trying to help her mistreated cousin and falling in love with a local Metis girl. Feminist with great Indigenous characters, this coming of age romance was a great addition to the Remixed classics series and good on audio narrated by Brefny Caribou. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
I enjoyed this creative, queer remix of The secret garden that's set in Georgian Bay, Canada and sees an orphaned Mary trying to help her mistreated cousin and falling in love with a local Metis girl. Feminist with great Indigenous characters, this coming of age romance was a great addition to the Remixed classics series and good on audio narrated by Brefny Caribou. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
ipomoea's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advance copy from the publisher and Netgalley.
The Secret Garden was one of my favorite books as a child, but I haven't read it in at least 25 years. Cherie Dimaline's take on it was a breath of fresh air, while staying true to the story. Mary Craven's parents are power players in Toronto politics, but when they're lost at sea, she's sent to her uncle's house near Georgian Bay, to the north. When she arrives, her uncle is gone, and Mary's only companions are the house servants, including the forthright Metis girl Flora. When Mary tentatively pitches a fit, Flora lets her do it until she burns herself out, and through patience, boundaries, and good humor, Mary comes out of her shell and begins a friendship with Flora, as well as Flora's intriguing sister, Sophie. As in the original book, there is a sick child, but this time, Olive is held in the attic, dosed by her stepmother with "medicine" that seems to help more than it hurts. While the stepmother/aunt gets her justice in the end, the last few pages of this book wrapped up awfully quickly, to the point it felt rushed. That being said, it was still a deeply enjoyable read (finished it within 24 hours), and now I'd like to read other books in the remixed classics collection.
The Secret Garden was one of my favorite books as a child, but I haven't read it in at least 25 years. Cherie Dimaline's take on it was a breath of fresh air, while staying true to the story. Mary Craven's parents are power players in Toronto politics, but when they're lost at sea, she's sent to her uncle's house near Georgian Bay, to the north. When she arrives, her uncle is gone, and Mary's only companions are the house servants, including the forthright Metis girl Flora. When Mary tentatively pitches a fit, Flora lets her do it until she burns herself out, and through patience, boundaries, and good humor, Mary comes out of her shell and begins a friendship with Flora, as well as Flora's intriguing sister, Sophie. As in the original book, there is a sick child, but this time, Olive is held in the attic, dosed by her stepmother with "medicine" that seems to help more than it hurts. While the stepmother/aunt gets her justice in the end, the last few pages of this book wrapped up awfully quickly, to the point it felt rushed. That being said, it was still a deeply enjoyable read (finished it within 24 hours), and now I'd like to read other books in the remixed classics collection.
winterreader40's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
Mary Lennox is orphaned at 15 in this remix and is sent to live with her uncle. She meets his staff first as he is away from home when she arrives and quickly discovers her "secret" cousin Olive as well stashed in the attic and terribly unwell, but as the girls spend time together Olive starts to ween herself off the medicine her stepmother gives her and begins to recover her health.
I really enjoyed this retelling with the twists made on the original story, placing it in Canada with Native American/Metis characters and LGBT rep with the evil stepmother who was a character I wasn't expecting to see made it fresh and fun to read.
Mary Lennox is orphaned at 15 in this remix and is sent to live with her uncle. She meets his staff first as he is away from home when she arrives and quickly discovers her "secret" cousin Olive as well stashed in the attic and terribly unwell, but as the girls spend time together Olive starts to ween herself off the medicine her stepmother gives her and begins to recover her health.
I really enjoyed this retelling with the twists made on the original story, placing it in Canada with Native American/Metis characters and LGBT rep with the evil stepmother who was a character I wasn't expecting to see made it fresh and fun to read.
libraryfangirl's review against another edition
The two main characters are 15 but due to their isolation read as much younger. It was reading as middle grade rather than YA. I would recommend it to a younger reader but it wasn't for me.
indiekay's review against another edition
3.0
I think the fact that I haven't read the original Secret Garden book is probably a detriment to this book - I can't tell which parts of this I found boring or long-winded because it was homage to the original book, or because that was the writer's decision. I found the first 40% of this book pretty boring - Mary only finds the secret garden, and the love interest is only introduced, 40% into the book. And the garden wasn't actually a big part of the plot at all.
I also think Mary being 15 just does not work. The other books in this remix series (the Great Gatsby one, and the Jekyll and Hyde one) I've complained should have been about people in their early 20s instead of late teens, but this book I have the opposite problem with. Mary should have been 10-12 years old. Her character reads like a younger character, and I kept having to remind myself she was 15.
That all said, I did like the audiobook narrator, and the Canadian setting - I don't think I've ever read a queer historical story set in Canada. I also liked Flora a lot, she was probably my favourite character and the highlight of the book.
I also think Mary being 15 just does not work. The other books in this remix series (the Great Gatsby one, and the Jekyll and Hyde one) I've complained should have been about people in their early 20s instead of late teens, but this book I have the opposite problem with. Mary should have been 10-12 years old. Her character reads like a younger character, and I kept having to remind myself she was 15.
That all said, I did like the audiobook narrator, and the Canadian setting - I don't think I've ever read a queer historical story set in Canada. I also liked Flora a lot, she was probably my favourite character and the highlight of the book.
kenya_qn's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
becraynor's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.75