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hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
I really loved this. I thought I read it as a kid, but I didn’t remember any of it so it felt brand new. The atmosphere was gorgeous and so immersive - I could see the moor, feel the rain, smell the garden. I loved how the garden slowly coming back to life mirrored Mary and Colin growing and being nurtured for the first time. There’s a big focus on positive thinking, and while I don’t believe that alone can fix everything (especially as someone with chronic health issues), I do think mindset shapes how we meet life’s challenges—and that really matters.
It made me feel weirdly nostalgic for a time I’ve never lived in—when kids just had nature, imagination, and each other. It left me wondering what the world would be like if that was still possible.
Some parts haven’t aged well—especially the racism and all the weird, constant commentary about the kids being “ugly”—but the heart of the story still shines. And now I’m seriously craving fresh bread and jam 🍞✨️
It made me feel weirdly nostalgic for a time I’ve never lived in—when kids just had nature, imagination, and each other. It left me wondering what the world would be like if that was still possible.
Some parts haven’t aged well—especially the racism and all the weird, constant commentary about the kids being “ugly”—but the heart of the story still shines. And now I’m seriously craving fresh bread and jam 🍞✨️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Racism, Colonisation
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
Re-reading as an adult the racisim, classisim, ableisim and parental neglect are a big challenge as being in the time it was, they are never addressed.
However I do love the character arcs and personal growth of Mary and Colin as well as the healing bemefits of nature on your wellbeing. So the moments i enjoyed with the garden and cousins relationship i still enjoyed.
However I do love the character arcs and personal growth of Mary and Colin as well as the healing bemefits of nature on your wellbeing. So the moments i enjoyed with the garden and cousins relationship i still enjoyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Xenophobia, Classism
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Medical trauma, Colonisation
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
Lots of problematic content, considering it was published 1910-11. Its messages of hope, care, love, and emotional healing are all beautiful, though. If you haven’t read it, or it’s been a while since you have, I definitely recommend reading it! I read it many years ago and there was a lot I had forgotten about. I love just how active Martha and Dicken’s mother is in the story, for instance. If you’re giving it to a child to read, I recommend reading it along with them and being prepared for discussing racism, colonialism, corporal punishment, domestic abuse, and things like that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've always been curious about this book. I don't know why. I guess it's because I grew up with a garden at home. My mother loves gardening. I don't think we have the best relationship but it's a functioning one, at least. Then again, when have mother-daughter relationships been great? This book makes me think of her as well as my nephew who I think have become a bit like Mary and Colin considering that he has been stuck at home and has been used to have all his whims be done. This book really got me thinking about children of today and how they aren't really all that different from children of years ago. They really do need their family, especially their parents, to be with them. They need to go out. They need to be bored and find ways to entertain themselves. They need to meet with other kids or other people. They need interaction with the physical world.
As a recent board passer for professional teachers, this was really eye-opening for me and it inspired me to teach children considering that I currently have no intention to do so at the moment from burnout. As a reader, I now understand why this book is so iconic. It's such a wonderful and heartfel book. When you look back on it, nothing much really happens but when you study the characters, a lot change within them. It's like a mirror of human life. We go through everyday not really paying mind to mundane things until we wake up and realize within ourselves that we have changed. This book was really enjoyable for me and there were times that it almost made me cry.
I really love this audiobook. I love the narrator. She was amazing and it really immersed me in the story that sometimes I can see it happening right before my eyes which used to be the norm whenever I read books but I somehow lost the skill due to grief and life somehow gotten hold of me. This also makes me want to buy the book and I probably will when I have money and when I make my soonest visit to the bookstore.
As a recent board passer for professional teachers, this was really eye-opening for me and it inspired me to teach children considering that I currently have no intention to do so at the moment from burnout. As a reader, I now understand why this book is so iconic. It's such a wonderful and heartfel book. When you look back on it, nothing much really happens but when you study the characters, a lot change within them. It's like a mirror of human life. We go through everyday not really paying mind to mundane things until we wake up and realize within ourselves that we have changed. This book was really enjoyable for me and there were times that it almost made me cry.
I really love this audiobook. I love the narrator. She was amazing and it really immersed me in the story that sometimes I can see it happening right before my eyes which used to be the norm whenever I read books but I somehow lost the skill due to grief and life somehow gotten hold of me. This also makes me want to buy the book and I probably will when I have money and when I make my soonest visit to the bookstore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, War
Minor: Slavery, Islamophobia, Cultural appropriation
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Death of parent
Child neglect
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic
Mary was emotionally neglected and then blamed for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Racism
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a reread from my Childhood and it made me realize why I loved this book so much. While the beginning has some questionable language about class and race (as to be expected of an older book) it's message is beautiful. Reading at different ages and phases in life reveals extra messages and the beautiful complexity of these characters stuck in a partially unknown time of our modern day... Yet the events and lessons and feelings and conversations doesn't feel that outdated besides the language shift.
I adore the characters and the magic they bring to the story. I adore the descriptions of nature and growing friendship. I adore the hope in the impossible and the magical. I adore a feel good story in the midst of everyday tragedy. No wonder I would read this year after year growing up... It was beautiful and gave me hope. Very few books actually make me emotional to the point of crying, but if I'd taken the time to read it straight in one sitting I probably would have.
If you don't know if you'd like classics or think they're too hard or boring then I BEG YOU TO READ THE SECRET GARDEN. Because at first it is a cruel indifference that quickly turns to kindness. God I love this book and hope that everyone gets the chance to read it. Devour it. And let it sit within your soul as you grow.
I adore the characters and the magic they bring to the story. I adore the descriptions of nature and growing friendship. I adore the hope in the impossible and the magical. I adore a feel good story in the midst of everyday tragedy. No wonder I would read this year after year growing up... It was beautiful and gave me hope. Very few books actually make me emotional to the point of crying, but if I'd taken the time to read it straight in one sitting I probably would have.
If you don't know if you'd like classics or think they're too hard or boring then I BEG YOU TO READ THE SECRET GARDEN. Because at first it is a cruel indifference that quickly turns to kindness. God I love this book and hope that everyone gets the chance to read it. Devour it. And let it sit within your soul as you grow.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Colonisation
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment
Moderate: Racism