Reviews - The Secret Garden

9.1k reviews for:

The Secret Garden

Frances Hodgson Burnett

4.06 AVERAGE

nahnahnancy's review against another edition

5.0

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

jamielynn29's review against another edition

5.0

inspiring lighthearted 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

minka02's review against another edition

4.75

funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

laurenmietzcke's review against another edition

5.0

sometimes you just need to read a kids book and have a good time.

anastasia_666's review against another edition

5.0

Un grande classico per ragazzi che non avevo mai letto e che mi é stato regalato in un'edizione speciale, quella realizzata da MinaLima. La loro fama di designer trova conferma in questo libro pieno di pagine illustrate e interattive.

kmeyers0611's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

corrinsw's review against another edition

3.0

Goes without saying, this book is old, its writing style slow, its content racially inappropriate. Basically nothing happened which made it the perfect slow Spring read, and I loved hearing about the power of nature and 'the magic', and how these might relate to God. Did find it a shame that Mary didn't really get an ending at the end? Maybe her story was done and given over to Colin's, but I was fond of her and wish she could've finished the book.

molang_madrigal's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

The Secret Garden definitely has some flaws (mostly ignorant racism against India and children in lonely, dark situations at the beginning), but its position as a landmark work about healing and positive psychology is still richly deserved because there are still so few books out there like it. It's unique in its celebration of nature, rural Yorkshire culture and the importance of childhood physical and mental wellbeing. Its messages of joyful living are possibly even more relevant in today's world then they were a century ago, and have the magic of being able to touch the souls of both adults and children. It is a story about the journey to being happy - and that is so valuable and underrated.

But seriously, I do wish there was less racism so that everyone in the world would be able to enjoy it properly 🌏🫶

Content Warnings