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Reviews tagging 'Animal death'
The Secret Garden 秘密花園 by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Frances Hodgson Burnett
11 reviews
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 🌏🫶
But seriously, I do wish there was less racism so that everyone in the world would be able to enjoy it properly 🌏🫶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Animal death
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Frances Hodgson Burnett’s „The Secret Garden“ (1911) is a quietly enchanting novel that has earned its place among the great works of children’s literature. With its lyrical prose, emotionally resonant story, and deeply symbolic use of nature, it continues to speak to readers over a century after its publication. Though not without its flaws, the novel’s strengths more than justify its enduring popularity.
At the center is Mary Lennox, a neglected and prickly child raised in British colonial India. When her parents die suddenly, she is sent to live in the sprawling and mysterious Misselthwaite Manor on the Yorkshire moors. There, Mary’s discovery of a locked and forgotten garden mirrors her own emotional awakening. Along with two other children— Dickon, a kind-hearted local boy, and Colin, her reclusive and sickly cousin — Mary experiences a personal transformation that unfolds in tandem with the garden’s return to life.
Burnett’s portrayal of nature as a healing force is one of the novel’s most powerful features. Her vivid descriptions of the moor and the changing seasons are infused with a sense of quiet wonder, and her use of the garden as a metaphor for psychological and emotional growth is both subtle and effective. The evolution of the children — from lonely, frustrated, or self-absorbed to open-hearted and healthy — is touching and often profound, especially for younger readers encountering themes of grief, friendship, and recovery for the first time.
However, some aspects of the book have not aged as gracefully. The early chapters set in India are marred by colonial stereotypes and orientalist attitudes that reflect the era’s imperial mindset. While these passages are relatively brief, they serve as a reminder of the novel’s historical context and should be approached with a critical awareness, especially when sharing the book with children today.
There are also occasional issues with pacing—the story can meander, and Dickon, while beloved by many, sometimes feels too idealized, almost saint-like in his goodness. Likewise, the novel’s suggestion that health can be entirely restored through fresh air and positive thinking, while thematically satisfying, may oversimplify more complex realities.
That said, these issues do not overshadow the book’s deeper emotional truths. „The Secret Garden“ ultimately celebrates the idea that healing — whether physical, emotional, or spiritual — is possible through connection: to nature, to others, and to oneself. It’s a story of second chances and quiet transformation, and Burnett writes with both tenderness and conviction.
A beautifully written and emotionally rich novel, „The Secret Garden“ is a classic that rewards both children and adults with its quiet wisdom and hopeful message. While it reflects some dated attitudes, its central themes of growth, renewal, and the restorative power of the natural world remain timeless and deeply moving.
At the center is Mary Lennox, a neglected and prickly child raised in British colonial India. When her parents die suddenly, she is sent to live in the sprawling and mysterious Misselthwaite Manor on the Yorkshire moors. There, Mary’s discovery of a locked and forgotten garden mirrors her own emotional awakening. Along with two other children— Dickon, a kind-hearted local boy, and Colin, her reclusive and sickly cousin — Mary experiences a personal transformation that unfolds in tandem with the garden’s return to life.
Burnett’s portrayal of nature as a healing force is one of the novel’s most powerful features. Her vivid descriptions of the moor and the changing seasons are infused with a sense of quiet wonder, and her use of the garden as a metaphor for psychological and emotional growth is both subtle and effective. The evolution of the children — from lonely, frustrated, or self-absorbed to open-hearted and healthy — is touching and often profound, especially for younger readers encountering themes of grief, friendship, and recovery for the first time.
However, some aspects of the book have not aged as gracefully. The early chapters set in India are marred by colonial stereotypes and orientalist attitudes that reflect the era’s imperial mindset. While these passages are relatively brief, they serve as a reminder of the novel’s historical context and should be approached with a critical awareness, especially when sharing the book with children today.
There are also occasional issues with pacing—the story can meander, and Dickon, while beloved by many, sometimes feels too idealized, almost saint-like in his goodness. Likewise, the novel’s suggestion that health can be entirely restored through fresh air and positive thinking, while thematically satisfying, may oversimplify more complex realities.
That said, these issues do not overshadow the book’s deeper emotional truths. „The Secret Garden“ ultimately celebrates the idea that healing — whether physical, emotional, or spiritual — is possible through connection: to nature, to others, and to oneself. It’s a story of second chances and quiet transformation, and Burnett writes with both tenderness and conviction.
A beautifully written and emotionally rich novel, „The Secret Garden“ is a classic that rewards both children and adults with its quiet wisdom and hopeful message. While it reflects some dated attitudes, its central themes of growth, renewal, and the restorative power of the natural world remain timeless and deeply moving.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Colonisation
Minor: Animal death, Chronic illness, Slavery, Medical content, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol
adventurous
hopeful
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
Finally read this piece of classic fiction and had a wonderful time with it. It began surprisingly tragic, opening in British India during a cholera outbreak, but even before the outbreak is mentioned it is made clear how alone our main character, Mary, felt in the world. She thought not much would change when she arrived at Misselthwaite Manor and was quickly ushered to a large empty room and told not to bother the owner, her uncle, who she was told would take care of her. Little did she know, this place was filled to the brim with secrets, and upon finding the key to them, she would be set on taking them for herself. The self discovery and the change that occurs to the characters over the course of this book were fascinating and inspiring to read about, and the descriptions of the gardens and the changes the world around them went through were just beautiful and a pleasure to turn into the little movie in my head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Classism
Minor: Animal death, Racism, Colonisation
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Colonisation
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
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
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
So I read this for a book club thing (long story) cause otherwise I likely wouldn't have. It's a funny, cute story for the most part. I do like that the children learn some self-awareness and recognize their spoiled attitudes. There is a mystical quality used to describe nature and it's importance.
Definitely have to take into consideration when it was written because there are some racist stereotypes particularly of Indians (the MC comes from living in British colonized India and moves back to England). I then found out that the authorwas part of the Christian Science movement, which holds the belief that you can heal yourself with just your mind and that definitely changed my perspective on the book a lot. If you didn't grow up reading this story I'm not sure I can necessarily recommend it...
Definitely have to take into consideration when it was written because there are some racist stereotypes particularly of Indians (the MC comes from living in British colonized India and moves back to England). I then found out that the author
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Death of parent, Colonisation
Minor: Animal death, Confinement
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation
Moderate: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Medical content, Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Slavery, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent
challenging
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
This has been on my to-read list for ages, as I loved the 1993 movie as a child. The magic of a child exploring and discovering new things was certainly there, but I knocked it down a bit because it didn't quite grab me as I hoped it would. I was prepared for the ableism, as I knew it was a key point in the story, but it's still a negative. It also lost points with me because the racism in it tarnished the entire story. The characters' ignorant comments, while certainly "of their time," made them significantly less lovable, even at the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Medical content, Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming, Misogyny
adventurous
funny
hopeful
relaxing
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 was a lovely book. The author describes the secret garden in great detail. Th characters also become more likeable as the story progressed. The size of the writing in this book is quite hard to read and I struggled with some of the Yorkshire accent in this but otherwise it was a lovely book. I really liked the characters by the end, even Mary who is a self centred girl in the opening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship