A review by laerkefugl
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

4.0

The Secret Garden was an interesting read that, I think, gains much of its value in retrospect. While reading, I was more focused on the story and plot, which at times felt a bit slow, especially since I’m not the most outdoorsy person and don’t know much about flowers. But looking back, I really appreciate the symbolism woven throughout the book. There’s a lot to unpack, and I’m sure I didn’t catch everything, but I especially enjoyed the recurring metaphors of growth, such as the changing seasons and, of course, the Secret Garden itself. I also appreciated the way the book touched on mental health. Colin's entire journey, learning that most of his ailments were self-inflicted and that change starts from within, is a valuable lesson for a middle-grade audience as well as a good reminder for any other audience. 

The characters were one of the biggest highlights for me. I liked them all, and despite how little background we get on each of them, they never felt overly dramatic or flat. In some ways, the story had a “slice of life” quality, where everyone has their own struggles, yet we only glimpse them through someone else’s perspective, most often a child’s. My favorite character was probably Lilias, even though she’s dead before the story begins and only mentioned occasionally. Her tragic fate and the lingering influence she has on so many characters was fascinating to read. 

While I’m looking forward to exploring more of the metaphors and symbolism in this classic, it isn’t perfect. One thing that stood out was the repeated use of the word “queer.” At first, I had to look up its older meaning, “strange,” since it’s more widely recognized today for its LGBTQIA+ associations. Even knowing that, I still thought it was quite queer, in the “strange” sense, that it had to be repeated so often. Maybe there’s some deeper meaning to that choice that I missed, but from my minimal research, I couldn't find a good reason for that repetition. 

I also have to deduct points for the racist undertones throughout the book. It’s mentioned repeatedly how negatively the Indian climate and culture supposedly affected Mary, as if England was the cure for her “bad” upbringing. Yes, Mary’s childhood was neglectful and loveless, but I don’t believe the climate, culture, or servants were to blame for that. 

Lastly, I would’ve liked to see a bit more focus on Mary in the ending, since this is technically her book. That said, the ending was still sweet and satisfying overall. 

In conclusion, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a thoughtful, reflective read if you don’t mind a slower, less action-driven plot. It gets 4 stars from me. 

|—TL;DR—| 

Focus Genre: Middle Grade Classical Historical Fiction (Non-Romance) 

Nostalgia: Disqualified 

Personal Enjoyment: 3⭐ 

Plot: 2⭐ 

Characters: 5⭐ 

World-Building/Setting: 5⭐ 

• Historical Accuracy/Immersion: 5⭐

Writing: 4⭐
Themes/Message: 5⭐
Timelessness: 4⭐
Age-Appropriateness: 4⭐
Pacing: 4⭐
Ending: 4⭐

=Overall=
4,1-stars⭐ ≈ 4-stars⭐
 
~17/07/25~

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Racism

Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment