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aaima 's review for:
The Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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 is a heartwarming book with the wonderful progression of character of both main characters. However, the colonial undertones and colloquialisms surrounding Indians creates a sense of “otherness” and stereotyping that I was not totally comfortable with.
As a child, I loved the whimsical and the magically healing nature of this wonderfully colourful secret garden and the symbolism of hope and warmth and it depicted. Yet, looking at this as an adult reader, there are definitely those problematic tropes surrounding the tokenising of people of colour.
It highlights the privilege of white settlers who were able to move to British colonial India and benefit at the expense of the native population, ensuring subservience and dehumanisation.
So whilst I like the descriptions and the building of a magical world within a world, I think these criticisms host important conversations that should not be ignored.
As a child, I loved the whimsical and the magically healing nature of this wonderfully colourful secret garden and the symbolism of hope and warmth and it depicted. Yet, looking at this as an adult reader, there are definitely those problematic tropes surrounding the tokenising of people of colour.
It highlights the privilege of white settlers who were able to move to British colonial India and benefit at the expense of the native population, ensuring subservience and dehumanisation.
So whilst I like the descriptions and the building of a magical world within a world, I think these criticisms host important conversations that should not be ignored.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Chronic illness, Abandonment, Colonisation