A review by allisonleora
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

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? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was really a surprising and lovely little read. I wasn’t intending this to be my first book of 2024, but it so Magically happened, and I think I needed it. 
 
I remember owning this book when I was a child, but never got around to reading it. I think I would have loved it, but would have found the Broad Yorkshire challenging. Two decades later and I had trouble even now. 
 
But it was really a beautiful story and one full of hope, which is something I needed at the beginning of the year. I found myself wanting to go back into the story to see how the garden was progressing. 
 
Some of the language did make me uncomfortable, and I think I would need to have a long discussion with my son about the racism and colonialism featured in this novel before he sets out to read it himself. I would for sure recommend it to him when he gets older, though. 
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