A review by dark_marble_eyes
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

challenging hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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.
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