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A review by angelo_vossen
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
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
3.75
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