Reviews

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

h4naaaa's review against another edition

4.0

da speranza

worm_on_the_books's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Excellent easy to read classic

graciegrace1178's review against another edition

4.0

4.14 stars. A classic lit book about gardens and people of different backgrounds becoming friends and growing things? AWESOME.

PT: classics, books that have been on my tbr for way too long, RATW: England (North York Moors), gardens, children's (classic) lit

WIL
1) il faut cultiver notre jardin (kids' edition.) YAY GARDENING! YAY teaching kids about the magic that is growing things!! Inspiration for a bunch of young kiddos to start their own gardens- the future botanical generation!

2) the power of positive thinking (cont. neutral ground 1). Positive thinking helps heal and create better moments. That's cool. I can get behind that idea.

3) Mary Quite Contrary (epithets in lit). I never see epithets like this in lit/media anymore!! Why did that stop?? They're so great. They're quick characterization at its finest. (One notable exception to this is Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous- are epithets just reserved for children's media now? ABSURD. Bring back epithets in all lit and media!!)

4) casual everyday magic. Ohhhh I love this. I love when books mention something like "there's magic all around us!!" Like yes! Take me back to that childhood mindset when the world was always golden and a bit mysterious but ultimately my friend! Good!! I love!!

5) wholesome!!!! Gardening! Friendships! Communicating with birds! It doesn't get much more wholesome than this, folks. Fantastic. I want to hug this book and the wholesome vibes it emits.

WIDL
1) An IV of Sweet Tarts diluted with maple syrup. This was almost too sweet at times. Just not for me at this very moment. I love wholesome culture, and I love friendship-centric stories but my gOODNESS i feel like I just drank a bucket of pure powdered sugar after reading this.


NEUTRAL GROUND
1) the power of positive thinking. Okay look, I'm a fan of optimism as much as the next generally enthusiastic person, but this is...taking it a bit far for me. Positive thinking is all well and good, but it's borderline toxic here. I dunno. I guess I'm just a bit peeved by the fact that Burnett portrays chronic illness as something that can be overcome with a wink and a smile, and that's not my favorite trope. It diminishes a lot of pain people fight through every day. Her point with the whole thing was that Colin's illness was psychosomatic and he just needed "fresh air" to heal himself. Fine, whatever, some illnesses are purely psychosomatic. I know that. But to suggest that fresh air can heal all ailments magically ignores so much... I know this is politicizing this children's story. I know I'm taking it a bit out of context here, but still. It just bugged me. It's staying here in Neutral ground as opposed to WIDL because I think Frances Hodson Burnett's intentions were still pure and I'm just jaded and biased.

abbey_road's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted 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

3.0

whatkatereadsnext's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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

4.0

lycanbreakfast's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

little_puff's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Magic can be found alongside nature and belief. 

avspen04's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Wonderful book! The narrator describes the characters in such a fun way and the story itself is truly a feel good! 

aniglen's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

teslis's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Jag läste den här boken med min bokklubb och det var spännande då jag troligen inte skulle ha löst den utan dem. 

Ibörjan tyckte jag inte om den, den var svår och jag gillade inte huvudkaraktären Mary.

Men sen när hon kom in i trädgården och träffade Dickon så blev den mycket bättre!

Efter det började jag gilla den mycket mer och mot slutet tyckte jag om den.

boken hade lite av ett ”klyschigt slut men tyckte ändå om den.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death of parent