Reviews

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

mmariela's review against another edition

5.0

This book is so comforting that I want to fall asleep hugging it every night. I first read it when I was eighteen and it has only gotten better with time. As my sister very succinctly put it, this is a book about the power of positive thinking.

dragonbiscuit's review against another edition

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

4.0

meg_xoxo's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

3.25

zbmorgan's review against another edition

4.0

Not quite as justice driven as A Little Princess, this more popular tale by Burnett is interesting to read as an adult. The illustrations in the Inga Moore version make you feel as wondrous as Mary must have felt seeing the garden for the first time, and Dickon's animals are brought to life in a classic, appropriately Victorian way.
What's really interesting about this tale of an orphan meeting a pessimistic spoiled brat is that it might be the only classic story I can think of for children that relies heavily on the power of positive thinking. There's not a great deal of parenting being done here (one of the main characters IS an orphan, after all) but it takes a village, and a village is sometimes just fine. Beautiful.

rosiefpb's review against another edition

3.0

Avelynn and I mostly really enjoyed this, it is beautifully written, but it's another one where some of the language is "of it's time" aka Quite Racist - some of the talk about "the natives" when they described Mary's time in India needed censoring sadly.

simply_sian's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

poppy4378's review against another edition

3.0

Loved reading about Mary and her transformation with change in surroundings. Colin's transformation however felt cringey. By this point the fresh air and their healthy appetite was creating a lot of eye roll moments.
This book was written late 1800s something and I dislike the author's tone about India and the natives. That definitely put me off. Also the "young Rajah's" (Colin) constant mentions of magic is just exhausting!
Giving the book 3/5 because I loved seeing Mary's transformation.

abbieh25's review against another edition

inspiring slow-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

0.5

shipwreck78's review against another edition

5.0

one of VERY few books i've read repeatedly. i love the idea of a secret place of my own...

assam_athenaeum's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring 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

4.25