Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - The Secret Garden

This is a reread from my Childhood and it made me realize why I loved this book so much. While the beginning has some questionable language about class and race (as to be expected of an older book) it's message is beautiful. Reading at different ages and phases in life reveals extra messages and the beautiful complexity of these characters stuck in a partially unknown time of our modern day... Yet the events and lessons and feelings and conversations doesn't feel that outdated besides the language shift.
I adore the characters and the magic they bring to the story. I adore the descriptions of nature and growing friendship. I adore the hope in the impossible and the magical. I adore a feel good story in the midst of everyday tragedy. No wonder I would read this year after year growing up... It was beautiful and gave me hope. Very few books actually make me emotional to the point of crying, but if I'd taken the time to read it straight in one sitting I probably would have.
If you don't know if you'd like classics or think they're too hard or boring then I BEG YOU TO READ THE SECRET GARDEN. Because at first it is a cruel indifference that quickly turns to kindness. God I love this book and hope that everyone gets the chance to read it. Devour it. And let it sit within your soul as you grow.

Content Warnings

sasquatch_3's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing 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

4.75

Content Warnings

yrlaevelyn's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

anelya's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-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

4.5

Content Warnings

caribbeangirlreading's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.5

Ten year-old Mary Lennox is born in India to British parents who are more interested in their social life and military career than they are in parenting. The only adult who spends any time with her is her Ayah, whom Mary abuses verbally, with absolutely no repercussions. One day, a cholera epidemic sweeps through the household, killing her Ayah and both her parents. Whatever staff survives, runs away and abandons Mary to her own fate. She is discovered by local (British, of course) officials who find her hungry, scavenging for food, and confused as to why she cannot find any servants around to take care of her. She is shipped off to England, to be cared for by an uncle she has never met.

GOOD – At its core, The Secret Garden is a story about the healing power of nature. I really connected with every part of the book that took place outdoors. This was where the novel really shined. I loved to read how Mary and Colin healed and grew emotionally while tending to the garden, and how the garden flourished under their care. The more they cared for something other than themselves, the more they grew emotionally. The secret garden has a lot of hidden meanings to the adult reader but to a child, it’s a magical place where they can play freely, away from the prying (and judgmental) eyes of the adults.

BAD – emotional neglect, racism, classism, racism

The whole “Mary is an unlikeable child” theme really bothered me. Here is a child who has had zero affection from any adult in her life. Not even her nanny liked her. At every turn in the story, the adults never fail to remind Mary that she is a burden. Not once did the author place any blame or responsibility on the adults who neglected her emotionally. Instead, the author reminds the reader, constantly, that Mary was an awful child. I can see that the author is most probably trying to write a cautionary tale for children but I can’t help but wonder what is the real lesson that a child reader would internalize after reading this book. To me, as an adult reader, when the author fails to say “Mary’s parents and all the rest of the adults treat her poorly” it leaves the child to fill in the blanks about who is really to blame for Mary being so contrary, like it’s both her fault and her responsibility to fix it. This made for a great character growth arch, but as a parent, it rubbed me the wrong way.

When it comes to the depictions of race, the book shows its age. There was so much casual racism in the descriptions of life in India and many negative comparisons to the “healthy” lifestyle in Yorkshire. In the beginning of the story, Mary Lennox treats the servant staff in India and Yorkshire like dirt and not one adult stands up to her. Her racism goes unchecked. In addition, throughout the book, several characters make a point of stating that the local Yorkshire residents, especially those who work as servants in the Manor, are “less than.”

UGLY – Archibald Craven, Mary’s uncle, is so overcome by grief when his wife dies giving birth to their son that he basically ignores him (and his wife’s garden) for the next 10 years. Heck, like Mr. Rochester of Jane Eyre fame, Craven hides his son away in the attic. Immediately after Mary arrival at the Manor, Craven takes off to another country and leaves the staff to deal with the problem/children. Meanwhile, while his father is away, Colin, after being bed-ridden for the entirety of his 10 years of life, is miraculously healed, with the assistance of some fresh air, exercise, and a new attitude. Craven eventually returns to the Manor, where he finds that his son (and the garden) has been restored to health.

After being the protagonist of our entire story, Mary basically gets forgotten and the book ends in a teary father/son reunion. Basically, Mary, a 10 YEAR OLD CHILD, put in the hard emotional work, Craven, an adult male, reaps the benefits, and Mary *still* does not have a loving adult in her life. I was pissed.

MISC – After I finished reading this book I decided to do a little research of my own regarding TSG and its author, Frances Hodgson Burnett. I found out that, contrary to popular belief, The Secret Garden was not originally written as a children’s book, nor was it a well-received book. The story was published in 1911, broken up as a series of short stories, in a magazine marketed to adults. It was later published as a novel and did not sell well. In fact, when Burnett died, it wasn’t even mentioned in her obituary as an important work. It wasn’t until several decades later that the book became popular. All it needed was a little hype and marketing from “children’s literature scholars,” whatever that means. Once the “experts” decided it was an important work, teachers and children’s librarians jumped on the bandwagon. And that is how TSG became a “classic.” Even more importantly, I also found out that FHB was a Christian Scientist, a faith that espouses, among other things, the power of positive thinking to heal the mind and the body. Hence, the disabled child who is miraculously cured and just needed some fresh air, exercise, and an attitude adjustment. In conclusion, The Secret Garden is a religious tract that has been marketed for decades as a children’s classic.

Content Warnings

More...