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chloereadds's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Racism, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
anelya's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse and Grief
hannahelizza556's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
3.75
This was a lovely book. The author describes the secret garden in great detail. Th characters also become more likeable as the story progressed. The size of the writing in this book is quite hard to read and I struggled with some of the Yorkshire accent in this but otherwise it was a lovely book. I really liked the characters by the end, even Mary who is a self centred girl in the opening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
juli100101's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Racism and Slavery
epellicci's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Secret Garden is a joyful and passionate tale of childhood reliance, relationships, and healing. I felt consistently through the book as if Burnett related to the children he wrote about and due to this, he manages to carry an air of mystery and childish glee throughout the story without making the characters feel particularly 'young'. Their intelligence and personalities felt authentic.
The ending was surprisingly abrupt which I found disappointing in comparison with the vast descriptiveness and detailed telling of the rest of the book, but there was something rather playful about it, which made it feel like a purposeful choice.
There are moments of racism in the writing - mostly concentrated at the beginning of the book - which take you jarringly out of the story. I found the casual presence of such passages uncomfortable to read and acutely poignant against the setting of a warm children's story.
The ending was surprisingly abrupt which I found disappointing in comparison with the vast descriptiveness and detailed telling of the rest of the book, but there was something rather playful about it, which made it feel like a purposeful choice.
There are moments of racism in the writing - mostly concentrated at the beginning of the book - which take you jarringly out of the story. I found the casual presence of such passages uncomfortable to read and acutely poignant against the setting of a warm children's story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death and Grief
bexi's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
curatoriallyyours's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's a classic for a reason! This book was an utter delight to read. I felt that the author got the level of tension just right - you never thought the protagonist might fail but the tension arose from the progression of her character and the way that others changed around her. It was hopeful and a joy to the end, although the events of the first few chapters before Mary comes to the manor in England are quite full on - this is a kid who has experienced some serious trauma! You also get the impression that she's younger than she is and it isn't until maybe two thirds of the way through the book that you discover she's ten. I'm so glad to have read this book and the 2011 edition I read is a truly beautiful paperback from the 'Penguin Threads' series, featuring exquisite textured cover artwork by Jillian Tamaki.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Chronic illness, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
This book was first published in 1911 during the time of the British occupation of India. As such, the book talks about India as being exotic and Mary begins her life with Indian servants who she speaks quite rudely to and of. While the author doesn't outright challenge these social norms she does seem to be sympathetic and attempts to humanise the Indian servants in her own way rather than treating them as other, like Mary does. She is also critical of classism as it existed at the time and speaks very positively about the serving class in England, also gently rebuking the poor manners and lack of common sense of the rich.nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was absolutely everything I needed it to be for my first read of 2021. Hopeful, inspiring, full of love and wonder and beauty.
The story begins in India where we are introduced to Miss Mary Lennox, a child of nine who has spent her life ignored by her parents and catered to by a slew of native Indian servants. Accustomed to getting absolutely everything she asks for, Mary is selfish, moody, and quite friendless. When her entire household dies of "the cholera," young Mary is sent off to live with her uncle at Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire, though Mr. Archibald Craven also seems to have no interest in his abandoned niece, leaving her in the care of teenage Martha and allowing her near free rein of the property--except for one garden, which had belonged to his wife and has been locked since her death ten years prior, the key buried somewhere long-forgotten.
Of course, Mary becomes fascinated by the idea of this garden, though she had never before been interested in much of the outside world, and in only a few weeks manages--with the help of a sweet robin--to discover both the key and the hidden entrance to this secret garden, which quickly becomes her happy hideaway. With the assistance of Martha's younger brother Dickon, Mary cultivates the garden, pulling weeds, planting seeds, and marveling at the changes and growth that seem to occur every day. When she discovers that there is another child living in the house, she cautiously brings him into the secret, and Colin proudly joins the ranks of child-gardeners.
I have chills just summarizing this book, and I've left out some of the most moving details and moments. Burnett's writing is absolutely stunning. Every word has intention, and the prose reads like poetry. There are countless lessons in this book as we watch Mary and Colin learn to recognize and appreciate a natural world that is greater than themselves and to love all the creatures and people in it, but nothing feels heavy-handed, rather a comforting reminder of both the fragility and resilience of living things.
I read this book as a child, but hardly remembered the plot other than that I enjoyed it. Certainly, an element of nostalgia influenced my feelings for this re-read, but I think I would have ranked it five stars regardless. This book is a beauty, and I already cannot wait to read it again and to share it with my students and future children.
The story begins in India where we are introduced to Miss Mary Lennox, a child of nine who has spent her life ignored by her parents and catered to by a slew of native Indian servants. Accustomed to getting absolutely everything she asks for, Mary is selfish, moody, and quite friendless. When her entire household dies of "the cholera," young Mary is sent off to live with her uncle at Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire, though Mr. Archibald Craven also seems to have no interest in his abandoned niece, leaving her in the care of teenage Martha and allowing her near free rein of the property--except for one garden, which had belonged to his wife and has been locked since her death ten years prior, the key buried somewhere long-forgotten.
Of course, Mary becomes fascinated by the idea of this garden, though she had never before been interested in much of the outside world, and in only a few weeks manages--with the help of a sweet robin--to discover both the key and the hidden entrance to this secret garden, which quickly becomes her happy hideaway. With the assistance of Martha's younger brother Dickon, Mary cultivates the garden, pulling weeds, planting seeds, and marveling at the changes and growth that seem to occur every day. When she discovers that there is another child living in the house, she cautiously brings him into the secret, and Colin proudly joins the ranks of child-gardeners.
I have chills just summarizing this book, and I've left out some of the most moving details and moments. Burnett's writing is absolutely stunning. Every word has intention, and the prose reads like poetry. There are countless lessons in this book as we watch Mary and Colin learn to recognize and appreciate a natural world that is greater than themselves and to love all the creatures and people in it, but nothing feels heavy-handed, rather a comforting reminder of both the fragility and resilience of living things.
I read this book as a child, but hardly remembered the plot other than that I enjoyed it. Certainly, an element of nostalgia influenced my feelings for this re-read, but I think I would have ranked it five stars regardless. This book is a beauty, and I already cannot wait to read it again and to share it with my students and future children.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Confinement
Moderate: Ableism and Racism
Minor: Grief