The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden

by Francis Hodgson Burnett

Summary:

MISTRESS MARY Lennox was born and lived in India with her ayah who took care of her and gave her everything she wanted. Her British parents kept her away, not wanting her to interfere with their lives. When an outburst of cholera kills everyone in her household, Mary is sent to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven in Yorkshire, England. A disagreeable child, Mary is unhappy with all of her surroundings-the moor, the large, empty house, the gardens, and the people. Then Martha, the maid who is assigned to “wait on her a bit” tells her about the secret garden hidden for ten years after her aunt died. Mr. Craven then shut the door and buried the key, letting no one enter her garden. This idea interests Mary and she begins to search for the key. Soon she’s no longer the unhappy, sickly child she once was, but instead a happy healthy child.

In her quest to discover the Secret Garden, Mary meets Dickon, one of Martha’s many younger siblings. Dickon is a friend to all animals, and people as well. One day when it’s raining and she can’t go outside to play with Dickon, Mary hears something-it sounds like crying. Martha nervously dismisses it as the wind, but Mistress Mary doesn’t quite believe her, and finds out what it is on her own. She discovers the source of the crying: Colin-Mr. Craven’s son! She soon learns who he is and why he is crying: because he is a bed-ridden invalid, whom everyone assumes will be a hunchback like his father, and was born shortly before his mother’s death. Mr. Craven hates to see him because he looks so strikingly similar to his mother, yet dissimilar with the grief and pain he experiences everyday. 

Mary and Colin get on very well, and as they’re both used to having their own way, tame each other. Mary is quite excited to introduce Colin and Dickon to each other, and they become fast friends. The stories Dickon and Mary tell of the springtime excite Colin, and they convince him to go outside with them [a feat tried many times by the other household staff] to see a surprise Mary has for him. Did they find the secret garden? And how will Colin surprise his father?

Review:

Sorry if the wording was a bit strange, I’m really tired. I thought this was a very interesting book, though very very similar to A Little Princess. Both girls came from India, their parents had both died, they both had two close friends and a friend who was a servant, they both had a “special” animal, etc. The capitalization of the word “magic” still annoys me, as I think it puts too much weight on the word and indicates that it’s a proper noun with physical aspects. The plot was a tad linear, lacking in some places, though very descriptive. The mannerisms and speech of the children are believable and appropriate for their age group. A good “mystery” novel for the younger set, the book puts forth many questions, which are all answered at the end. The Secret Garden gets a 7/10 for plot, though planing in areas, though interesting storyline. Recommended for ages 9+

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