The Secret Garden

A CLASSIC AND A FAVORITE. THIS IS A BOOK I GO BACK TO READ MANY TIMES JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT.

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Had my first anxiety attack while reading this book as a very young adult.

sweet book, a quiet and enjoyable read.

GENRE: Drama Fiction TAGLINE: The timeless tale of a special place where hope and love grow. THEME: Happiness PREMISE: Happiness can be found within you and in a secret garden; it's a choice. LOCATION: India and England MAIN CHARACTERS: Young British girl Mary Lennox, parents, uncle, servant boy, sickly cousin Colin PLOT SUMMARY: A young British girl born and reared in India loses her...more

GENRE: Drama Fiction TAGLINE: The timeless tale of a special place where hope and love grow. THEME: Happiness PREMISE: Happiness can be found within you and in a secret garden; it's a choice. LOCATION: India and England MAIN CHARACTERS: Young British girl Mary Lennox, parents, uncle, servant boy, sickly cousin Colin PLOT SUMMARY: A young British girl born and reared in India loses her neglectful parents in an earthquake. She is returned to England to live at her uncle's castle. Her uncle is very distant due to the loss of his wife ten years before. Neglected once again, she begins exploring the estate and discovers a garden that has been locked and neglected. She, and others, begins restoring the garden, and eventually discovers some other secrets of the manor.   hide

Was my favourite book at school

Fantastic book. I finally read it this summer in preparation for a production of the musical in which I played Ben the gardener. Very well written, very funny. Burnett treats children well; she respects them, but shows the importance of letting kids be kids. Plus, she deals with big topics here such as love, loss and isolation. What really pleased me, though, was the humor in much of the...more

Fantastic book. I finally read it this summer in preparation for a production of the musical in which I played Ben the gardener. Very well written, very funny. Burnett treats children well; she respects them, but shows the importance of letting kids be kids. Plus, she deals with big topics here such as love, loss and isolation. What really pleased me, though, was the humor in much of the writing which derives from both the plot and the characters. A well-done children's book which any discerning adult should find very entertaining and moving.   hide

I love the spiritual message behind this book. Sometimes I think I would like to rewrite it in a modern context. Because there really is a lot of cultural material in the story that would take away from a modern child's ability to connect with the deeper message of this book. Mary is "peevish," for example. What kid would keep reading? I loved this book as a kid and rereading it as an adult, I...more

I love the spiritual message behind this book. Sometimes I think I would like to rewrite it in a modern context. Because there really is a lot of cultural material in the story that would take away from a modern child's ability to connect with the deeper message of this book. Mary is "peevish," for example. What kid would keep reading? I loved this book as a kid and rereading it as an adult, I appreciate it even more. It really expresses my own view of the cosmos: spirit is present in nature, and humans can be healed, grounded and enlightened by being close to nature. My time at Yasodhara Ashram was like being in a Secret Garden. I turned my face to the light and grew out of my own inner peevishness. I fell in love with my boyfriend and let go of fear to really give my whole heart in love to another human being, even though outcomes are completely uncertain. That's what I love about this book.   hide

Not my favourite kids read.