The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Reviewed by Taylor N.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is an invigorating story that
encapsulates the wonders of being young and the adventures of growing up. Marry Lennox,
an eight-year-old girl, lives in a wealthy district of India. An unfortunate girl, she was born
with sickly yellow skin and straw-like hair. She was chronically ill and spoiled, as she had
plenty of servants to order around who never thought to say “no.” After Cholera struck her
home, everything she thought familiar was thrown to the wind. Suddenly an orphan, she
moved to the moors in Yorkshire, England to live with her uncle: an esteemed philanthropist
who rarely spent time at his luxurious estate. At this estate, she is left alone except for one
woman, Martha, a servant and maid of the mansion. Martha encourages Mary to explore the
vast gardens on the property, as well as the moor that surrounds it. With her newfound
freedom, Mary searches to uncover secrets within and outside the extensive manor, and
through her external searches, she finds herself.
This book is one of my favorites: it appeals to those looking for a book full of
youthful joy and wonder. One of my favorite parts is the character development Mary goes
through: she starts as a spoiled brat (there is no other way to put it) and ends as a thoughtful
young woman! The plot moves throughout the story similar to a hot knife through butter. It
doesn’t feel forced, nor is it dragging along. The scenery around the mansion is slowly
revealed to the reader, but not in a way where I got uninterested. Along with this, Burnett is
talented at depicting youth. I found I felt emotions alongside the characters, regardless that
they’re half my age, through this book, and others would say the same.
Someone who would enjoy this book would most likely enjoy reading classic books,
as The Secret Garden is considered a classic novel. I would also recommend this book to
people who enjoy the outdoors. While reading it, I could almost feel the wind from the moor
on my face and smell the blooming roses from the gardens of the mansions. This book is not
for the faint of heart; the syntax and vocabulary are complex but not indecipherable. When
reading this, I found the book felt similar to watching “The Great British Baking Show”,
where it is relaxing and light-hearted with little moments of anxiety or anticipation. The
descriptive writing style reminded me of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”. Many details are
found throughout the novel, ranging from large, complex tapestries in the mansion to the
minuscule thorns on a rose bush. Along with that, the flow of the book was very similar to
how he wrote his novels. Generally, there is only a little action and anxiety (in small bursts),
while the rest of the book is mellow and peaceful.
All-in-all, this is one of my favorite books. I highly recommend it to anyone looking
for an inspiring, light-hearted read full of youthful jokes and discoveries. Through the
fascinating minds of children, a beautiful story about personal growth is written by Frances
H. Burnett. A book about gardening, children, and discovery is the perfect book for any
occasion, and it should be on your need-to-read list!