The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, is one of my
favorite book that I have ever read so far; the plot, the description of the
scenery, and characters had me absolutely captivated. It was so much fun to
follow through the adventures of a little girl and how she changed from one
thing to another; the way the author worded every sentence blended perfectly
with the story. However, as amazing as a book this is, I wouldn't recommend it
for just anyone; to feel personally connected with it, this book needs to be
read by true lovers of nature and life, who have a thirst for adventure and
curiosity. I don't think that just anyone would feel the same way as I do about
it. That being said, if you are a person who enjoys a good story, I would
definitely recommend it. But, as a personal lover of classic books, I've felt a
deep connection with his book and it will remain one of the best books to me until
I read another one almost as good as this.
Reviewed by Anna A., Grade 9
Downtown Central Library
1 comment:
The Secret Garden is about a young girl named Mary Lennox who lives in India with her parents during the period when India was under English rule. When her mom and dad are killed during a cholera outbreak, Mary is sent back to England. The other orphans see her as spoiled and unfriendly, and they tease her constantly, calling out, “Mary, Mary, quite contrary.” In England Mary is adopted by her uncle , and she begins to explore her new home on the Moor. Mary’s only friends are Martha Sowerby, her new maid and a friendly robin that ends up leading her to a locked garden that hasn't been cared for in many years. Left to entertain herself while Martha is working, Mary finds her way into the locked garden and begins to care for the neglected plants. As she does so, something that had been closed off inside of her begins to change, which allows her to start connecting to people, including Martha’s brother Dicken, who is a friend of the animals on the moor. She overhears someone crying, and her curiosity leads her to discover Colin, a disabled cousin who is hunchbacked and who has been kept locked away because everyone believes he is going to die. With Dicken’s help, Mary introduces Colin to the secret garden, where Colin begins to heal.
I liked The Secret Garden because it is fun to see how Mary changes throughout the book. In the beginning, Mary is a spoiled, unpleasant child, but even though I didn’t like her, I couldn’t help but feel bad because her parents ignored and didn’t want to see her. When kids are mean to her, she gets meaner, which I think she does to block them off and to protect herself. At her uncle’s house, Mary changes into a more curious, friendly, and compassionate person because she starts to learn that the world doesn’t revolve around her and learns she has to do things on her own. Then, when she discovers the garden, she also has something to care for that doesn’t criticize or expect anything of her. It made me think and reflect on my own actions and how I react to others. Overall book was interesting and intriguing to see that as Mary changed, the people around her began to change their attitudes toward her, too. I think kids that like to learn about new places, stories that are realistic fiction, and nature or gardening and seeing things develop and grow would like this book.
Reviewed by Hope C, Grade 5
Glendale Central Library
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