The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Young Llama Thoughts
  • Adventurous
  • Christian Friendly
  • Easy Reading
  • Humerous
  • Youth Appropriate
Overall
4.5 Llamas

Review

I have always loved the story of The Secret Garden, however I had never read it! (Crazy right?!?) But then I saw this gorgeous new cover, so of course I had to get it!!! (I mean look at it!)

This book is about Mary Lennox, a young girl who has never been loved and never loved in return. But when the spoiled child is ripped from her home in India and is taken to her uncles estate, things start to change. Especially a certain garden that was kept in secret. A garden that Mary comes to love, and as she learns to love, she learns to be loved as well. With mysteries, new friends and lots of healing, the Secret Garden is a timeless classic any young girl would love!

I thoroughly enjoyed this entire novel. It was so well written, with such a sweet story-line and interesting characters that I just adored it! Honestly the book is really fantastic. With the focus on forgiveness and healing, the novel really shows the reason worth living can be found in loving others and being loved in return. It’s too cute!

My only real ‘con’ is that the Yorkshire accents in the book are very difficult to understand. For example here is a quote from the book. “There’s naught as nice as th’ smell o’ good clean earth, except th’ smell o’ fresh growin’ things when th’ rain falls on ’em.” Some kids might have a hard time understanding some parts of the novel because of the accents.

There is also talk of magic. Weather it’s from God or the earth, the kids in the book talk about it and how it can heal people. (Normal kid stuff like believing in fairies and such) There is also talk of India culture and how the people are mistreated. As well as a boy who is convinced he is going to die and he talks about death quite a bit. Nothing really too dark about it, only mentioned in passing.

Overall, this book is fabulous! I was so excited to finally read it, and I can not wait for more classics to be added to my shelves!!!!! May God Bless You! -The Young Llama Reader.

Pros

  • A fantastic novel!
  • Timeless classic that kids would enjoy!!!
  • Perfect for girls 8 and up!

Cons

  • The Yorkshire accents are difficult to understand.
Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic story of a little girl, a mysterious hidden garden, and the healing power of nature is back with a beautifully redesigned cover.

When Mary Lennox is orphaned, she’s sent to live at her uncle’s manor on the Yorkshire Moors. There, the spoiled Mary, mockingly known as Mistress Mary Quite Contrary, at first finds life at Misselthwaite Manor to be dull. Most of the time, her uncle is either traveling or keeps to himself. And the house’s many rooms are cold and quiet, though she sometimes hears the sound of crying at night.

But the grounds around the manor are a different story. In them, she discovers a secret garden, surrounded by walls and locked with a missing key. With the help of some new companions, Mary is determined to discover a way inside and bring the garden back to life. And in the process, Mary might transform more than just the garden.

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