The Secret Garden

Frances Hodgson Burnett | 4.37 | 1,228,608 ratings and reviews

Recommended by Clare Morpurgo, M G Leonard, and 2 others. See all reviews

Ranked #1 in Children's Classics, Ranked #4 in Making Friends — see more rankings.

"One of the most delightful and enduring classics of children's literature, The Secret Garden by Victorian author Frances Hodgson Burnett has remained a firm favorite with children the world over ever since it made its first appearance. Initially published as a serial story in 1910 in The American Magazine, it was brought out in novel form in 1911.

The plot centers round Mary Lennox, a young English girl who returns to England from India, having suffered the immense trauma by losing both her parents in a cholera epidemic. However, her memories of her parents are not pleasant, as they were a selfish, neglectful and pleasure-seeking couple. Mary is given to the care of her uncle Archibald Craven, whom she has never met. She travels to his home, Misselthwaite Manor located in the gloomy Yorkshire, a vast change from the sunny and warm climate she was used to. When she arrives, she is a rude, stubborn and given to stormy temper tantrums. However, her nature undergoes a gradual transformation when she learns of the tragedies that have befallen her strict and disciplinarian uncle whom she earlier feared and despised. Once when he's away from home, Mary discovers a charming walled garden which is always kept locked. The mystery deepens when she hears sounds of sobbing from somewhere within her uncle's vast mansion. The kindly servants ignore her queries or pretend they haven't heard, spiking Mary's curiosity.

The Secret Garden appeals to both young and old alike. It has wonderful elements of mystery, spirituality, charming characters and an authentic rendering of childhood emotions and experiences. Commonsense, truth and kindness, compassion and a belief in the essential goodness of human beings lie at the heart of this unforgettable story. It is the best known of Frances Hodgson Burnett's works, though most of us have definitely heard of, if not read, her other novel Little Lord Fauntleroy.

The book has been adapted extensively on stage, film and television and translated into all the world's major languages. In 1991, a Japanese anime version was launched for television in Japan. It remains a popular and beloved story of a child's journey into maturity, and a must-read for every child, parent, teacher and anyone who would enjoy this fascinating glimpse of childhood. One of the most delightful and enduring classics of children's literature, The Secret Garden by Victorian author Frances Hodgson Burnett has remained a firm favorite with children the world over ever since it made its first appearance. Initially published as a serial story in 1910 in The American Magazine, it was brought out in novel form in 1911."
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Reviews and Recommendations

We've comprehensively compiled reviews of The Secret Garden from the world's leading experts.

Clare Morpurgo The book is about a girl coming to live in England from India. She is a sickly child who had a pretty awful early childhood in India. (Source)

M G Leonard The redemptive power of the natural world and gardening was something that struck a chord with me. (Source)

Rankings by Category

The Secret Garden is ranked in the following categories:

#37 in 10-Year-Old
#30 in 11-Year-Old
#51 in 20th Century
#29 in 3rd Grade
#34 in 4th Grade
#39 in 5th Grade
#29 in 6th Grade
#23 in 9-Year-Old
#51 in Adaptation
#18 in Broadway
#85 in Bucket List
#5 in Cacti
#55 in Catalog
#38 in Chapter
#15 in Childhood
#6 in Children's Chapter
#13 in Children’s
#32 in Classic
#40 in Classical
#72 in Coming Of Age
#22 in Elementary
#88 in Family
#24 in Feel-Good
#25 in Flower
#51 in Folio Society
#11 in Free e-Book
#44 in Friendship
#23 in Gardening
#39 in Gift
#9 in Girl
#36 in Go
#57 in GoT
#44 in Grace
#18 in Growing Up
#25 in Happy
#82 in High School Reading
#27 in Hope
#86 in Human Nature
#86 in Illustrated
#69 in Indian
#25 in Kinder
#50 in Kindle
#42 in Leather Bound
#17 in Light
#99 in Literature
#34 in Loneliness
#71 in Middle School
#99 in Modern Classic
#26 in Mom
#88 in Movie
#99 in Movies
#70 in Nature
#36 in Nook
#15 in Nostalgia
#44 in Old
#5 in Older Children
#47 in Pandemic
#61 in Penguin Classics
#25 in Podcast
#64 in Poster
#12 in Project Gutenberg
#31 in Public
#17 in Public Domain
#12 in Read Aloud
#9 in Secrets
#10 in Shape
#5 in Spring
#77 in Tween
#30 in UK
#81 in University
#10 in Victoria
#48 in Victorian
#12 in Young Reader
#28 in Young Teen
#12 in Youth

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