Book Review: The Secret Garden
Rated by 5 members
What Parents Should Know
Beautifully written, the book shows two selfish,
disagreeable children transformed by the magic of nature and
their own imaginations as they work to bring a near-dead garden
back to life. For the serious kid reader, this is a stay-up-all
night, flashlight-under-the-covers story with fine watercolor
illustrations. Hodgson combines realism, mystery, and moral
sensibility to make a world children will love.
Common Sense Media Review
If you think a book from 1911 might be too stodgy to
interest children, think again. In a recent list of 100
favorite books as voted by children,
THE SECRET GARDEN is one of only a handful of
noncontemporary works to make the cut. The only reason it
doesn't earn an A+ is the high-level of the writing, which
makes it inaccessible to some.
Children like Burnett's ability to tell the truth about
her characters without condemning them. Mistress Mary, quite
contrary, "was a self-absorbed child," and Colin "thought the
whole world belonged to him." But Burnett makes it clear that
these children have been raised without their parents' love.
Children will first be caught by the mysterious world
that unfolds, and then comforted to see Colin and Mary reclaim
themselves, with a little help from Mother Nature and kind
friends. One sixth-grader ended her book report with, "It is
truly 'magical' how Colin believed in himself and overcame his
illness. I guarantee that you will enjoy it!" Burnett sets a
tone balanced between unflinching realism and high
optimism--not too hard, not too soft.
Several video versions exist: One exceptional adaptation
is Francis Ford Coppola's, with a lovely CD of the soundtrack.
It was also made into a Broadway musical. Other classics by
Burnett are
A Little Princess and
Little Lord Fauntleroy, each with several video
adaptations as well.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
