Hi y’all!

Can you believe we are moving right through February? We are ready for spring around here. Normally, I’m more of a fall/winter girl. But this has been a long, hard winter. So I’m excited for the warmth and new life of spring.

Lately, I’m in a bit of a Francis Hodgson Burnett kick and I’m obsessed. I am absolutely loving her books and the magical stories she tells. I’ve read several of her books before but these rereads have been so wonderful. I have fallen in love with her stories and can’t wait to share them with my kids.

I started with A Little Princess at the end of 2023 and followed it up quickly with The Secret Garden. I’m so excited to share my review of The Secret Garden today.

Book Summary: “In a house full of sadness and secrets, can young, orphaned Mary find happiness?

Mary Lennox, a spoiled, ill-tempered, and unhealthy child, comes to live with her reclusive uncle in Misselthwaite Manor on England’s Yorkshire moors after the death of her parents. There she meets a hearty housekeeper and her spirited brother, a dour gardener, a cheerful robin, and her wilful, hysterical, and sickly cousin, Master Colin, whose wails she hears echoing through the house at night.

With the help of the robin, Mary finds the door to a secret garden, neglected and hidden for years. When she decides to restore the garden in secret, the story becomes a charming journey into the places of the heart, where faith restores health, flowers refresh the spirit, and the magic of the garden, coming to life anew, brings health to Colin and happiness to Mary.”

I love the setting in the secret garden that changes everything. The beginning of the story brings so much heaviness and sadness. Mary is orphaned and brought to the Manor on the moor which is an unknown and dreary place. Then she meets a red robin. And the garden changes everything for her. She works hard and tills the earth to help the flowers grow. She makes friends with Dickon and learns some of his ways with the animals, plants, and world around them. And then the garden changes Colin. The magic of the garden brings so much happiness to these children. I absolutely loved it. The beautiful imagery of the garden coming back to life is my favorite part of this book. It takes them a lot of time and effort to bring the garden back but in the process they learn so much about themselves and the magic comes alive with them.

The characters are memorable and change in the most beautiful ways. Mary Lennox is such a fun protagonist. She starts so unlikable and angry. She is disagreeable and also quite helpless in many ways. I felt sorry for her. But then she blossoms. She runs. She skips rope. She explores. She works. She plants. And she becomes a new girl. I love her transformation. Dickon is so likable. I love how good he is with animals and how he can grow anything. He is also so kind. He willingly helps Mary with the garden and then helps Colin too. That generosity is admirable. I really enjoyed getting to know Colin this time as well. He also goes through a fascinating transformation. I love his obsession with the magic and how he finds a new zest and meaning for life. Their friendship changes all of their lives for the better which is what the best friendships do.

The storytelling is fantastic and full of magic. There is something so poignant and special about Burnett’s ability to create a world and a story that is both realistic and magical. I love the details. I love the description of the house and the moor and the food. I love the way magic is interwoven through the story. The garden seems to create magic as the children take care of it and help things grow. And it feels like everything comes alive with it. I enjoyed being transported into the garden and felt like I was experiencing all the new things with Mary and Colin. Trying the bread and milk from Dickon’s mother. Practicing walking and then running. Calling on the magic for help. Talking together and trying the Yorkshire accent (some of my favorite scenes!). And planning the big reveal for the master of the manor. The ending is such a delight and leaves me so happy and hopeful.

There is just something special about Francis Hodgson Burnett’s stories. The characters are compelling and feel like old friends. The stories are vibrant and capture your attention. And the magic weaves it’s way into your heart. I loved this story and can’t wait to share it with my own kids. An absolute must read and one of the best in classic children’s fiction.

What are some of your favorite children’s classics?
Which books have you loved even more on a reread?

This is my 8th classic finished on my 2nd list for The Classics Club!
Check out my full list here. To see my completed first list, click here. For more info on the club, click here.