The Secret Garden (ISBN 1400100720)

Amazon.com Review:
Mistress Mary is quite contrary until she helps her garden grow. Along the way, she manages to cure her sickly cousin Colin, who is every bit as imperious as she. These two are sullen little peas in a pod, closed up in a gloomy old manor on the Yorkshire moors of England, until a locked-up garden captures their imaginations and puts the blush of a wild rose in their cheeks; "It was the sweetest, most mysterious-looking place any one could imagine. The high walls which shut it in were covered with the leafless stems of roses which were so thick, that they matted together.... 'No wonder it is still,' Mary whispered. 'I am the first person who has spoken here for ten years.'" As new life sprouts from the earth, Mary and Colin's sour natures begin to sweeten. For anyone who has ever felt afraid to live and love, The Secret Garden's portrayal of reawakening spirits will thrill and rejuvenate. Frances Hodgson Burnett creates characters so strong and distinct, young readers continue to identify with them even 85 years after they were conceived. (Ages 9 to 12)

Interesting, but not thrilling(3.5 stars):
The story of a 'frightful little girl', whose point of view changes as she discovers the secrets of her new surroundings. A well-written story at times, but it definitely had its draggy moments. It seemed to promise more than it delivered(I expected more of a fantasy tale, along the lines of 'The Chronicles of Narnia'.) The characters were well-developed, though Colin kind of took over what had been 'Mary's story' toward the end. Perhaps not the best 'classic children's lit' out there, but it shows how life was at the time it was written, and it's best not to give up on it because it's not entirely 'PC'. Judge for yourself.

Great read for all ages:
If there is a main character for the book it is Misselthwaite Manor. If there is a present theme is that we (metaphorically speaking) can all unlock our secret garden and make it grow and make a world which we can invite others into. The story examines a series of characters from Mary Lennox, Dicken Sowersby, Martha Sowersby and of course Colin Craven as they find their lives revolving around the gardens and the moores of a place located in Yorkshire England as they find 'the magic' of the place managing to provoke life changing lessons for all of them. Like her other book 'The Little Princess', the book starts off in India, and like 'Little Princess', Mary suffers the death of her parents and finds herself trapped in England but that is where the novels part ways. Instead we are immersed into a world of robins, flowers, gardens and shimmering fog and springtime activities. Mistress Mary is cast among a world she barely understand but must learn to survive in. She unlocks mysteries, gets new friends and changes the life of another -- Colin forever. Both my daughter and I enjoyed the novel until the very end where it decays a bit into endless exposition as Colin begins his scientific experiments. The ending itself almost leaves open a sequel as several character issues find themselves a bit hanging in a lurch but the focus is not on any one single character -- mistress Mary pretty much drops out of the novel halfway through it. It is on the world around us and how it can change us if we let it. We all have beautiful secret gardens in all of us if we are willing to find them and share them with others and in the world of today, that's a great message.

Favorite children's book:
This was my favorite book as a child. Still love it today. MUCH better than any of the movies made!

Enchanting:
This book is enchanting. My daughter and I were in Awe as we read it. There is one particular part whent he children sing the doxology. The build up to this point made quite an impression on both of us. It is beautiful. Read it and weep (tears of joy)!

Awesome story:
This book is awesome. I loved the story of this two neglected kids that find each other. Both were mighty in their own ways, yet lonely in their soul. That is until she found the secret garden in her cousin's home. In it, it grew more than plants, their lives intwine with that of the flowers and they too bloom at the end. Beautiful story. Anna del C. Author of "The Elf and the Princess" and "Trouble in the Elf City" The Elf and The Princess: The Silent Warrior Trilogy - Book One (The Silent Warrior Trilogy)