The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett - A Short Summary & Review
The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett - A Short Summary & Review
By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures
A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review
A short summary:
After the death of her parents in India, Mary Lennox is sent to live with her uncle on a bleak Yorkshire estate. Sour, lonely, and unused to affection, Mary wanders the grounds and uncovers a locked, forgotten garden, one that has been neglected for years.
As Mary brings the hidden garden back to life, she begins to change as well. Alongside new friendships, fresh air, and purposeful work, the garden becomes a place of physical and emotional restoration, not just for Mary, but for those drawn into its quiet transformation. The novel links the growth of the land to that of the spirit, suggesting that healing often begins where attention and care are given.
My favorite quote from the book:
Questions to ponder while reading:
My review:
This is another childhood favorite, and it still works.
The Secret Garden carries a simple but enduring truth: you are only as sick as you believe you are allowed to be. Burnett understood long before modern psychology how environment, belief, and kindness shape well-being.
The story is gentle, hopeful, and deeply satisfying without being saccharine. Watching neglected children and a neglected place slowly thrive is immensely comforting. The magic isn’t supernatural; it’s the magic of patience, sunshine, movement, and being truly seen.
And yes, after every reread, I still want a secret garden of my own.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
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