Ages 9+1-min guideClassicNatureFriendship
The Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Good fitA good fit for most kids 9 and up. A classic about healing and friendship. The old language and dialect can be tricky, and it reflects some old-fashioned views.
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What it’s about
After her parents die in India, Mary Lennox is sent to her uncle’s gloomy house in England. She discovers a locked garden and a hidden cousin, Colin, who believes he is dying.
The ending
What might come up
Death and lossSomeMary’s parents die of disease at the start.
Old-fashioned viewsSomeSome descriptions of India and its people reflect colonial attitudes.
Big feelingsSomeLoneliness and grief.
Hard to readA littleYorkshire dialect in dialogue.
ViolenceA littleMary used to slap her nurse in India when she was angry.
RomanceNone
Why kids like it
A secret garden that only they know about.
Free printable quiz
- 1Where did Mary grow up?
- 2Who shows Mary where the key is?
- 3What is her cousin’s name?
- 4Who is the boy who talks to animals?
Read it, then watch it
Read the book first, then watch it together and talk about what changed.
