The Story

We meet Mary Lennox in India: spoiled, unloved, and frankly, quite unpleasant. After a cholera outbreak leaves her an orphan, she’s shipped off to her reclusive uncle’s massive estate on the Yorkshire moors. Misselthwaite Manor is a house of shadows and closed doors, where servants whisper and her uncle is always away. Bored and curious, Mary explores the grounds and hears about a garden that was locked up ten years ago after a tragedy. When a friendly robin helps her find the buried key, she unlocks the door to a world of withered plants and silence.

With the help of Dickon, a boy who seems to talk to animals, Mary works to revive the garden. But the house holds another secret: her cousin Colin, a sickly boy kept hidden in his room, who believes he’s going to die. The story becomes about how Mary and Dickon bring Colin into the garden’s magic, changing all three of them in the process.

Why You Should Read It

This book has been a comfort read for me for years. On the surface, it’s a lovely tale about kids and a garden. But it’s really about the quiet power of growing things—both plants and people. Mary and Colin start off as two of the most disagreeable children in literature, but watching them soften and bloom is incredibly satisfying. Burnett had a real belief in what we’d now call the healing power of nature and positive thinking, and it doesn’t feel preachy; it feels hopeful. The friendship between the practical Mary, the gentle Dickon, and the fearful Colin is the heart of the story.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves a classic with heart, or needs a reminder that it’s never too late for a fresh start. It’s a fantastic book for younger readers ready for a chapter book, but it’s equally rewarding for adults. If you enjoy stories about transformation, found family, and the simple magic of watching something grow, you’ll find a friend in The Secret Garden.