A story of The Secret Garden is about a disagreeable young girl called Mary Lennox. After her parents die of cholera, Mary is sent away to her uncle, Archibald Craven, who lives in the imposing Misselthwaite Manor, England.
Mary learns that there is a secret garden that once belonged to her aunt. Her uncle had locked up the garden, hidden its key and neglected it after her aunt’s death. She finds the key, but has trouble finding the garden as it is overgrown with weeds.
Mary befriends the cheerful peasant boy Dickon and after locating it, they work together on the unkempt, wild and glorious garden to make it a lively place of healing and love.
Later, Mary meets her rather difficult and sulky cousin Colin, who imagines that he is ill and should be bed-ridden.
Mary goes from being an unpleasant child to the one who finds divinity in nature and discovers happiness. In the end, we see how the garden transforms them all.
My favourite character is Dickon. I love the carefree way he runs about the countryside, charming animals and making new friends.
The Secret Garden is an entertaining and interesting book with rich imagery. It will always remind me of the joy of nature and the power of friendship.
THE SECRET GARDEN by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Lakshmi Thiagarajan, VII, Lakshmi School, Madurai
