the-secret-garden-190Synopsis: “Mary Lennox, a spoiled, ill-tempered, and unhealthy child, comes to live with her reclusive uncle in Misselthwaite Manor on the Yorkshire moors after the death of her parents. There she meets a hearty housekeeper and her spirited brother, a dour gardener, a cheerful robin, and her wilful, hysterical, and sickly cousin, Master Colin, whose wails she hears echoing through the house at night. With the help of the robin, Mary finds the door to a secret garden, neglected and hidden for years. When she decides to restore the garden in secret, the story becomes a charming journey into the places of the heart, where faith restores health, flowers refresh the spirit, and the magic of the garden, coming to life anew, brings health to Colin; and to Mary, happiness.“

My Review

I loved this audiobook, a classic children’s book about Mary Lennox, an orphan who goes to live with her estranged uncle in a massive house in Yorkshire.

In the beginning Mary is not a nice child at all, partly because she was neglected by her parents when she lived in India, and partly because she copied their colonial behaviour and so is incredibly rude to everyone, so nobody likes her.

I loved the character development as the book progresses, seeing her curiosity about the robin, the  garden, her hidden away cousin Colin, and her meeting with Dickon. Writing this review makes me smile as I think about her transformation.

Although it was published in 1911, there’s a wonderful message throughout the book about the how good it is for your wellbeing to spend time in the natural world. I found it fascinating that this message was known back then and how important it has become today!

This was beautifully narrated by Johanna Ward, who’s one of my favourite narrators, especially for this particular genre.

Highly recommended on audio, especially if you enjoy classic children’s books.