Comments on: Top 100 Children’s Novels #15: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

By: Meredith

Meredith — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 18:30:24 +0000

I agree with everyone else about Dickon. He’s definitely the first boy I ever loved.

By: Beverly

Beverly — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 05:33:53 +0000

Some of these covers absolutely horrified me, especially the one featuring a pretty Mary in a fifties-style red dress and hairstyle, entering what look like the set of a bad school play. Also the one which shows Mary looking like she is in her mid-twenties. Both of them absolutely ruin the mood of the book. Mary in white doesn’t bother me — it mentions that they bought her clothes like that in the book to replace her black ones — but I agree that they shouldn’t be diaphenous, or not what a child by the moor in that era would wear.

Just as Alice is not fully Alice without the Tenniel pictures, The Secret Garden needs Tasha Tudor. Thank goodness the version I had (and still have) is the green Yearling one shown above.

By: Jennifer Schultz

Jennifer Schultz — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:53:58 +0000

Martha’s song, “Hold On,” is a highlight of the musical. I’m not a huge fan of the British cast recording, but its “House Upon a Hill” is quite good–much darker than the Broadway recording.

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:21:21 +0000

Oh, and I am a fan of the 1993 movie. Worth a watch. Everyone is killed off by an earthquake at the beginning (that is probably where the fire is) rather than by cholera – I suppose it was thought to be more dramatic. But I forgave the beginning (which was at least atmospheric – Mary hides under her bed while the room shakes) for all the rest, especially Maggie Smith as Mrs. Medlock.

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:17:27 +0000

Yes, I definitely had Lily’s Eyes running through my head while reading Deathly Hallows. I love that musical greatly! Mary’s song “Hold On” is one of my all-time Broadway favorites.

I strongly prefer the covers that don’t pretty Mary up too much. The ethereal white dresses are just too much (especially the one where she’s by a stream and the dress’s edge is dipping into the water).

By: Even in Australia

Even in Australia — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:12:06 +0000

Am I the only one who recognizes and has a visceral reaction to almost every Dell Yearling cover? They instantly bring me back to my childhood.

By: Erika

Erika — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:18:49 +0000

The ’93 movie was beautiful–but the parents die in an earthquake & subsequent fire (which is what you see in the preview). I guess maybe that’s easier to depict than cholera?

By: Louise

Louise — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:17:08 +0000

I am reading this to my girls for the first time (technically the second time for my oldest girl – but since she was six months the first time around, I’m pretty sure that doesn’t count), and I love so much seeing their wonder and joy as the story unfolds around them. This is also the first year we have any sort of garden (just in containers, but still), and the connection between the two is wondering for them. And for me, to be honest. I still love Mary and Dickon (and resent Colin for his stupid insistence on turning the story ALL ABOUT HIM) deeply. Mary is one of those literary characters, along with Lucy Pevensie and Dorothy Gale and others, I expect to greet me with open hands in heaven and say “At last! Come have adventures with us!”

By: rockinlibrarian

rockinlibrarian — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:36:29 +0000

(Sharon– Dickon was my first, too, I think!)

By: Sharon

Sharon — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:17:34 +0000

I adore “The Secret Garden”. It is my balm for wounded feelings and sore throats and everything in between. And I’m pretty sure Dickon was my first literary crush.