Description

Little Mary Lennox is orphaned and alone in India, where her parents had settled during British colonial rule of the country. Sent far away to live with her uncle in England, Mary is angry with the world, feeling abandoned and unhappy with the strange new life to which she must adjust. She is cared for by a cheery maid, Martha, who encourages the stern little girl to explore the vast and beautiful estate that she must now call "home." Mary takes Martha's advice, although she cannot bring herself to believe that it will make any difference. Nothing seems to capture her interest, until the day that she discovers a secret garden—one that has been locked up for years, ever since the long-ago death of her beautiful aunt. Mary struggles to put together the pieces of the puzzle that she encounters in her new home—an aloof uncle whom she hardly ever sees, a sickly and unhappy young cousin who lies in bed all day, a lovely and kind aunt whose passing has left the house in sadness and gloom. As Mary attempts to unlock the secret garden, she discovers painful family secrets whose release may be the only hope of bringing happiness back to herself and her family.

About the Author

Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) faced a difficult childhood after the death of her father when she was just five. Burnett's poverty-stricken family moved from Britain to the United States soon afterward, in hopes of finding a brighter future. Unfortunately, Burnett's mother died when Frances was just eighteen, so the young girl was forced to find a way to support herself and her siblings. She managed to find work as a writer for popular ladies' magazines of the day. Burnett was successful as a magazine writer, but it would be several years before she would expand her repertoire with the children's books that made her famous. After the success of her first such novel, Little Lord Fauntleroy, Burnett went on to write many more books and plays, including such favorites as A Little Princess and The Secret Garden. Although she knew her share of personal challenges and sadness, Burnett's considerable success and popularity as an author made her a beloved household name for many readers of all ages all over the world.

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Opening Lines (Experimental)

When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen. It was true, too. She had a little thin face and a little thin body, thin light hair and a sour expression. Her hair was yellow, and her face was yellow ...