The Secret Garden

I've heard for years that I needed to read The Secret Garden and finally got around to doing a read-aloud with my wife and little boy. It really is a delightful book. I can imagine that some people dismiss it for suggesting that all of people's problems would go away if they just try thinking positively. Of course, some problems won't, but I think it's a powerful book for teaching the power of positive thinking to children and a great reminder for adults. It's a little cheesy at times, but that's part of what makes it fun--you keep waiting for the hat to drop, for some big crisis, and it never really comes. It's just a feel-good book through and through, and that was surprisingly refreshing. Though there's no big crisis or setback the characters have to work through, I love that it can be an early reader's first foray into some mystery as well.

The Secret Garden is one of my favorite stories from my childhood. I love Mary's self discovery and her help to Colin and ultimately Mr. Craven along the way. I love the way she gains color in her cheeks as she experiences the joy of playing and working outside and nurturing a garden and befriending a robin, joys that Martha and Dickon help her discover. I love that she feels the happiness that comes as she moves from a very self-centered character to thinking of others and putting their needs and wellbeing above her own. She also is lovingly forthright and frank with Colin, which helped him develop, too.