The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett | Book Review

Magic is always pushing and drawing and making things out of nothing. Everything is made out of Magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all around us. In this garden—in all the places.

Written way back in 1911 by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden follows Mary Lennox, a bratty rich kid who gets shipped off to her uncle’s creepy English mansion after her parents die. But she stumbles onto a hidden, overgrown garden, and suddenly, her whole life (and her sickly cousin Colin’s) starts changing. With its mix of mystery, gorgeous nature scenes, and feel-good growth, it’s easy to see why this story’s been a favorite for over 100 years. That said, some parts haven’t aged perfectly, and modern readers might side-eye a few things.

(The Secret Garden yang ditulis Frances Hodgson Burnett tahun 1911 bercerita tentang Mary Lennox, anak kaya manja yang dikirim ke rumah pamannya yang angker di Inggris setelah orang tuanya meninggal. Awalnya dia sebel banget, tapi dia ketemu taman tersembunyi yang udah gak terurus dan ditumbuhi tanaman liar. Dari situ, hidupnya (dan sepupunya Colin yang sakit) pelan-pelan berubah. Percampuran misteri, pemandangan alam yang aestetik, dan character development bikin cerita ini tetap hits selama 100+ tahun. Tapi ya, ada beberapa bagian yang agak outdated dan bikin kita rada geleng-geleng kepala.)

BOOK INFORMATION

Title                     : The Secret Garden

Author                : Frances Hodgson Burnett

Publisher            : Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Length                 : 344 pages

Language            : English

Released              : February 12, 2018

Read                     :

GR Rating            : 4.15

My Rating            : 4.50

TL;DR: Orphaned rich kid moves to a creepy mansion, finds a hidden garden, and (along with her bedridden cousin) undergoes a transformation so powerful it could be a TikTok transformation video. Nature = therapy, friendship = magic, and positive vibes = instant health hack (questionable, but inspiring).

⚠️ WARNINGS

• May cause sudden urge to start gardening

• Outdated colonial cringe

• Ableism alert (Colin’s illness is treated like a bad attitude)

• Unrealistic recovery arc

• Risk of excessive hope (You’ll start believing sunshine can fix your seasonal depression)

✅ PERFECT FOR YOU IF

• You low-key want to live in a cottagecore aesthetic

• You stan character arcs where brats become wholesome (Zuko energy)

• You’re obsessed with "found family" tropes

• You need a break from doomscrolling (trade screens for ~vibes~)

• You’d risk it all for a secret hideout (bonus if it’s overgrown with roses)

🚫 AVOID IF

• You hate descriptions of nature (so many flowers. SO. MANY.)

• You demand 100% woke takes from 1911

• You need high-stakes drama

• You’re allergic to optimism

BOOK REVIEW

Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden is one of those classic stories that never gets old. It talks about growth, change, and how nature can heal a person. Written way back in 1911, it follows Mary Lennox, a spoiled, lonely kid who gets shipped off to her uncle’s creepy English mansion after her parents die of cholera in India. At first, she’s miserable (who wouldn’t be in that gloomy place?), but then she stumbles onto a secret, overgrown garden. And guess what? As she starts bringing it back to life with the help of some new friends, she starts changing too from a bratty, selfish kid to someone way kinder and happier.

One of the coolest things about this book is how the garden’s transformation mirrors the kids’ personal growth. When Mary first shows up at the manor, she’s as shut down and neglected as the locked-up garden itself. But once she starts spending time outside with Dickon (this awesome nature-loving kid) and her sickly cousin Colin, she slowly starts to "bloom" just like the plants she’s caring for. And Colin? Dude goes from being convinced he’ll never walk to gaining serious strength, all because of fresh air, friendship, and a major attitude adjustment. It’s pretty satisfying to watch these two (and the garden) come back to life together.

Beyond just being a great story, this book totally nails how being in nature can fix your head and your health. This book’s basically like, "Put down your screens, go outside, and let the magic of plants heal you" which honestly feels even more relatable today. People now are hyping about gardening, forest bathing, and nature therapy, and this book was way ahead of its time. Burnett’s descriptions of the garden are so vivid, you can practically smell the flowers and feel the sunshine, no wonder it changes Mary and Colin so much.

Another big theme? Mindset is everything. Colin’s recovery is related to ditching his "I’m doomed" attitude, with a combination of some fresh air. Once he stops thinking of himself as a weakling and starts believing he can get better, his body actually catches up. It’s a pretty powerful message, especially for kids: your thoughts really can shape your reality. Want to overcome something tough? Start by changing how you see yourself. Simple, but honestly kinda genius.

Let’s talk about the friendships in this book because honestly, they’re the real magic. Mary starts off as a lonely, unlikeable kid who’s never known real affection. Then she meets Dickon, the ultimate nature-bro who’s basically a Disney prince with his animal-whispering skills and chill vibe. Through him, Mary learns how to actually care about people. And then there’s Colin, her spoiled, tantrum-throwing cousin who you kinda want to strangle at first. But as they bond over bringing the garden back to life, something wild happens: they actually start helping each other grow. It’s a solid reminder that good friends can fix parts of you that you didn’t even know were broken.

This book doesn’t shy away from heavy stuff either. Both Mary and Colin are basically emotional dumpster fires when we meet them. Mary because her rich parents couldn’t be bothered with her, and Colin because his dad straight-up avoids him out of grief. Burnett low-key roasts these absent adults, by showing how neglect messes kids up but she also gives us hope. With some attention and love (and okay, a lot of gardening), these two go from bitter loners to kids who actually believe they deserve happiness. Anyone who’s ever felt invisible will feel seen here.

Now, about that garden, can we just appreciate how cool the discovery scene is? Mary finding the hidden key, pushing open that rusty door, and stumbling into a wild, forgotten paradise is pure childhood fantasy fuel. The way the garden comes back to life, bit by bit, feels like watching a time-lapse video of flowers blooming. And Burnett’s writing makes you feel the damp earth, the first green sprouts, the explosion of roses. It’s like another character that teaches the kids (and us) about patience and hidden potential.

Of course, this book isn’t perfect. The ending’s a little too tidy, Colin’s "I’m suddenly healthy!" arc feels like it’s powered by wishful thinking. But that relentless optimism is kinda the point. In a world full of cynicism, this book doubles down on hope. It’s the literary equivalent of a warm hug, insisting that even the roughest starts can have happy endings. Whether you’re reading it as a kid or an adult, that message sticks with you along with the smell of fresh-turned soil and the sound of robins chirping.

(The Secret Garden oleh Frances Hodgson Burnett adalah salah satu cerita klasik yang nggak pernah bosenin. Buku ini ngomongin soal tumbuh, berubah, dan gimana alam bisa menyembuhkan seseorang. Ditulis tahun 1911, ceritanya tentang Mary Lennox, anak kaya manja dan kesepian yang dikirim ke rumah pamannya yang seram di Inggris setelah orang tuanya meninggal karena kolera di India. Awalnya dia miserable banget (siapa yang nggak sih, di tempat serem kayak gitu?), tapi dia nemuin taman rahasia yang udah terbengkalai dan ditumbuhi tanaman liar. Dan tau nggak? Pas dia mulai ngurusin taman itu bareng teman-teman barunya, dia pun pelan-pelan berubah dari anak egois dan nyebelin jadi lebih baik dan bahagia.

Yang paling keren dari buku ini tuh gimana perubahan taman itu jadi cermin pertumbuhan pribadi anak-anak di buku ini. Pas pertama kali sampai di rumah pamannya, Mary tuh tertutup dan terabaikan kayak taman yang dikunci. Tapi begitu dia mulai sering main di luar bareng Dickon (anak pecinta alam yang super cool) dan sepupunya Colin yang sakit, dia mulai "mekar" kayak tanaman yang dirawatnya. Colin? Awalnya yakin banget nggak bakal bisa jalan, eh ternyata jadi kuat juga berkat udara segar, pertemanan, dan perubahan pola pikir. Puas banget lihat mereka berdua (dan tamannya) jadi hidup lagi secara bersamaan.

Nggak cuma ceritanya yang bagus, buku ini juga bener-bener nangkep gimana alam bisa bikin mental dan fisik kita lebih sehat. Intinya kayak, "Taruh HP, keluar rumah, biarkan keajaiban tanaman menyembuhkanmu" yang justru lebih relate di jaman sekarang. Orang-orang lagi hype banget sama gardening, forest bathing, dan terapi alam, padahal buku ini udah ngomongin itu dari dulu. Deskripsi Burnett tentang tamannya begitu hidup, sampai kita kayak bisa ngerasain aroma bunga dan hangatnya sinar matahari. Nggak heran taman itu mengubah Mary dan Colin.

Tema penting lainnya? Pola pikir itu penting banget. Kesembuhan Colin nggak cuma karena udara segar, tapi juga karena dia berhenti mikir "Aku nggak bakal sembuh". Begitu dia berhenti nganggep dirinya lemah dan mulai percaya bisa membaik, badannya pun mengikuti. Pesannya powerful banget, terutama buat anak-anak: pikiran kita beneran bisa membentuk realitas. Mau mengatasi sesuatu yang susah? Mulai aja dari ubah cara pandang ke diri sendiri. Simpel, tapi jenius juga.

Terus mari kita bahas soal pertemanan di buku ini karena, jujur, ini beneran bagian paling magical. Awalnya Mary tuh anak kesepian dan nyebelin yang nggak pernah ngerasain kasih sayang yang tulus. Sampai akhirnya dia ketemu Dickon, si pecinta alam yang kayak Disney prince versi nyata, jago ngobrol sama binatang dan aura positifnya contagious banget. Berkat Dickon, Mary pelan-pelan belajar peduli sama orang lain. Lalu ada Colin, sepupunya yang manja dan suka tantrum, bikin gemes pengen jitak awalnya. Tapi pas mereka mulai merawat taman bareng, sesuatu yang keren terjadi: mereka saling membantu untuk tumbuh. Kayak reminder kalau temen yang baik bisa bener-bener "memperbaiki" bagian diri kita yang bahkan kita sendiri nggak sadar sudah rusak.

Buku ini juga nggak takut mengangkat tema berat. Mary dan Colin tuh basically "emotional dumpster fire" pas pertama ketemu. Mary karena orang tuanya kaya tapi cuek banget, Colin karena papanya sengaja menjauh saking sedihnya. Burnett secara halus menyindir orang dewasa yang gagal ngasih perhatian ini, sambil kasih lihat gimana pengabaian bisa merusak mental anak. Tapi dia juga kasih harapan: dengan perhatian, kasih sayang (dan banyak-banyak berkebun), dua anak ini berubah dari sosok yang getir jadi percaya bahwa mereka layak bahagia. Siapa pun yang pernah merasa "invisible" pasti bakal merasa terwakili di sini.

Terus soal taman, adegan Mary nemuin kunci tersembunyi, buka pintu berkarat, dan nemuin surga liar yang terlupakan itu pure childhood goals banget! Proses taman yang kembali hidup pelan-pelan itu rasanya kayak liat time-lapse bunga mekar. Deskripsi buku ini bikin kita kayak beneran ngerasain tanah lembap, tunas hijau pertama, sampai mawar-mawar yang mekar. Tamannya sendiri kayak karakter tambahan yang ngajarin kita dan anak-anak di cerita ini tentang kesabaran dan potensi tersembunyi.

Jelas buku ini nggak sempurna. Endingnya agak terlalu mudah, Colin yang tiba-tiba sembuh total itu rada unrealistic. Tapi justru itu poinnya: di dunia yang penuh sinisme, buku ini milih untuk tetap optimis. Kayak dapat pelukan hangat dalam bentuk cerita, yang ngasih tau kalau bahkan awal yang berantakan pun bisa berakhir bahagia. Mau dibaca pas kecil atau udah gede, pesannya bakal nempel terus bareng bau tanah segar dan kicauan burung robin.)

WHAT I LOVE

■ This book is basically the ultimate glow-up story. At the start, Mary’s a brat, Colin’s a whiny mess, and Mr. Craven’s drowning in grief, but watching them slowly open up and heal is so satisfying. It’s proof that even when life sucks, people can change if they’re willing to try. Like, if these three trainwrecks can turn their lives around, what’s my excuse?

■ There’s no actual magic in this book, but the garden? Total wizardry. The way Burnett describes those first green shoots pushing through the dirt, the roses exploding into bloom, feels so alive. It’s both plants and hope growing there. And when Mary unlocks that hidden door for the first time? Chills. It’s like stumbling into Narnia, but with more compost.

■ What blows my mind is how a book from 1911 still feels so relevant today. Nature as therapy? Check. Friendship fixing broken people? Check. Learning to love yourself? Big check. I’ve reread this as an adult, and dang if it doesn’t hit differently when you’re stressed about bills instead of homework. Timeless doesn’t even cover it.  

■ It starts sad with dead parents, neglected kids, general Victorian gloom, but stick with it. By the end, you’re basically basking in this warm, fuzzy feeling. It’s like literary chicken soup: comforting, healing, and weirdly addictive. The way Mary and Colin go from "the worst" to "aww, look at them bloom" is the emotional equivalent of watching a sunrise.

■ And can we appreciate how fun the mystery is? A locked garden? A hidden key? Sneaking around like tiny detectives? It’s got this low-stakes adventure vibe that’s weirdly thrilling. Watching the garden and the kids come back to life page by page is the kind of slow-burn satisfaction TikTok could never replicate.

(■ Ini tuh basically cerita glow-up paling epic. Awalnya Mary anak nyebelin, Colin tantrum banget, dan Mr. Craven tenggelam dalam kesedihan. Tapi liat mereka pelan-pelan berubah dan sembuh? Puas banget! Ini bukti kalau bahkan ketika hidup lagi kacau, orang bisa berubah kalau mau berusaha. 

■ Memang nggak ada sihir beneran di sini, tapi tamannya? Pure magic. Cara penulis mendeskripsikan tunas hijau pertama yang muncul dari tanah, mawar-mawar yang tiba-tiba mekar semua, bener-bener terasa hidup. Ini bukan cuma tanaman yang tumbuh, tapi juga harapan. Dan pas Mary pertama kali buka pintu tersembunyinya? Merinding! Rasanya kayak nemuin Narnia versi kebon.

■ Yang bikin takjub, buku tahun 1911 ini masih relevan banget sampe sekarang. Alam sebagai terapi? Ada. Pertemanan yang menyembuhkan? Juga ada. Belajar mencintai diri sendiri? Big yes! Pas aku baca lagi sekarang yang udah dewasa, rasanya beda banget, dulu khawatir PR, sekarang khawatir bayar listrik. Benar-benar nggak lekang oleh waktu.

■ Memang awalnya suram, orang tua meninggal, anak-anak terabaikan, typical Victorian gloom. Tapi tetep lanjutin, karena endingnya bikin hati adem dan bahagia. Kayak chicken soup versi buku: menghangatkan, menyembuhkan, dan bikin ketagihan. Ngelihat Mary dan Colin berubah dari "the worst" jadi "aww gemesin" itu rasanya kayak lihat matahari terbit, bikin semangat!

■ Jangan lupa sisi misterinya yang seru! Ada taman terkunci, kunci tersembunyi, bocah-bocah yang main detektif. Rasanya kayak petualangan low-stakes tapi tetep bikin deg-degan. Ngelihat taman dan anak-anaknya hidup kembali perlahan itu puas banget, lebih memuaskan daripada scroll TikTok seharian!)

THINGS I DON'T LIKE 

■ The way Indian servants are described? Big yikes. It's dripping with early 1900s colonial attitudes that feel super uncomfortable today. Like, Mary's whole "spoiled brat in India" backstory treats the local staff as props rather than people. Not cool, Burnett.

■ Then there's Colin's storyline. Look, I love his transformation, but this book kinda frames his sickness as his own fault? All that "hysterical weakling" talk and his dad basically ghosting him for being "too sickly" is pretty harsh. Nowadays, we'd recognize Colin's struggles as legit health issues needing real support, not just a pep talk and some roses.

■ Speaking of Colin's recovery, don't get me wrong, it's heartwarming, but come on. Dude goes from bedridden to doing parkour in like, two weeks? I'm all for "mind over matter," but as someone who's ever gotten ill, I rolled my eyes hard. Real healing isn't that simple, and the book glosses over how tough recovery actually is.

(■ Cara pelayan India dideskripsiin? Yikes banget sih. Kental banget nuansa kolonial era 1900-an yang bikin kerasa nggak nyaman sekarang. Cerita latar Mary sebagai "anak manja di India" tuh memperlakukan pelayan lokal kayak properti, bukan manusia. Not cool, Burnett.

■ Terus ada cerita Colin. Aku suka sih lihat perkembangannya, tapi kok kesannya penyakitnya itu salah dia sendiri? Istilah-istilah kayak "hysterical weakling" ditambah papanya yang ghosting karena Colin "terlalu sakit-sakitan" tuh kejam banget. Jaman sekarang kan kita lebih ngerti kalau kondisi kesehatan tuh butuh dukungan serius, bukan cuma motivasi receh plus bunga-bunga.

■ Ngomong-ngomong soal kesembuhan Colin, jangan salah, emang bikin seneng lihatnya, tapi yang bener aja lah. Dari nggak bisa bangkit dari tempat tidur tiba-tiba bisa parkour dalam dua minggu? Aku percaya sih sama kekuatan pikiran, tapi sebagai orang yang pernah sakit, ini bikin geleng-geleng kepala. Proses penyembuhan beneran nggak semudah itu, tapi di buku ini kayak dianggap sepele aja.)

FAVORITE QUOTES

One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever.

I am sure there is Magic in everything, only we have not sense enough to get hold of it and make it do things for us.

Being alive is the Magic—being strong is the Magic. The Magic is in me—the Magic is in me.

Of course there must be lots of magic in the world, but people don't know what it is like or how to make it. Perhaps the beginning is just to say nice things are going to happen until you make it happen.

To let a sad thought or a bad one get into your mind is as dangerous as letting a scarlet fever germ get into your body. If you let it stay there after it has got in you may never get over it as long as you live.

CONCLUSION 

The Secret Garden isn’t flawless, some endings feel too easy, and yeah, a few ideas are pretty outdated. But it still works. The magic of that garden, the way it heals Mary and Colin, and the whole "fresh air and friendship fix everything" message? It’s comforting as heck. Whether you’re reading it for nostalgia or overanalyzing it, the heart of the story always whispers that even the most broken places (and people) can come back to life with a little love. So yeah, it’s got issues, but it’s absolutely worth the read.

(Jujur aja, The Secret Garden nggak sempurna, endingnya agak too good to be true, dan beberapa konsepnya udah ketinggalan zaman. Tapi, pesona taman di buku ini, cara Mary dan Colin sembuh perlahan, dan pesan "udara segar dan pertemanan bisa menyembuhkan segalanya" tetep bikin hati adem. Mau baca buat nostalgia atau sekadar buat menganalisis, intinya tetap sama: bahkan tempat dan orang yang paling rusak pun bisa glow up kalau dikasih cinta dan perhatian. Jadi, meski ada kekurangannya, buku ini tetap worth it buat dibaca.)