The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Learn hundreds of foreign words and phrases!

Born to wealthy parents during the British Raj, Mary Lennox epitomizes the entitled, spoiled brat. But when her mother and father both fall victim to an epidemic, Mary is sent back to the English countryside to live with her uncle.

Initially, Mary's character is as unbecoming as ever as she adjusts to her new life. But as she settles into manor life, she learns of the stories and secrets it holds—including one of a garden that her late aunt cared for. Instead of demanding of others, she begins to look for ways she can help. As she does, she begins to unfurl the mysteries of the sullen estate, and in doing so brings a new light to the lives within.

The Secret Garden has enchanted readers for over a century, and stands out as a classic coming-of-age tale. Burnett, already a reputable writer of children's fiction by the time The Secret Garden was published, enjoyed a newfound readership with its release, as it first appeared in The American Magazine, a publication primarily enjoyed by adults.