Classic Starts: The Secret Garden
Classic starts Series
What’s inside...
The Secret Garden tells the story of Mary Lennox, a young, sickly, and unloved girl who is sent to live with her uncle in a gloomy mansion in Yorkshire after the death of her parents. There, she discovers a locked, neglected garden. As she brings the garden back to life, she also transforms her own life and the lives of those around her, including her sickly cousin Colin and the young gardener Dickon. Following Sterlings spectacularly successful launch of its childrens classic novels (240,000 books in print to date),comes a dazzling new series: Classic Starts. The stories are abridged; the quality is complete. Classic Starts treats the worlds beloved tales (and children) with the respect they deserve--all at an incomparable price. The discovery of a neglected garden transforms the life of a sullen and unloved little girl-and everyone around her, too. When the newly orphaned Mary Lennox leaves her native India and arrives at her uncles mansion in Yorkshire, everything seems strange to her. Then Mary hears of a mysterious garden where no one has set foot in 10 years. With the help of some new friends, she plans to uncover its secrets...and make it blossom once again.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-11
Length
160 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Mary Lennox
Dickon Sowerby
Colin Craven
Martha Sowerby
Ben Weatherstaff
Mrs. Medlock
Dr. Craven
Discussion points
What do you think Mary felt when she found the secret garden? Why?
How do the characters change from the beginning to the end of the story?
Why is the garden so important to Mary, Colin, and Dickon?
What have you learned about the power of friendship and nature from this story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage children to imagine themselves in the garden and describe what they see, feel, and hear. Highlight the transformation of the characters as the garden blooms, drawing parallels to real-life growth and change. Discuss the value of patience, care, and connection to both people and nature. Use descriptive scenes from the book to foster empathy and understanding of the characters’ emotions and motivations.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The healing power of nature
Explanation: In 'The Secret Garden', the transformation of the garden mirrors the positive changes in the children's health and spirits, demonstrating how interaction with nature has healing effects.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to spend time outdoors, engaging with the natural environment as a source of joy and health.
Example Lesson: The value of friendship and empathy
Explanation: The characters, Mary and Colin, develop a deep friendship that helps them overcome loneliness and personal struggles. Their story emphasizes emotional support and understanding.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the importance of building supportive friendships and being empathetic towards others' feelings and experiences.
Example Lesson: Personal growth and resilience
Explanation: Mary's character evolves from a sullen, spoiled girl to a caring, robust individual through her experiences in the garden, illustrating the theme of personal transformation through adversity.
Real-World Application: Inspires children to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and to adapt positively to changes and difficulties in life.