by Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1911
Sweet story about two 10 year-olds who turn from being ugly, hateful, unhealthy, spoiled creatures into beautiful, happy, healthy children by the Secret Garden. Mary, the girl, and Colin, the boy, are cousins. Mary is sent to live in the Misselthwaite Manor on the Moor of Yorkshire after her parents die of cholera in India. She discovers the secret garden that has been shut up 10 years because that is where Colin’s mother died from a fall from a tree. Colin has been shut up in a room inside the house for 10 years, told he was sickly and was going to die. Mary finds him one rainy day and, with the help of Dickon, a 12 year-old boy from the Moor, who loves animals and nature, they change the garden and themselves with magic. They sing the Doxology of Praise of it. Beautiful, sweet tale about love of life and growing things and beauty and nature.