ReadYourMood
Cover of The Secret Garden

Children's · Classics

The Secret Garden

by Frances Hodgson Burnett

4.0 out of 5, from 1,048 ratings from Hardcover readers

Orphaned Mary Lennox is sent from India to a gloomy Yorkshire manor. There she discovers a locked garden, a hidden cousin and a way to make something grow.

Facts last checked 2026-10-16

First published
1911
Pace
Medium
Length
Short
Pages
331
Format
Standalone
Borrow free with Libby Compare prices Save to my shelf

Read this if you want a gentle, restorative classic about nature, friendship and healing.

Skip this if you dislike period dialect, which appears in some of the dialogue.

The feel

Content warnings

  • Death

Also reported by Hardcover readers:

  • Racism
  • Ableism
  • Death of parent
  • Racial slurs
  • Colonisation
  • Xenophobia

Quick answers about The Secret Garden

What is The Secret Garden about?
Orphaned Mary Lennox is sent from India to a gloomy Yorkshire manor. There she discovers a locked garden, a hidden cousin and a way to make something grow.
Who should read The Secret Garden?
Read it if you want a gentle, restorative classic about nature, friendship and healing. Skip it if you dislike period dialect, which appears in some of the dialogue.
How long and how fast is The Secret Garden?
It is a medium-paced, short read of about 331 pages, first published in 1911.
Does The Secret Garden have content warnings?
Content we flag: Death.
Can I borrow The Secret Garden for free?
Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Secret Garden; the borrow button above searches it for you.
What should I read after The Secret Garden?
Readers who liked it often move on to Anne of Green Gables, Heidi, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Where to get it

StorePriceLink
Borrow free
Libby / OverDriveFree with a library card Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive
Print, new
AmazonCheck price Buy new from Amazon
Ebook
KoboCheck price Buy ebook from Kobo
Google Play BooksCheck price Buy ebook from Google Play Books
Audiobook
AudibleCheck price Buy audiobook from Audible

Prices appear here as retailer feeds are connected. Where none is shown, check the store. Links open the store in a new tab.

Some store links, including Kobo, are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Library links are never affiliate links. How this works

Because you might love it

If you loved The Secret Garden

All picks

Children's

More to read

All children's