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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2016

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I should have read the other reviews. Luckily, you are reading this... so move along.

This is NOT "The Secret Garden". It is "A CONSIDERABLY ABRIDGED Cliff's Notes style childrens re-enactment of The Secret Garden". Nowhere in the description did it say that this was not the real book. It's like half an inch think written in 25 pt. font. My 10 year old daughter read it in less than an hour. Her last book.... Little Women. The real one. 800 pages. I promised her she would like this. Instead she just looked at me like..."really?". And I don't blame her. Seller should update the description.

Sorry, but anyone else leaving a higher rating may simply not realize that they received a fraud.

PROS: Very pretty cover. Hardback.
CONS: See everything I wrote above.

Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2020

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First - Arrived ahead of schedule (2-3 days earlier than quoted)! Hands-down the BEST illustrated and unabridged hard cover, illustrated by Inga Moore. Researched several editions and others' reviews across the internet were spot-on.

Meets all this criteria, making it an ideal edition for anyone:
1. Hardcover
2. Unabridged (Not a synthesized, easy reader, learn-to-read, edited or watered-down version)
3. Illustrated (nicely)
4. Big enough "read-aloud edition" (not a pocket book)
5. Illustrations, layout, fonts, covers and presentation capture a reader's imagination.

My little kids (5 & 7) have been enjoying my reading a non-illustrated version nightly, but were so excited when this arrived today and are looking forward to tonight's continued reading moreso now that I have this copy!

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Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2020

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Sent this to a great niece who was not familiar with it. I am 82, received my first copy from my mother when I was 8. my daughter now owns it and my grand daughter will as well. I was a 1&2, grade teacher for 30 years, my favorite children's/, young adult book. I was adopted!

Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2017

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I am not really sure how I missed out on this book as a child so I decided to read it with my daughter. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and zipped through it in just a few days. Frances Hodgson Burnett shares some amazing insights into human nature with the reader. My daughter exclaimed at one point, "How can Mary see that Colin is spoiled but not see that she was the same at first too?" Led to some great discussions for sure! I also thought it was amazing that Burnett at times switches between different third person limited perspectives and we even have some of the events in the garden narrated from the point of view of the robin! Such clever writing!

Some reviewers complained about the fact that many of the characters speak with a Yorkshire accent and Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote it phonetically the way the characters pronounced the words. I thought it added to the fun! I tried to speak with the broad Yorkshire accent as I read it out loud and changed my voice for the different characters. My daughter and I both loved it. The Yorkshire dialect was interesting and we have been trying to throw some of the words we learned into conversation such as "wick" meaning alive or lively. From my point of view, that beats trying to throw something modern like "on fleek" into conversation!

Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2015

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People are naturally inclined to hand out the "instant classic" award to the books they like, but there are only a precious few books that can hold on to such a title for over a hundred years, (this was published in book form in 1911), and still stay fresh, engaging and appealing. This book is the source and template for so many children's lit conventions that it is hard to imagine a library without multiple copies.

You can sample the book as a Kindle freebie or in some other downloadable form, since it's out of copyright and readily available. Then, and better yet, after you read it and discover its pleasures, look for a nice edition to give to each young reader you know. There are easy to read books that are shallow, and there are harder to read books with considerable depth, but this one manages to be accessible to a fairly young reader and yet still loaded with fine writing, style, character, mystery, romance, adventure and inspiration. An excellent choice.

And while you're at it, take a look at Burnett's "Little Lord Fauntleroy". He's gotten a bad rap, (probably as a result of those Fauntleroy suits and haircuts that were the rage in the twenties), but he's actually smart , level headed, and shrewdly decent in unexpected ways. So go and get your Burnett on.

Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2018

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I LOVE this edition! The cover seems sturdy and has lovely artwork. There are plenty of color illustrations throughout (the style of drawing is not really my taste, but that's ok). There are fun little details like the fancy upper case letter that begins each chapter, and the little flowers drawn around each page number. The pages are a very light stone/beige color and not stark white, which can sometimes be harsh to the eyes. The "interactive elements" add an exciting touch to the whole book. Anyone of any age (I am 46) who loves this story would love this edition!

Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2017

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I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very well developed. The story was interesting, it was difficult to put down the book. The writing style, the description of events... you name it.. everything is just perfect. Thus it deserves a 5 star rating.

This was my first ever kindle in motion ebook and it was good enough not know what exactly to expect. Say 10-15 pictures with motion in a book with around 21 chapters and over 250 pages. There were very few pages with illustration in motion (not many) and others with sketches of flowers. There were branches on all corners of each page and i loved that as the story proceeds, those blanches are full of leaves and flowers.

I enjoyed reading this book and I hope you do too. Please hit the like button if you found my review helpful. Thank you.

Top reviews from other countries

1.0 out of 5 stars A book so badly edited it doesn't actually make sense.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 24, 2019

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This kindle edition is a disappointment. Sentences which don't make sense - for example 'You have to have long past to the hills weeks in the past." and The infant ate a few fruit and biscuits, and being thirsty she drank a pitcher of wine which stood almost crammed. It become sweet, and he or she did not realize how sturdy it was." and similar are found in every page so it's impossible to make any sense of the book. I'm surprised something so badly edited is allowed to be sold.
I would like to have my money back.

5.0 out of 5 stars A book full of life. A must read!

Reviewed in India on December 29, 2019

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This novel got me me into thinking, if it was possible for a child of unfavourable disposition and health to get any better and live life so willingly in a forthright manner, I would plant a thousand Secret Gardens in every corner of the world. There would be no sickness, or suffering ever!

But on a second note I think maybe there really are a thousand Secret Gardens already and only because it must be a secret, no one can tell. All we need is to believe in 'magic' to uncover them and make them burst forth with energy and spirit that it will become so hard not to live.

This book makes me believe there is magic, even as an adult - not of fairylands or elves but of a kind which can be made quite possible in today's world. There's no better way to end this decade. Cheers Frances H. Brunett!

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5.0 out of 5 stars If you want this 1956 copy with its DJ it might not be the one sent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 27, 2017

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A warning for those in hopes of obtaining this particular 1956 edition by The Reprint Society London with its dust cover illustrated by Ernest H Shepard. I read this book during the 1950's as a child & wanted to replace my very scruffy copy with this copy as shown with its dust jacket. Sadly the image of this book may not be delivered by one of the sellers despite being specified as this 1956 copy. I was sent another format 1986 Octopus books ltd which I had not wanted. (I've been extremely fortunate to recently secure an exact copy with its dust jacket from an antiquarian bookseller for a price far more that this one advertise!)
However despite my original disappointment I would urge you to obtain a copy that appeals to you for there are some editions with very nice illustrations too for this classic story is a wonderful read of a nostalgic world that has long disappeared. With the strong elements of children bonding with each other through animals & nature, the transformation of a hidden garden & the endearing company of the robin Frances Hodgson Burnett's story will appeal to any generation.

1.0 out of 5 stars bad version of a beloved classic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 14, 2019

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My one star is for this version of the kindle edition of the book and NOT the story itself. I purchased the actual book but as i struggle at night to read such small print, i decided to download the free version on to my kindle to read in bed. I shouldn't have bothered! whoever edited into kindle form wants sacking, my 10 yr old could have done a better job. Half the book is just text with no spaces.
Marysaid, thegardener, whereis, Marthawent ect... the text is a little muddle also with sentences back to front.
If you are after the kindle edition, pay for it and swerve the amazon classic version at all costs.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and good read! ♥️✨😍

Reviewed in India on February 19, 2019

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The MRP is 550 and I bought for 358 . Good deal I guess .. It's extremely beautiful copy of the secret garden. !! It was one of my favourite story. It's a children's classic. Totally recommend it.