[LM_NET] The Secret Garden

[Laura Abbene <LauraA@LOLO.K12.MT.US>]

I am getting mixed responses on what genre "The Secret Garden" by Burnett falls 
under. I have not read the book since the seventh grade and I do not remember there 
being any magic. A student had pulled our copy from the shelf for a fantasy report. 
when she brought the book to me I told her that it wasn't a fantasy and she said, 
then why do you have a fantasy sticker on the spine? I said that I wasn't sure and 
that I would look into it. before I posted on LM_Net I searched the internet and 
found that Dickon has the ability to speak to animals. I do not remember the 
animals talking back to him or the animals understanding what Dickon said, but I do 
remember that Dickon was somewhat of an animal charmer. Has anyone read "The Secret 
Garden" recently? I would skim the book, but I let the student take our copy 
because she wanted to read it anyway. So, now I am stuck!

These are the responses I have gotten so far...

I would put Secret Garden in Realistic fiction.  It was written as 
contemporary fiction based on the experiences of the author.

It's more romance or novel ideas.  But, the magic inference could put it in the 
fantasy category.  

No, there's nothing fantastical about it.  It's the story of some children who find 
a secret garden, and the healing power of growing things.  Nothing magical involved.

Laura Abbene
Library Media Specialist
Lolo School K-8
406.273.6686
lauraa@lolo.k12.mt.us

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