I feel as if Burnett is becoming one of my favourite authors. True, I've only read two of her books, but I've devoured those two so quickly and so ravenously that there seems to be no other explanation than the fact that, yes, Burnett's writing is one of the most brilliant that I've come across.

I've started this book with two extreme premeditated judgements. First off, this is a children's book; and no matter how unprejudiced you are, there's always going to be a moment where you think that children's books are only for . . . well, children and wouldn't offer much to adults in terms of reading experience. Secondly, Burnett seems to have a knack for goody two-shoes characters, as seen by [b:Little Lord Fauntleroy|275247|Little Lord Fauntleroy|Frances Hodgson Burnett|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348989227s/275247.jpg|1085162] and [b:A Little Princess|3008|A Little Princess|Frances Hodgson Burnett|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327868556s/3008.jpg|1313599] (which, sadly, I have not yet read--but you have to live under a rock for you not to be familiar with its premise). However much I've loved Little Lord Fauntleroy, I thought The Secret Garden was going to be nothing more than a story with a severely one-sided character finding some garden.

Oh, how very wrong I was.

The Secret Garden actually stars a main character who isn't wholly good--which, as far as I know, doesn't occur far too often in children's literature. Sure, she turns out to be all goody-goody in the end, but you know what that means? Yep, it's character development: yet another thing that doesn't appear too much in children's literature.

Some might say that Mary Lennox is the star of this book, but, personally, Colin stood out for me. I think, that of the two of them, Colin shows the most development, the most growth. He grows from a spoilt, hysterical hypochondriac to a healthy, cheery young boy.

Burnett, you've done a really good job here.