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The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden
The Secret Garden with a twist: in this follow-up to Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, this full-color graphic novel moves Mary Lennox to a New York City brownstone, where she and her very first group of friends restore an abandoned rooftop garden...and her uncle's heart.
Mary Lennox is a loner living in Silicon Valley. With her parents always working, video game and tech become her main source of entertainment and "friends." When her parents pass away in a tragic accident, she moves to New York City to live with her uncle who she barely knows, and to her surprise, keeps a gadget free home. Looking for comfort in this strange, new reality, Mary discovers an abandoned rooftop garden and an even bigger secret...her cousin who suffers from anxiety. With the help of her new friends, Colin and Dickon, Mary works to restore the garden to its former glory while also learning to grieve, build real friendships, and grow.
Mary Lennox is a loner living in Silicon Valley. With her parents always working, video game and tech become her main source of entertainment and "friends." When her parents pass away in a tragic accident, she moves to New York City to live with her uncle who she barely knows, and to her surprise, keeps a gadget free home. Looking for comfort in this strange, new reality, Mary discovers an abandoned rooftop garden and an even bigger secret...her cousin who suffers from anxiety. With the help of her new friends, Colin and Dickon, Mary works to restore the garden to its former glory while also learning to grieve, build real friendships, and grow.
256 pages, Unknown Binding
First published October 19, 2021
26 people are currently reading
1420 people want to read
About the author
Ivy Noelle Weir
21 books138 followersIvy Noelle Weir is a writer of comics and prose. She is the co-creator of the Dwayne McDuffie Award-winning graphic novel Archival Quality (Oni Press), the upcoming The Secret Garden on 81st Street (Little, Brown for Young Readers), and her writing has appeared in anthologies such as Princeless: Girls Rock (Action Lab Entertainment) and Dead Beats (A Wave Blue World). She lives in the greater Boston area with her husband and their two tiny, weird dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 411 reviews
December 25, 2025
Oh gosh dang. Now I'm crying. This was a truly beautiful Secret Garden Remake.
Only, he's always away on business, leaving Mary to spend time with Martha and Mrs. Medlock.
Borrrrrrring.
At first, Mary is frustrated. No videogames. No instant food. But then Martha sends her outside:
But despite the wild and exciting world out there, Mary grows suspicious of what's under her own roof.
Rumors of a Secret Garden and strange noises in the middle of the night - and there's no way Mary will bury her head in the sand. She WILL figure out these mysteries - one way or another!
I loved the way the author portrayed Colin, Mary, and Dickon. Their characters were so distinct, unique and yet carried the essence of the original characters so freaking well.
I thought that the changes made to modernize the story were extremely well thought out and elevated the story. I didn't think you'd be able to have a magical secret garden in the heart of New York but oh my goodness, it was perfect.
In this version, Colin has which I thought was handled very well. I feel like that could have been a rather tricky condition to explain for the intended audience and to handle in the story, but the author did a wonderful job.
Also - the art was really nice - so much emotion captured in the panels and I loved "visiting" the various museums and other places with Mary.
All in all, this was a fabulous graphic novel. Highly recommended.
Mary spent her life online - gaming, watching shows, chatting with her friends - and she was just fine with it. But then, a tragic accident wrenches her parents from her life and she's sent to live with Uncle Archie in NYC.
"Why is it so cold here?"
Only, he's always away on business, leaving Mary to spend time with Martha and Mrs. Medlock.
Borrrrrrring.
At first, Mary is frustrated. No videogames. No instant food. But then Martha sends her outside:
And just like that, Mary's world becomes a little bigger. Central Park. Bodegas. Museums. Every little adventure, a wonder.
"Have fun! Don't get lost! Remember, it's a grid system!
But despite the wild and exciting world out there, Mary grows suspicious of what's under her own roof.
Rumors of a Secret Garden and strange noises in the middle of the night - and there's no way Mary will bury her head in the sand. She WILL figure out these mysteries - one way or another!
This was an AMAZING Secret Garden retelling. I loved it so freaking much - and yes, my eyes really did well up with tears multiple times during this graphic novel.
"Enough is enough. What is going on up there?"
"Who are you?!"
I loved the way the author portrayed Colin, Mary, and Dickon. Their characters were so distinct, unique and yet carried the essence of the original characters so freaking well.
I thought that the changes made to modernize the story were extremely well thought out and elevated the story. I didn't think you'd be able to have a magical secret garden in the heart of New York but oh my goodness, it was perfect.
In this version, Colin has which I thought was handled very well. I feel like that could have been a rather tricky condition to explain for the intended audience and to handle in the story, but the author did a wonderful job.
Also - the art was really nice - so much emotion captured in the panels and I loved "visiting" the various museums and other places with Mary.
All in all, this was a fabulous graphic novel. Highly recommended.
May 24, 2023
Honestly, for a modern 21st century graphic novel retelling of Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1912 novel (and personal favourite) The Secret Garden, Noelle Weir has (in my humble opinion) done a (for me at least) pretty well delightful textual job with The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden, in many ways quite accurately and faithfully mirroring most of the the basics (content and thematics wise) of Hodgson Burnett's original storyline, but at the same also modernising the featured narrative to provide a very nicely updated and contemporary tale. For yes and appreciatively, instead of Colin Craven appearing like he is in The Secret Garden as a fussy, as a cantankerous, often arrogantly full of himself bedridden invalid with a potential hunchback (which in my humble opinion would feel a bit strange and artificial for the 21st century), in The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden Colin is generally quite sweetly tempered but is suffering from a serious and debilitating case of anxiety and panic attacks due to the unresolved trauma of his father's (and Archibald Craven's husband) unexpected and tragic death of a heart attack whilst gardening (and which of course has made a heartbroken and grieving Archibald Craven seal off and lock the rooftop garden his partner Masahiro had so much loved) and where Mary Lennox is decently likeable but at first also reserved and a bit distant due to her often having been ignored and taken for granted by her recently deceased and always working and much too busy parents, and where the modern day New York City setting of The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden shows a wonderful and enchanting sense of place and a multi-ethnicity that feels natural, never artificial and also gloriously and delightfully optimistic.
And while the latter, while that sense of optimism in The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden (regarding in particular multi ethnicity and Colin Craven's anxiety issues) might perhaps seem just a wee bit overly so for readers with a more cynical outlook and approach towards life and towards reading, well and frankly, I (emotionally and personally speaking) have absolutely and utterly textually adored how much of a forward thinking and universally accepting of differences, of alternative life styles and families attitude The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden presents (and organically, naturally) and that Ivy Noelle Weir also has basically pretty much everyone accepting and being empathetic towards Colin's panic attacks, and that even Mary Lennox, once Colin's therapist has explained to her what anxiety is (and how Colin's panic attacks have real symptoms and are very debilitating) is totally and all encompassingly sympathetic, is more than willing to help Colin overcome his mental health challenges with her friendship and her encouragement (and of course also with both Dickon's and the garden's help, as well as Ben's cat Robin), basically a story rather similar to The Secret Garden but with considerably less potential conflict and problematic issues, and yes, for me at this time, The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden has been a total and utter reading joy and a wonderful and candy-like reading experience (and almost but not yet quite a five star rating).
Warmly recommended is The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden and as such solidly and shiningly four stars. And indeed, what actually prevents me from assigning a five star rating for The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden are two minor but still rather important (for me) reasons. For one, I do find it not all that sufficiently childhood safety oriented how at the beginning of The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden, Ivy Noelle Weir has Mary Lennox exploring the streets of New York City (and also Central Park) totally by herself and without any adult supervision at all. And for two, even though I generally find Amber Padilla's accompanying artwork for The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden brightly realistic and a for the most part accurate visual mirror to and for Weir's words, to and for her textual storyline, I do think that Dickon is depicted a bit too much like an outsider by Padilla (and that while Dickon's words feel very similar to what Mary, Colin and also his sister Martha utter in The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden how Dickon looks feels a bit too visually different for and to me and makes him physically appear like an outsider, almost like a superhero swooping in to help with the gardening and with Colin's anxiety initiated panic attacks).
And finally, I also at first glance (and indeed only at first glance) was a bit annoyed that instead of Mary Lennox being shown the key to the locked and sealed off secret rooftop garden by a bird, by a robin as is the case with Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden, Ivy Noelle Weir replaces the bird in The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden with a cat (named Robin). However, considering that The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden takes place in New York City, it actually makes a lot of sense for Weir to use a cat and not a bird, as while a bird certainly makes sense for the rural Yorkshire setting of The Secret Garden, this really would not be all that reasonable and believable a scenario in a large metropolis like NYC.
And while the latter, while that sense of optimism in The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden (regarding in particular multi ethnicity and Colin Craven's anxiety issues) might perhaps seem just a wee bit overly so for readers with a more cynical outlook and approach towards life and towards reading, well and frankly, I (emotionally and personally speaking) have absolutely and utterly textually adored how much of a forward thinking and universally accepting of differences, of alternative life styles and families attitude The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden presents (and organically, naturally) and that Ivy Noelle Weir also has basically pretty much everyone accepting and being empathetic towards Colin's panic attacks, and that even Mary Lennox, once Colin's therapist has explained to her what anxiety is (and how Colin's panic attacks have real symptoms and are very debilitating) is totally and all encompassingly sympathetic, is more than willing to help Colin overcome his mental health challenges with her friendship and her encouragement (and of course also with both Dickon's and the garden's help, as well as Ben's cat Robin), basically a story rather similar to The Secret Garden but with considerably less potential conflict and problematic issues, and yes, for me at this time, The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden has been a total and utter reading joy and a wonderful and candy-like reading experience (and almost but not yet quite a five star rating).
Warmly recommended is The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden and as such solidly and shiningly four stars. And indeed, what actually prevents me from assigning a five star rating for The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden are two minor but still rather important (for me) reasons. For one, I do find it not all that sufficiently childhood safety oriented how at the beginning of The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden, Ivy Noelle Weir has Mary Lennox exploring the streets of New York City (and also Central Park) totally by herself and without any adult supervision at all. And for two, even though I generally find Amber Padilla's accompanying artwork for The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden brightly realistic and a for the most part accurate visual mirror to and for Weir's words, to and for her textual storyline, I do think that Dickon is depicted a bit too much like an outsider by Padilla (and that while Dickon's words feel very similar to what Mary, Colin and also his sister Martha utter in The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden how Dickon looks feels a bit too visually different for and to me and makes him physically appear like an outsider, almost like a superhero swooping in to help with the gardening and with Colin's anxiety initiated panic attacks).
And finally, I also at first glance (and indeed only at first glance) was a bit annoyed that instead of Mary Lennox being shown the key to the locked and sealed off secret rooftop garden by a bird, by a robin as is the case with Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden, Ivy Noelle Weir replaces the bird in The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden with a cat (named Robin). However, considering that The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of the Secret Garden takes place in New York City, it actually makes a lot of sense for Weir to use a cat and not a bird, as while a bird certainly makes sense for the rural Yorkshire setting of The Secret Garden, this really would not be all that reasonable and believable a scenario in a large metropolis like NYC.
January 28, 2024
I'm on a mission to make a list of graphic novels that I can honestly recommend to others that don't incorporate topics/subjects/agendas into kids' books. I thought this one looked and sounded cute but upon reading quickly realized that there was going to be an LGBT concept integrated into the story. You discover that Mary Lennox's Uncle was married to another man and it's put into the story in such a way you aren't 100% certain until 100+ pages in. The concept seemed cool, but unfortunately, I don't recommend this one.
March 4, 2022
A really delightful retelling of "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett, but set in the modern day. The 1993 movie was one of my absolute favorites as a child, and this book hits all of the important emotional notes. I really liked the adaption of Colin's illness into anxiety, and the conversations about how Colin and Mary process their respective grief differently. Martha and Dickon are as cheerful and supportive as always, and Mary and Dickon's friendship feels genuine. The secret garden is as beautiful and healing on a rooftop in New York as in the English countryside.
May 10, 2022
It's difficult to tell you how much I loved this book without just shrieking "I LOVED THIS BOOK" and basically just repeating that for several paragraphs or so. The Secret Garden on 81st Street was everything I didn't know I needed. It's basically adorable. Just utterly, endlessly adorable.
France Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden was written in 1910. Not only have we changed a lot since then as a society, but any book that has endured for such a long time brings with it a legacy. Adapting that is hard. Working with that is hard. Putting that into a comic is probably harder still. I have so much respect for creators who can grapple with all of that and produce something as utterly charming as this.
The Secret Garden on 81st Street is a retelling made with love and respect; Misslethwaite Manor is transformed into an enormous New York home with a forgotten roof top garden. Mary is the daughter of Silicon Valley tech parents and spends most of her time online rather than off. It's only when circumstances circumstance (can I put a spoiler in? I mean it's a hundred years or so now but still, there are new readers so I'll be coy) that she is sent to live with her Uncle's family in New York. Not only is New York a brave new world for Mary to navigate, it's also full of people and places and secrets.
I loved this book. (I've gone too long without saying it, so let's do it again: I LOVED THIS BOOK). I loved how it's as much a love letter to the urban environment and the city as it is to the garden itself. I loved how Mary goes out and discovers the world on her own terms. I loved Martha. SO MUCH. I loved the ending. SO MUCH. I loved how utterly genuine every single page of this book was. SO MUCH. And I think above all, I loved how unafraid Weir and Padilla were of the original text and how lovingly they made it speak to a whole new audience. That's what you do with a classic. That's it, right there.
Adorable, genuine, and rather utterly beautiful when it needs to be, this is (wait for it) lovely. So lovely.
France Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden was written in 1910. Not only have we changed a lot since then as a society, but any book that has endured for such a long time brings with it a legacy. Adapting that is hard. Working with that is hard. Putting that into a comic is probably harder still. I have so much respect for creators who can grapple with all of that and produce something as utterly charming as this.
The Secret Garden on 81st Street is a retelling made with love and respect; Misslethwaite Manor is transformed into an enormous New York home with a forgotten roof top garden. Mary is the daughter of Silicon Valley tech parents and spends most of her time online rather than off. It's only when circumstances circumstance (can I put a spoiler in? I mean it's a hundred years or so now but still, there are new readers so I'll be coy) that she is sent to live with her Uncle's family in New York. Not only is New York a brave new world for Mary to navigate, it's also full of people and places and secrets.
I loved this book. (I've gone too long without saying it, so let's do it again: I LOVED THIS BOOK). I loved how it's as much a love letter to the urban environment and the city as it is to the garden itself. I loved how Mary goes out and discovers the world on her own terms. I loved Martha. SO MUCH. I loved the ending. SO MUCH. I loved how utterly genuine every single page of this book was. SO MUCH. And I think above all, I loved how unafraid Weir and Padilla were of the original text and how lovingly they made it speak to a whole new audience. That's what you do with a classic. That's it, right there.
Adorable, genuine, and rather utterly beautiful when it needs to be, this is (wait for it) lovely. So lovely.
December 18, 2021
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this! I appreciated the way it was modernized and more inclusive of other races, sexualities, etc. The original is one of my all-time favorite kids books so I enjoy any good retelling, especially with beautiful illustrations! However I will say the rooftop garden didn’t quite have the same magical impact as in other graphic or visual adaptations. It’s probably very realistic to what a rooftop garden would look like, but my favorite part of The Secret Garden is… the garden!
February 1, 2022
So I read the first secret garden book and when i read this one it was very different. That's what I liked about this book was that i didn't know what was gonna happen. Its a really good book.
October 25, 2021
To say I adored this retelling would be putting it lightly. The Secret Garden has been a favorite story of mine for a long time, and this updated version retails all the joy, heartache, mystery, and love of the original, while giving it a modern twist. Our updated Mary is living a life of detached luxury before her parents are killed in a tragic accident and she’s moved to New York City to live with her mysterious uncle Archie. Instead of Archie, she meets the people who surround his life – his housekeeper, his cook, the mysterious Ben and Dickon, and eventually her cousin, Colin. Together, they discover the garden on the roof, abandoned since the death of Archie’s husband, a relic of a time of love and hope that doesn’t seem to exist anymore.
Author Ivy Noelle Weir updated this story with more than just a location, eliminating some of the darker parts of the original story, giving Archie a husband instead of a wife, and Colin now has anxiety instead of his hunched back and other illnesses. All of these changes help streamline the story and make it more accessible to younger readers – the people who are the target audience for this book. The illustrations are simple but vibrant, and it’s a truly beautiful way to tell the story of a forgotten garden brought back by love.
4.5/5 stars!
Author Ivy Noelle Weir updated this story with more than just a location, eliminating some of the darker parts of the original story, giving Archie a husband instead of a wife, and Colin now has anxiety instead of his hunched back and other illnesses. All of these changes help streamline the story and make it more accessible to younger readers – the people who are the target audience for this book. The illustrations are simple but vibrant, and it’s a truly beautiful way to tell the story of a forgotten garden brought back by love.
4.5/5 stars!
September 18, 2023
AHH This is LITERALLY my favorite adaptation ever, I am OBSESSED.
This is a perfect adaptation. Not only does it capture the growth and change of the original Secret Garden, the modernized touches are beautiful!
Growing up, The Secret Garden was one of my absolute favorite books. I reread it somewhat recently and while I still loved it for the atmosphere and emotion, I found a number of flaws that made me cringe. This adaptation has literally solved all of my problems. I will recommend this to EVERYONE and I'm so excited to be putting it into my own Little Free Library to share with my neighborhood!
This is a perfect adaptation. Not only does it capture the growth and change of the original Secret Garden, the modernized touches are beautiful!
Growing up, The Secret Garden was one of my absolute favorite books. I reread it somewhat recently and while I still loved it for the atmosphere and emotion, I found a number of flaws that made me cringe. This adaptation has literally solved all of my problems. I will recommend this to EVERYONE and I'm so excited to be putting it into my own Little Free Library to share with my neighborhood!
March 29, 2022
Excuse me, what?! This was amazing! 😍
January 2, 2023
A graphic novel and modern retelling of The Secret Garden set in NYC. This was really lovely. I’m not a big fan of the original so I was expecting I might get a little bored when I read the first few pages. Instead, I was throughly charmed and would recommend to any middle grade fan, found-family trope lovers, or fan of the original (though it isn’t necessary to be a fan of the original:)).
Also I really loved the mental health discussions that took place in the book that was not able to be had in the original version due to the time it was written in.
Also I really loved the mental health discussions that took place in the book that was not able to be had in the original version due to the time it was written in.
October 24, 2021
Note: I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher.
September 25, 2023
So beautiful.
October 19, 2021
The Secret Garden was one of my favourite books and films growing up, and I still revisit them both at least once a year, so I leapt at the chance to read this one and see this tale brought to life in a new time and setting, and I wasn’t disappointed.
The Secret Garden on 81st Street was an absolute delight to read.
This is a charming, impactful retelling of a classic. The heart of the original story is still there, and if you’re familiar with the original then there will be familiar elements to the story, a well-remember rhythm. However, at the same time that heart is like a seed that has been nurtured and watered and coaxed into new life – a bit like the garden itself, to create a refreshing and important tale.
The setting itself couldn’t be more different, there are no bleak Yorkshire moors here, instead, we’re in the heart of New York with everything that entails. We still get that feeling of Mary finding herself in a new world, and all the wonder that comes with that – I loved her exploration of the different foods available, as well as the museums and park. It is doubly impactful, as this is a child who previously had been caught within a lifestyle that revolved around technology and gaming, so it wasn’t just about exploring a new city – but a whole world, and through fresh eyes and Noelle and Padilla manage to capture that perfectly with that sense of wonder, and the uncertainty that comes with embracing something new and strange. The art does a fantastic job of setting the scene as well, bringing the city to life with the same vibrancy and empathy as the quieter moments, and the garden itself.
That emotion and empathy is prevalent throughout the entire book, and The Secret Garden on 81st Street is a wonderful exploration of human connections that will hit home as much for adults as for children. We have Mary learning to connect not just with the world, but with people, after a lonely childhood ending in the loss of her parents. We have the people still reeling from Mashiro’s death and everything that was lost in the aftermath. This is a story of self-discovery and connection, but also a tale of grief – and how everyone grieves differently, from those that bury it deep, to those who run from it, and those with whom it manifests as anxiety. It’s a difficult topic, but one that is approached with sensitivity and care, the language is clear and purposeful and easy to read for middle-grade readers, and the meaning shines through clearly. I loved the emphasis on how people grieve differently, and Noelle and Padilla have a talent for capturing that anguish without losing the charm of the rest of the story. I also appreciated how anxiety was explained and shown, and from both sides – that of the person with anxiety, and those around them. It was a very open approach, the need for therapy was openly talked about and accepted.
The art style is beautiful – simple but sophisticated, and there are so many little quirks and details to delight in and complements the writing perfectly. This was a delightful and utterly charming book, and it has made me fall in love with this story all over again in a completely different way. The emotion and heart of this story mean that it will appeal to readers of all ages, while being beautifully geared towards its target audience, and this book is one you absolutely need to share with the younger readers in your life (and grab a copy for yourself too while you’re at it).
The Secret Garden on 81st Street was an absolute delight to read.
This is a charming, impactful retelling of a classic. The heart of the original story is still there, and if you’re familiar with the original then there will be familiar elements to the story, a well-remember rhythm. However, at the same time that heart is like a seed that has been nurtured and watered and coaxed into new life – a bit like the garden itself, to create a refreshing and important tale.
The setting itself couldn’t be more different, there are no bleak Yorkshire moors here, instead, we’re in the heart of New York with everything that entails. We still get that feeling of Mary finding herself in a new world, and all the wonder that comes with that – I loved her exploration of the different foods available, as well as the museums and park. It is doubly impactful, as this is a child who previously had been caught within a lifestyle that revolved around technology and gaming, so it wasn’t just about exploring a new city – but a whole world, and through fresh eyes and Noelle and Padilla manage to capture that perfectly with that sense of wonder, and the uncertainty that comes with embracing something new and strange. The art does a fantastic job of setting the scene as well, bringing the city to life with the same vibrancy and empathy as the quieter moments, and the garden itself.
That emotion and empathy is prevalent throughout the entire book, and The Secret Garden on 81st Street is a wonderful exploration of human connections that will hit home as much for adults as for children. We have Mary learning to connect not just with the world, but with people, after a lonely childhood ending in the loss of her parents. We have the people still reeling from Mashiro’s death and everything that was lost in the aftermath. This is a story of self-discovery and connection, but also a tale of grief – and how everyone grieves differently, from those that bury it deep, to those who run from it, and those with whom it manifests as anxiety. It’s a difficult topic, but one that is approached with sensitivity and care, the language is clear and purposeful and easy to read for middle-grade readers, and the meaning shines through clearly. I loved the emphasis on how people grieve differently, and Noelle and Padilla have a talent for capturing that anguish without losing the charm of the rest of the story. I also appreciated how anxiety was explained and shown, and from both sides – that of the person with anxiety, and those around them. It was a very open approach, the need for therapy was openly talked about and accepted.
The art style is beautiful – simple but sophisticated, and there are so many little quirks and details to delight in and complements the writing perfectly. This was a delightful and utterly charming book, and it has made me fall in love with this story all over again in a completely different way. The emotion and heart of this story mean that it will appeal to readers of all ages, while being beautifully geared towards its target audience, and this book is one you absolutely need to share with the younger readers in your life (and grab a copy for yourself too while you’re at it).
November 25, 2021
The Secret Garden is my favorite book of all time so when I heard there was another graphic novel coming out I had to read it. Sadly this new version didn’t do it for me. We are following Mary Lennox as she moves to New York City to live with her absent uncle after the death of her parents. She soon begins to explore the city and discovers that there is a secret rooftop garden. The overall main elements of the book are still here however pretty much everything else has been modernized and changed. I much prefer the original work and the other graphic novel I read recently. However I do think that kids will enjoy it.
January 10, 2022
This gets an extra star for its featuring a character with panic disorder. As someone who suffers from this condition as well, I was so happy to see how well they dealt with sensitively explaining how panic attacks work and how it can feel for those suffering from them. It made this story really pop for me, beyond what it would have done otherwise.
July 7, 2024
Did not like a thing about it. Finished it, but feel the need to reread the original to wipe this out of my memory. The background art work was nice with much detail. The people art had the same things l never like- the gaping mouths, the vacant eyes, the cartoony hair, minimal features etc. graphic novels and l just don’t connect. Well most
January 26, 2024
To be honest, I did not expect much from this contemporary retelling of The Secret Garden. But I adored it. I feel like they brought the story into today's world perfectly. Colin having severe anxiety/panic disorder was really well portrayed. The illustrations in the graphic novel were lovely. It made me tear up. An unexpected gem. I loved it.
November 25, 2021
Literally crying as I write this, you know, in that good way.
I loved the way this story was updated. It was a truly lovely piece.
I loved the way this story was updated. It was a truly lovely piece.
May 7, 2022
Absolutely beautiful! Loved every page!
July 27, 2022
Love love love
December 30, 2022
A beautiful retelling of one of my favorite classics. ❤️🌻
library-to-read
May 24, 2023So much of what I love about the original is the words themselves. I'm quite reluctant to read this. But ppl who love the original, and ppl who have never read it, both like this, so, hm..
July 19, 2023
this was pretty sweet. it really explained anxiety very well
November 13, 2021
The Secret Garden on 81st is a great homage to and retelling of The Secret Garden. The graphic novel form is perfect because it skirts the differences in language and description that would be utterly frustrating if we had to read an attempt to replicate, dumb down or modernize Frances Hodgson Burnett's prose, but word bubbles and drawings are perfect.
The Secret Garden on 81st Street hits all the original FHB beats almost perfectly, except in one way: In the original book, Mary is a grumpy curmudgeon, then her problems are solved, and Colin takes over as a panicky invalid and Mary becomes another side character while his problems are solved, then Archibald returns and the book switches completely to his POV and both children are happy, laughing and doing absolutely nothing else as his problems are solved. The triple subsequent redemption arc is great and unusual (and another example of FHB dropping characters off a cliff when she doesn't need them anymore because she always had too much going on to care about people like Ermengarde). Continuing to center the narrative on Mary's POV after she stops being a brat is less interesting. Also, it's hard to show what a little b Mary is in the first person; FHB says all kinds of awful things about Mary Lennox in the first few chapters of The Secret Garden. Also, I assumed based on illustration and context that Mary was Indian-American since the original Mary was a child of the Raj, thus squaring FHB's circle of using India to kill parents and make literary orphans, but Archibald does not seem Indian-American at all, unless Mary's dad was Indian-American and her mom was Black? Unclear. The important thing is that this book presents race and two rich dudes getting married and having a kid as the remarkably unremarkable reality in which we live, which it is, which is awesome.
My other petty quibbles are that container gardens aren't as hot as real gardens hidden behind unscalable stone walls with secret keys and ancient manors and barren moors, and that Mrs. Medlock is way too in touch with feelings in general compared to the original, but she still buys Mary nothing to entertain herself with when she arrives at her uncle's house, so that tracks. New York is obsessed with itself. And Colin's panic disorder makes more sense than whatever weird phantom twisted spine thing is happening in FHB's Victorian head. This book is amazing and delightful, but I would be very sad if someone read it but didn't read the original.
The Secret Garden on 81st Street hits all the original FHB beats almost perfectly, except in one way: In the original book, Mary is a grumpy curmudgeon, then her problems are solved, and Colin takes over as a panicky invalid and Mary becomes another side character while his problems are solved, then Archibald returns and the book switches completely to his POV and both children are happy, laughing and doing absolutely nothing else as his problems are solved. The triple subsequent redemption arc is great and unusual (and another example of FHB dropping characters off a cliff when she doesn't need them anymore because she always had too much going on to care about people like Ermengarde). Continuing to center the narrative on Mary's POV after she stops being a brat is less interesting. Also, it's hard to show what a little b Mary is in the first person; FHB says all kinds of awful things about Mary Lennox in the first few chapters of The Secret Garden. Also, I assumed based on illustration and context that Mary was Indian-American since the original Mary was a child of the Raj, thus squaring FHB's circle of using India to kill parents and make literary orphans, but Archibald does not seem Indian-American at all, unless Mary's dad was Indian-American and her mom was Black? Unclear. The important thing is that this book presents race and two rich dudes getting married and having a kid as the remarkably unremarkable reality in which we live, which it is, which is awesome.
My other petty quibbles are that container gardens aren't as hot as real gardens hidden behind unscalable stone walls with secret keys and ancient manors and barren moors, and that Mrs. Medlock is way too in touch with feelings in general compared to the original, but she still buys Mary nothing to entertain herself with when she arrives at her uncle's house, so that tracks. New York is obsessed with itself. And Colin's panic disorder makes more sense than whatever weird phantom twisted spine thing is happening in FHB's Victorian head. This book is amazing and delightful, but I would be very sad if someone read it but didn't read the original.
February 2, 2025
Well done modern retelling of The Secret Garden. I enjoyed the art a lot and the story was as faithful as I remembered. I wasn’t sure how to feel about how mental health forward this take was but it was respectful and easy to understand for middle to high schoolers. I thought it was an original and, indeed, modern take. Overall, pretty good!
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March 28, 2022I love this so much!! Such an excellent update with the charm that must have been elicited good responses to people who read the original in its original time, except not racist or weird about disability.
January 20, 2022
The fact that Dickon said delicious when someone mentioned secrets 😭🤚
And oh my god all these characters are so freaking cute like for real the artist needs to give me some lessons
And oh my god all these characters are so freaking cute like for real the artist needs to give me some lessons
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February 7, 2022This was a really sweet and lovely retelling!
March 24, 2023
This was a cute story about family but it was sad how the children's parents weren't there for them.
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