THE SECRET GARDEN

This is the beloved story of Mary, the orphan from India; Colin, the invalid son of heartbroken Mr. Craven; and the once loved garden that brings each child to a newly awakened sense of self and the world. When Mary returns to her uncle's house in England, the bereaved and lonely child becomes more so until the household staff implore her to investigate the world outside. The lost key to Mrs. Craven's garden is unearthed, the house explored, and Colin befriended. In this abridgment, the overall sense is idyllic. The scenes that bear witness to the deeper changes in the two children and the haunting beauty of the story are not included. Nonetheless, the presentation is pleasing, with a British flavor to the narration and appropriate period music. Narration of title and tape number information would provide more ease in listening. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 02]