The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

When I was young, I read this book; and loved it.  Its main character of a young girl whose parents are killed in India and has to move to Yorkshire, UK to live with a family friend is one of those stories where you wonder how the child will adjust.  However, adjust, Mary Lennox does as she wanders around the estate and discovers a secret garden that has been locked away.  Along with finding this overgrown garden, she finds new adventures and new friends; thus Mary also finds that this new life must be good for her.  As the book progresses, it shows Mary that if she really wants to, she can achieve anything.

This is a wonderful little book for young children who enjoy reading at any level.  I read it over and over because it was a favourite.  And I will most probably give it to my neice soon; as she's reached that age where she'll read this kind of book.

Frances Hodgson Burnett (24, Nov, 1849 - 29, Oct, 1924) .  After her father passed away - leaving her Mother of five children and little money - her Mother ran the family art materials business; which she failed to keep running, mostly due to the effects of the Civil War.

At the age of 7, Frances began writing melodramatic novelettes.  And in 1864 the family Mrs. Hodgson was forced to sell the store and the family moved to Knoxville, Tennessee after receiving a letter from her brother.  Unfortunately, her family situation did not improve.

In 1868, at the age of 18, her first stories were published in Godey's Lady's Book: 'Hearts and Diamonds' and 'Miss Caruther's Engagement'. She began to write five or six stories each month, for $10 apiece and supported her family by writing.

Throughout her life, Frances wrote many articles and books for her children and traveled many places.  However, there's so much on the biography page I've found, I have decided to put a link to the page for you so you can all read it complete without me copying and pasting it; as it's so detailed.