Mary, a young girl orphaned at an early age, is forced to move to England to live with her uncle, Mr. Craven. She does not like there and feels very alone. Mr. Craven spends most of his time away on business leaving Mary with the rule to not enter any other rooms of the house. As time goes on Mary begins to wander. She first finds a secret garden. Next, she decides to wander the house, discovering a young sick boy named Colin Craven. We learn that Colin is unable to walk and that his dad, Mr. Craven is ashamed of him, which is why he spends so much time away. As the story goes on, Mary finds the key to the garden and fixes it up with the company of Colin. When Mr. Craven returns, he is surprisingly pleased to see his garden blooming and his son's health improving.
This story taught me that disabilities should not be looked down upon. I immediately felt so terrible for Colin when I learned of his father's feelings towards him. All Colin wanted and eventually needed was for someone to actually enjoy his company and spend time with him. The story is a great way to show that everyone deserves to be treated and cared for with love no matter what their circumstance may be. ( )