This book contains the following stories:
"The Secret Garden" is a classic novel written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, first published in 1911. The story centers around Mary Lennox, a sour-tempered and spoiled girl who is orphaned after a cholera outbreak in India kills her parents. She is sent to live with her reclusive uncle, Archibald Craven, at Misselthwaite Manor, a large and mysterious estate on the Yorkshire moors of England.
When Mary arrives at the manor, she discovers that the house is full of secrets, including a locked garden that has been neglected and left untouched for years. With the help of a kind servant named Martha and her brother Dickon, Mary begins to explore the estate and befriends a local boy named Colin, who is her sickly cousin and has been hidden away from the world due to his health issues.
As Mary spends more time outdoors and tends to the neglected garden, she undergoes a transformation. The magic of nature, friendship, and the healing power of the garden have a profound effect on Mary, Colin, and even their uncle, who has been grief-stricken since the death of his wife, Lily.
Through the revival of the secret garden, the characters experience physical and emotional healing. The garden becomes a symbol of renewal, hope, and the transformative power of love and nature. As the garden blooms, so do the lives of Mary, Colin, and their uncle, bringing them together as a family and healing the wounds of the past.
"The Secret Garden" is a beautiful and timeless story that celebrates the importance of love, friendship, and the wonders of the natural world. It continues to captivate readers of all ages with its themes of resilience and the potential for growth and change, making it one of the most beloved children's novels in literature.
Pollyanna
When her father dies, Pollyanna is sent to live with her stern Aunt Polly. She is poor, orphaned and alone but Pollyanna just feels lucky to have an aunt at all. The truth is that her dear father, before he died, taught her a trick for life – the 'Glad Game' – the aim of which is to find the good in every bad situation. Before long, Pollyanna’s sunny outlook has brightened up the whole town. But when a horrible accident occurs can the Game save Pollyanna?
"The Swiss Family Robinson" is a classic adventure novel written by Swiss author Johann David Wyss. First published in 1812, the story follows the adventures of a Swiss family stranded on a deserted island, where they work together to survive and create a new life for themselves. Here's a plot summary of the novel:
Setting: The story is set in the early 19th century and primarily takes place on a remote, uninhabited tropical island in the East Indies.
Plot:
Shipwreck: The novel begins with the shipwreck of the Robinson family, consisting of Father (William), Mother, and their four sons—Fritz, Ernest, Jack, and Francis. They are the sole survivors of the shipwreck and find themselves washed ashore on an uninhabited tropical island.
Struggle for Survival: The family is faced with the immediate challenge of survival. They salvage as much as they can from the wrecked ship and establish a makeshift camp on the beach. They must learn to find food, build shelter, and protect themselves from the island's wildlife.
Exploration and Discovery: As the family adapts to their new environment, they begin exploring the island's interior. They encounter various challenges and dangers, including encounters with wild animals, such as tigers and boa constrictors. However, they also discover the island's natural resources, including a variety of plants and animals that can be used for food, clothing, and shelter.
Resourcefulness and Ingenuity: The Robinson family members use their resourcefulness and ingenuity to create a comfortable and self-sustaining life on the island. They build treehouses in the treetops for protection from wildlife, domesticate animals, cultivate crops, and even build a boat for exploration and rescue.
Encounters and Adventures: The family encounters a variety of challenges and adventures on the island, including helping shipwrecked sailors, discovering hidden caves and treasures, and learning about the island's native wildlife and flora. They also face occasional conflicts and dangers, but their strong family bonds and teamwork help them overcome these obstacles.
Education and Growth: Father takes on the role of educating his sons in various subjects, including science, mathematics, and ethics. The family members grow physically and intellectually during their time on the island, becoming self-sufficient and capable individuals.
Rescue and Return: After several years on the island, the Robinson family eventually encounters a British ship, the "Pegasus," and is rescued. They leave the island, taking with them the knowledge and skills they acquired during their time of isolation.
"The Swiss Family Robinson" is not only an adventure story but also a tale of family resilience, resourcefulness, and the ability of humans to adapt and thrive in the face of adversity. It has remained a beloved classic for generations, inspiring readers with its themes of survival, self-reliance, and the enduring power of family bonds.
The Railway Children
Bobby, Peter and Phyllis live in a lovely house in a posh bit of London. Then one day their father is taken away to prison uner suspicion of treason. The children are not told why. The house is sold, the servants dispersed and with their mother the children go to live in a tiny cottage in the country. Every day the children go down to the railway line and wave at the passing train, and every day an old gentleman waves back. Bobby decides they should write to the gentleman on the train and ask him to help get their father back. Time passes but nothing seems to happen, until one day father returns. And the children learn that it was the gentleman from the train that had helped secure his release.
Black Beauty
When he comes of age, the horse Black Beauty is sold to a grand house to be a carriage horse. The groom, Joe, is kind but his masters are cruel. Every day Beauty and his fellow horse, Ginger, are shackled to the carriage with a tight bearing rein to keep their heads held high, and the two horses are whipped and generally mistreated. When Ginger misbehaves she is taken away. When Beauty smashes his knee he is sold to a London cabby. Pulling a cab through all the weather is hard work but Jerry is kind to Beauty and he is happy. Then Jerry is offered a job as groom by a customer and has to sell Beauty. His next master is harsh and cruel. But then Black Beauty is rescued by a horse doctor and at the doctor’s stables he discovers that the groom is none other than Joe. Beauty lives out the rest of his life in the doctor’s fields, happy and cared for.
Anne of Green Gables
When red-headed orphan Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables, she feels sure she's found the home she has always longed for. Her new adoptive parents, the Cuthberts, are less certain - they had asked the orphanage for a boy. But before long, Anne's irrepressible optimism and loving nature charms them. While her temper is unpredictable and her extravagant imagination makes her dreamily whimsical and prone to comic mishap, they come to love Anne as if she were their own child.
"Little Women" is a classic novel written by Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868. It follows the lives of the four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy – as they grow up during the American Civil War and navigate the challenges and joys of adolescence and young adulthood. Here's a plot summary of "Little Women":
The story is set in the 1860s in Concord, Massachusetts. The March family, headed by their mother, Marmee, is struggling financially while Mr. March is away serving as a chaplain in the Civil War. The four sisters each have their own distinct personalities: responsible Meg, tomboyish and ambitious Jo, gentle and shy Beth, and artistic and spoiled Amy.
The novel explores the various adventures and challenges the sisters face as they transition from childhood to womanhood. They befriend their wealthy neighbor, Theodore "Laurie" Laurence, and his grandfather, Mr. Laurence. The girls create a club called the Pickwick Society, and together they experience love, loss, sibling rivalry, and personal growth.
Jo, the central character, is an aspiring writer and the most independent and spirited of the sisters. She faces societal expectations and dreams of becoming a successful author. Meg struggles with her desire for material comforts but ultimately chooses love over wealth. Beth, the kindest and most selfless of the sisters, faces a tragic illness. Amy, the youngest, matures and learns valuable life lessons through her travels abroad and her artistic pursuits.
Throughout the novel, the sisters learn about the importance of family, friendship, love, sacrifice, and personal ambitions. Marmee provides guidance and support, teaching them valuable life lessons. The novel culminates in events that shape the sisters' futures and solidify their bonds as a family.
"Little Women" is celebrated for its strong female characters, moral lessons, and themes of sisterhood, love, and self-discovery.
Treasure Island is an adventure novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson and first published as a book in 1883. The novel is known for popularizing the pirate genre and introducing many of the tropes and symbols associated with pirates today. Here's a plot summary:
Plot Summary:
The story begins at the "Admiral Benbow," a small inn owned by the protagonist's family. Young Jim Hawkins, the innkeeper's son, comes across a mysterious sailor named Billy Bones. This sailor possesses a chest, and it becomes evident that he is hiding from someone. As events unfold, Jim and his mother find themselves in possession of a treasure map that belonged to Billy Bones, leading to the hidden treasure of the infamous pirate Captain Flint.
Jim and his friends decide to embark on a journey to find the treasure. They secure a ship called the "Hispaniola" and gather a crew, but they soon realize that some of the crew members, including Long John Silver, are actually pirates who plan to mutiny and take the treasure for themselves.
As they sail toward Treasure Island, the relationships between the crew members become tense and dangerous. Long John Silver, a charismatic and cunning one-legged sailor, befriends Jim and manipulates the situation to his advantage.
Upon reaching the island, the crew discovers that the treasure has been buried there, but the pirates' internal conflicts and suspicions lead to betrayals and violent confrontations. Jim manages to escape from the pirates and makes his way to a group of loyal sailors who are also searching for the treasure.
Jim and his loyal companions work together to thwart the pirates' plans and secure the treasure. In the end, Jim and his friends manage to outwit the pirates and claim the treasure. They sail back to England with their hard-earned reward, while Long John Silver escapes but remains at large.
The novel is filled with action, intrigue, and moments of suspense as the characters navigate through dangerous situations and confrontations. It features memorable characters, thrilling action, hidden maps, buried treasure, and moral dilemmas. The novel's themes of loyalty, betrayal, greed, and the allure of adventure continue to resonate with audiences of all ages.
