Thank you all for your responses. Most are agreeing that it is not fantasy. I am
going to take the fantasy sticker off of the book because I cannot remember Dickon
being anything more than an animal charmer. But, of course, as soon as the book is
returned to the library I am going to read it just to make sure. Listed below are
the responses I received.
RESPONSES:
would put Secret Garden in Realistic fiction. It was written as
contemporary fiction based on the experiences of the author.
-------------------------
It's more romance or novel ideas. But, the magic inference could put it in the
fantasy category.
-----------------
No, there's nothing fantastical about it. It's the story of some children who find
a secret garden, and the healing power of growing things. Nothing magical involved.
------------------
No, it's fiction.
In terms of the distance in time from it's copyright date and today's date...it's
certainly historical in slant.
But Fantasy? No. Use the definition of Fantasy genre to show whomever you have
that is calling this book as such.
----------------------------
No it is not a fantasy. To be a fantasy there needs to be some element of magic or
some element that is impossible to explain in the real world.
-----------------
I wouldn't call it fantasy. I don't remember any imagination or magic, but it has
been many years since I read it (frequently) as a child.
----------------------
Dickon speaks to animals in the Horse Whisperer sense - the animals do not have the
ability of human speech. He's just a boy who is very in tune with the natural
world around him.
----------------------
The awakening of the garden by "Magic". One of the major themes is the
Omnipresence of magic around us.
Bird leads Mary to the key and door.
Dicken uses magic to charm the animals
------------------------
Did you really want more answers? As far as I'm concerned, "The Secret Garden" is
not fantasy. There is plenty of talk about animals understanding Dickon -- the way
they might understand the Horse Whisperer, or anyone else who has that kind of
connection with animals. The robin doesn't hop up to Dickon and start a
conversation, a la Mary Poppins.
I think the kids the things the kids consider magical are events perfectly within
the realm of possibility, like the robin hopping near the garden key just when Mary
happens to be looking, or the hysterical Colin learning to walk. I'd take that
sticker off.
---------------------------
Laura Abbene
Library Media Specialist
Lolo School K-8
406.273.6686
lauraa@lolo.k12.mt.us
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