I loved this book as a child, though rereading it now I find it doesn't quite capture me in the same way. The story of a sickly orphan sent to live with an uncle who'd rather forget she exists, who is left to entertain herself in a huge old mansion and discovers her invalid cousin hidden away. They form a friendship and help each other to recover and grow.

I like this book compared to the aurhors' others because the main characters are highly flawed, which makes their progression all the more enjoyable. The descriptions of gardening and the children learning about nature and growth almost make me want to garden, despite my complete black thumb. As a child I rememberbeing particularly captivated by the idea of having a secret place to myself. Like all children's books of the time it can get a little preachy at times, but less so than the authors' other stories, and it's still a good read.