First published in 1911, Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden has beguiled millions of readers with its tale of two sickly children who heal themselves not through sorcery or super powers, but through curiosity and perseverance, as they find a forgotten space and bring it back to life. Burnett’s characters are prickly and complicated in the early stages of the book. As they begin excavating the garden, however, they become more resilient and assertive, forging a strong emotional bond with each other and eventually allowing adults into the sanctuary they created. And while the story is very much a product of the Edwardian era, steeped in colonialism and patriarchy, the core plot—in which the children discover their own agency, and create their own spaces—seems as relevant in 2023 as it... The post Insomniacs After School, Vol. 1 first appeared on Manga Bookshelf.

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