The Secret Garden Lesson Plan

How does the author build suspense as Mary walks toward the crying noise in the middle of the night when she meets Colin for the first time?

The image of a long, dark hallway is a suspenseful one, and it’s easy to picture Mary walking down it with her candle. Then the author describes how she’s feeling her way in the dark and her heart is beating so loudly, which is a relatable symptom of anxiety and excitement. The author paints a clear step-by-step picture of where Mary goes as she walks toward the sound, all of its turns and uncertainties. Then the crying noise is louder, and Mary—and the reader—know she’s close, but don’t yet know what the noise is. When Mary finally...