The Tanglewoods’ Secret by Patricia St John

A spirited young girl, Ruth and her gentle brother, Philip, live with their strict aunt in the English countryside. Ruth has great trouble with her temper and obeying her aunt, but after meeting a poor boy who lives in the woods, Terry, a shepherd named Mr. Tandy, and the local vicar, her heart and mind begin to be challenged and changed. This is an overtly Christian title.

Reading Level: Ages 8-12
Read Aloud Age: 6+

Patricia St. John, an English woman, wrote many Christian fiction titles for children during her lifetime (1919–1993). The Tanglewoods’ Secret and Treasures of the Snow stand out as her most famous works. She tells stories with remarkable skill, creating realistic and charming characters that readers can’t help but love—and The Tanglewoods’ Secret is no exception. While I read this aloud, I wanted to keep going just as much as my children begged me to continue. This story blends adventure with reflection, and we see the transforming power of the gospel working in the lives of the characters. Although both the children and adults sometimes make sinful choices, the story never presents those actions in a positive light. Instead, it offers many powerful examples of redemption and growth that follow those mistakes. Children will walk away from this book knowing their need for Christ, but also that they are never beyond his reach. If I had read it silently to myself, it probably wouldn’t have felt as emotional, but reading it aloud made me fight back tears at the end.

There are a few things to note below for two main reasons. One, because this was written in a slightly different time period, St John uses a few words and phrases that we likely wouldn’t use today. Two, St John had a passion for children coming to know the Lord- for which I heartily say Amen!- but uses some phrases and theological language with which I disagree. For those reasons, this is probably best as a read aloud so you can edit on the fly or discuss at once, or to give an older child whom you can give a heads-up to beforehand. Overall, although there are a few spots where clarity will be needed for good theology, I think this is a beautiful, moving story that will nestle itself in the memory of your children, while pointing them to their need for a Savior.

Language:
blue tits (the bird) are referenced.
Ruth uses the word “hate” referring to people a few times.
Dumb is used in its original form for silent.
Ruth thinks her aunt to be an “idiot” at one point.
When Ruth makes her aunt mad, she thinks her aunt wants to “box her ears,” although she does not.
“Invalid” is used in its proper form.

Questionable Behaviors:
Ruth and her aunt have a tumultuous relationship. The aunt often tells Ruth she will be a disappointment to her parents when they return.
Philip and Terry get into a fight and punch each other.

Spiritual Elements:
When questioning where she would go after death and just prior to falling asleep, Ruth thinks she sees a young Christian girl who died, holding Easter flowers.

There is a bit of Arminian verbiage with the vicar: “He’s been loving you and looking you for nine whole years. Don’t you think he’ll be glad to hear you call to him, when he’s been waiting for such a long time?”

Mr. Tandy, the shepherd, tries to help Ruth know how to “hear the Shepherd’s voice” and tells her that God speaks in a little-quiet voice, so when she feels the desire to sin, there will be two voices speaking to her: the devil and the Shepherd.

Ruth is a child and sometimes interprets things incorrectly. One instance is where she isn’t sure if someone is still alive who isn’t a Christian. She says, “Even if he were dead, I was sure that the Good Shepherd would see that he was happy in heaven. Because, after all, it wasn’t Terry’s fault that he had never asked to be found and forgiven. It was really mine, because I had kept the secret to myself instead of sharing it.” Later, she is asked is everyone goes to be with the Good Shepherd when they die and she answers, “I’m not sure. I think perhaps you have to ask the Shepherd, Jesus, to find you. I think you have to belong to him. But that is quite easy, Terry. You only have to ask to be found, like the sheep in the picture.” I take this to be the author showing us growth in Ruth’s understanding as a very young believer and pointing to everyone’s need for a Savior.

Other Things to Note:
Luck is mentioned.
Gypsies are references twice.
10ofThose owns the right to Patricia St John’s titles and sells the original titles are written by St John. Some other publishers, like Moody, have changed some of the text- I’m not sure why. I have linked the original versions that I have read.

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