Item: The Secret Garden
Rating: 5.00
Author: quirkycat

Green-growing secrets and powerful magic await you at Misselthwaite Manor, now reimagined in this bewitching graphic novel adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved tale. From Mariah Marsden, author of the critically acclaimed Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel, comes the second installment in this series of retold children's classics.

Ten-year-old Mary Lennox arrives at a secluded estate on the Yorkshire moors with a scowl and a chip on her shoulder. First, there’s Martha Sowerby: the too-cheery maid with bothersome questions who seems out of place in the dreary manor. Then there’s the elusive Uncle Craven, Mary’s only remaining family—whom she’s not permitted to see. And finally, there are the mysteries that seem to haunt the run-down place: rumors of a lost garden with a tragic past, and a midnight wail that echoes across the moors at night.

As Mary begins to explore this new world alongside her ragtag companions—a cocky robin redbreast, a sour-faced gardener, and a boy who can talk to animals—she learns that even the loneliest of hearts can grow roots in rocky soil.

Given new life as a graphic novel in illustrator Hanna Luechtefeld's whimsical style, The Secret Garden is more enchanting and relevant than ever before. At the back of the book, readers can learn about the life of Frances Hodgson Burnett and the history of British colonialism that contextualizes the original novel.

Before I begin my review, let me just start by saying that The Secret Garden has and will always be near and dear to my heart. I fell in love with the movie as a child and then quickly found myself loving the novel all the more.

Naturally, this means that I tend to love all things The Secret Garden, including graphic novel adaptations. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw this one pop up while I was browsing one day. I knew that I had to read it.

I'll cover the basics real quick for those who don't know much about The Secret Garden. Mariah Marsden wrote the Secret Garden, and it follows ten-year-old Mary Lennox. She was orphaned at a young age and sent to live with a distant relative – the only relative she has left.

Well taken care of but largely ignored, Mary begins to explore the massive estate. Here, she finds several well-kept secrets. Such as the sickly boy tucked away behind locked doors. Or the beautiful garden that is forbidden to enter – or speak of.

The graphic novel adaptation, illustrated by Hanna Luechtefeld, is better than I could have hoped for. Not only did I adore it, but I know in my heart that my childhood self would have loved it just as much.

All of the whimsy and beauty was captured here. The plants and garden sprang to life, along with Mary's story. Though naturally, the organic elements are the most important part of this novel's aesthetic.

I really enjoyed the way all of the characters were designed and how the story flowed from one page to the next. I do not doubt that this will be a graphic novel I end up picking up and fiercely protecting.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

The Secret Garden

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on May 31, 2021

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