Review: Anne of Green Gables
I’m pretty sure I read at least the first volume of Anne of Green Gables. I certainly caught much of the PBS series. But while I was growing up, the dreamy red-headed girl was part of pop culture, even if she was a classic when I read her. I wonder if today’s young girls know of her… perhaps this adaptation would change that.
Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel
By Mariah Marsden. Brenna Thummler
amp! comics for kids. 2017. ISBN 9781449479602
PBK, $10.99. 231pp.
Grades 4 and up
The story stays faithful to the book. Anne is an orphan and is mistakenly sent to the Cuthbert farm instead of a boy. Matthew immediately is enraptured by the dreamy young red-head and urges his sister Marilla to keep her. And they do. Marilla is always quick with a sharp remark or discipline, while Matthew is the easy going one.
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There’s also Gilbert Blythe, the boy who teases Anne and gets a slate broken over his head for it. The young romance blossoms much like it does in the original.
Though the artist makes Anne really ugly, the artwork does capture the picturesque town and the quirky array of characters. Readers will enjoy this series and perhaps some will want to delve into the original work. A win-win either way!
This review is based on a complimentary copy supplied by the publisher. All images copyright © amp! Comics for Kids.
Filed under: All Ages, Graphic Novels, Reviews
About Esther Keller
Esther Keller is the librarian at JHS 278, Marine Park in Brooklyn, NY. There she started the library's first graphic novel collection and strongly advocated for using comics in the classroom. She also curates the Graphic Novel collection for the NYC DOE Citywide Digital Library. She started her career at the Brooklyn Public Library and later jumped ship to the school system so she could have summer vacation and a job that would align with a growing family's schedule. On the side, she is a mother of 4 and regularly reviews for SLJ and School Library Connection (formerly LMC). In her past life, she served on the Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee where she solidified her love and dedication to comics.
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I’m glad this book is a GN. Many classics don’t get read and GN gives students an opportunity to read a great story/book that they might not have read.