Mariah Marsden and Brenna Thummler (2017) take on the classic tale of Anne of Green Gables, a strong will free spirit of a girl who is adopted by a brother and sister from Avonlea, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. The book is based on the classic by L.M. Montgomery and while the images are wonderful the story feels disjoined, even as if missing key scenes and events in the life of Avonlea. One such instance happens early on when Anne asks to go to a picnic. The story starts with her reciving permisison, however and then continues to proced quickly through the events of preparing going from Marilla packing a basket on “Wednesday [at] 1:36 PM” and ending with Anne lying face down on the floor on “Saturday [at] 10:22 AM” (Marsden and Thummler, 2017, 60). This may not be the days of the picnic because next the reader finds that Anne is banned from attending for “stealing” a broach from Marrilla. With the lack of narrative in words and the colorful imagination of Anne sometimes it is difficult to fully follow the sequence of events. Were there two picnics or did Anne imagine the first in anticipation. Marsden and Thummler (2017) seem to be telling single incidents in a string of unconnected life events while lacking character development or world building. This results in a story that leaves the reader feeling dazed and confused.  |
Anne & the pastor's wife
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Another aspect of seeming convince is the way characters appear for a snapshot but are never scene again. Some examples are the new pastor and his wife, Jane, or Josie Pye. While each appears only for a few panels they provide key information to make the story move quickly to a conclusion. Though there are two characters who remain throughout, besides Marilla and Matthew, Diana and “Gil-…" (Marsden and Thummler, 2017, 88). Anne is seen with her friend Diana more than anyone else and confiding in her and “Gil” or Gilbert is her constant nemesis who she competes with in school. Even these two characters fall flat in the tory because they speak little and are not allowed to come to their own.
This storytelling style may be typical of the original but makes for a difficult to understand graphic novel because so much happens “between” the panels. Much time is spent silent, leaving the reader to create their own story. I felt that the story touched on key elements but did not connect readers with the character of Anne instead focused on well-known events from the book and shows. This graphic novel would be good for those who know the story but is difficult for a new reader. I personally found it difficult to follow the story and was hoping for more than it was. This feeling however could be because I have watched the shows but not actually read the book.
References
Marsden, M. and Thummler, B. [illustrator]. (2017). Anne of Green Gables: A grapic novel. China: Andrew McMeel Publishing.
Cover Image Goodreads.com. Retrived from https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2878431103
Page Image taken by me from Marsden & Thummmler
