The Secret Garden, a graphic novel-elementary intro to a classic book

Have you seen those YouTube videos where creators listen to something that is well known in some circles, yet it’s the first time that they’ve experienced it? There’s the famous Phil Collins one and there are also some great ones that I like with Iron Maiden and Dream Theater. Those videos are fun to watch because they validate what we already know to be true, plus they’re entertaining and it’s great to see others enjoy what you personally, have liked for a while.

The Secret Garden is like that for me. I know it’s a classic and a book that millions, perhaps even every middle school reader alive have read. They’ve seen the movies, have dioramas about it, and more, yet I’ve never read it. The Secret Garden, a graphic novel is adapted by Mariah Marsden with illustrations by Hanna Luechtefeld and is a lovely piece of work.

The story of The Secret Garden follows a young orphaned girl who is going to the country to live. She meets a helpful maid, a gardener who’s on the dour side of life, Dickson-the charming rogue who knows nature, and a big brick wall surrounding a garden.

Most of you have read the book and are asking yourself if the graphic novel version of The Secret Garden measures up to the classic literary work. The short answer to that is: I don’t know. Remember, I haven’t read the source material.

What I can tell you is that after reading The Secret Garden graphic novel, I can easily understand why it’s a classic story. Even while reading it I was drawing parallels between it and other stories or books. Well this is just like (insert story here), it’s not that groundbreaking of a book, I was thinking to myself. I had to remind myself that The Secret Garden was originally published in 1911 and predated all of the supposed stories that had influenced this work.  Whoops, my bad.

Fans of The Secret Garden will like this graphic novel. However, much like those who’ve seen a movie after reading the book, they’ll probably say that the book was better. The art by Hanna Luechtefeld is beautiful, soft and makes readers want to visit the moors. Those illustrations will fill in some gaps for people who think that they know what the characters look like. Conversely, some readers who are very familiar with the book will state that the characters should’ve had this or that.

Graphic novel fans will appreciate The Secret Garden. It will also serve as an introduction to the book itself. The story is obviously charming and those middle school readers who discover The Secret Garden via the graphic novel might be lulled into chasing after the original source. That way, they can then compare things in their head, chat about the book with friends or realize that avoiding a book simply because teachers at school recommended it was a silly thing to do. Another bonus is that because this is a graphic novel and a bit easier to comprehend those younger readers in elementary school will be introduced to the book too.

The Secret Garden, a graphic novel is adapted by Maria Marsen with illustrations by Hanna Luechtefeld and on Andrews McMeel Publishing.

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