Graphic Novel Classics: Anne of Green Gables, the Secret Garden, and Heidi - by Mariah Marsden (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Immerse yourself in Anne Shirley's adventures on Prince Edward Island, Mary Lennox's discovery of a hidden garden, and Heidi's heartwarming journey in the Swiss Alps. These stories have captured the hearts and imaginations of children for generations and will come to vivid life for yet more readers in this captivating graphic novel box set. Adapted by Mariah Marsden and featuring gorgeous illustrations from Brenna Thummler, Hanna Luechtefeld, and Ofride, this collection of well-loved classics is sure to inspire and enchant kids and their grown-ups.

Book 1: Anne of Green Gables
When Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert decide to adopt an orphan who can help manage their family farm, they have no idea what delightful trouble awaits them. With flame-red hair and an unstoppable imagination, eleven-year-old Anne Shirley takes Green Gables by storm. Anne's misadventures bring a little romance to the lives of everyone she meets: her bosom friend, Diana Barry; the town gossip, Mrs. Lynde; and that infuriating tease, Gilbert Blythe. From triumphs and thrills to the depths of despair, Anne turns each everyday moment into something extraordinary.

Book 2: The Secret Garden
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. 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.

Book 3: Heidi
When young Heidi is sent to live with her grandfather in a small shepherd's hut in the Swiss Alps, everyone expects him to turn her away. He has a bad reputation: mean, growly, and harsh as the cold mountain winds. But Heidi is quick to take on any challenge, whether it's keeping an eye on the rebellious goats, learning to read, or melting Grandfather's icy heart. Heidi's adventures take her up and down her beloved mountain, from picnics in the high alpine meadows all the way to the distant streets of Frankfurt and a city life she could never have imagined. But when homesickness strikes, Heidi must weigh old friendships with new ones and find her place in an expanding world.

About the Author

Brenna Thummler is the creator of the Sheets series from Oni Press, and the upcoming graphic novel Gumshoe from HarperAlley. These are middle grade reads that encompass her entire personality of ghosts, the mail, and girls who try. In attempts to overwhelm herself, she also writes plays and musicals, reads a lot of books, and studies for her Masters at the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English. Her cats Vinnie and Oona think she's doing just fine.

Hanna Luechtefeld spent the early part of their childhood in New Hampshire, the later part in Missouri, and all of it in the woods. Long afternoons filled with outdoor adventure gave them a flair for the creative and a love of storytelling. They graduated from the University of Central Missouri in 2019 with degrees in graphic design and illustration and a passion for zines and DIY comics. Today, Hanna lives in Kansas City, where they help run a local art gallery and music venue. When not preparing for a zine fest, you can find them outside: mountain biking, roller blading, or hiking. Someday, they hope to have a backyard "secret garden" of their own.

Ofride is the alias of Italian illustrator and comic artist Elena Bia. Born in a small town near the Alps, Odride draws inspiration from nature and folklore.