Manga Classics

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL -- Gr 4-7-A charming manga adaptation of a beloved classic. A homely, red-haired orphan with a hyperactive imagination hopes to be adopted by an elderly brother and sister pair. High jinks ensue. Even as she continues to make blunders, Anne Shirley wins over Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. The preteen befriends the well-off and beautiful Diana Barry and enters into a competitive and possibly romantic relationship with the handsome and clever Gilbert Blythe. She overcomes obstacles and achieves a scholarship to the local teacher's college, making her adopted family proud. Chan's adaptation, the only manga officially sanctioned by the author's estate, hews closely to the source material while editing out some of the verbose passages and the original's problematic content. Anne's spirited outlook on life shines through in the narrative, and her passionate reactions to dramas big and small will resonate with middle graders. The illustrations magnify Anne's growing pains. The work is not without its dark moments. The death of a main character late in the story will elicit tears, and the art presents those scenes with a starkness and power that words alone don't quite get across. The panels and layout keep the pacing brisk, and expressive faces draw readers in. The tale is set in 19th-century Prince Edward Island, Canada, and features an all-white cast. VERDICT A strong choice where manga and graphic novel adaptations are popular. Fans of the original and historical fiction will thoroughly enjoy. This can be read alone or alongside the prose novel to enhance the experience. KIRKUS -- A miscommunication leaves Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert responsible for a plucky, effusive orphan girl instead of the boy they'd expected to help maintain their farm. Retold in traditional manga format, with right-to-left panel orientation and detailed black-and-white linework, this adaptation is delightfully faithful to the source text. Larger panels establish the idyllic country landscape while subtle text boxes identify the setting-Prince Edward Island, Canada, in the 1870s. The book follows redheaded Anne Shirley from her arrival at Green Gables at 11 to her achievement of a college scholarship. In the intervening years, Anne finds stability, friendship, personal growth, and ambition in Avonlea and in the strict but well-intentioned Cuthbert siblings' household. The familiar story is enhanced by the exciting new format and lush illustrations. A variety of panel layouts provides visual freshness, maintaining reader interest. Backmatter includes the floor plan of the Green Gables house, as well as interior and exterior views, and notes about research on the actual location. A description of the process of adapting the novel to this visual format indicates the care that was taken to highlight particular elements of the story as well as to remain faithful to the smallest details. Readers who find the original text challenging will welcome this as an aid to comprehension and Anne's existing fans will savor a fresh perspective on their beloved story. All characters appear to be White. A charming adaptation.