Mary Downing Hahn’s middle grade ghost story, The Old Willis Place, has been adapted by Scott Peterson and illustrators Meredith Laxton and Sienna Haralson, into a gripping new graphic novel.
Diana and her younger brother, Georgie, know every inch of the land around the old Willis place, a crumbling mansion many believe is haunted. They have free reign to do as they please, as long as they don’t leave the grounds.
Diana is thrilled when Lissa arrives with her father, the new caretaker of the estate. She has longed for a friend to share things with, despite knowing the same rules that don’t allow Diana and Georgie to leave the grounds also don’t allow them to make friends. Contacting Lissa could unleash evil forces beyond their control, and then they will all be sorry.
Wow! This is a fabulous, engaging, and creepy read. I hadn’t read Hahn’s original novel that The Old Willis Place is adapted from, but I certainly want to read it and other ghost stories by Hahn now. Many caretakers have come to the estate, but many of them don’t stay long, and none of them have children that Diana could pal around with. But the old Willis place holds secrets, and if the rules are broken, it could be disastrous for everyone.
Lissa’s dad is the only dud in a fascinating graphic novel that ends with great satisfaction. He’s a struggling writer whose sole purpose in the storyline is to get Lissa to the estate. Otherwise, he is an uninvolved, slightly annoying character who doesn’t believe his daughter when she expresses concerns about missing things and feeling like she is being watched. He was a necessary character, but not much more than the invisible adults in a Charlie Brown cartoon. Fine by me, because this story would be amazing with or without him.
Fabulous, detailed artwork combined with an irresistible story encourages me to read The Old Willis Place again. Highly recommended!
Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
- Publisher : Clarion Books (July 16, 2024)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 160 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0358650151
- ISBN-13 : 978-0358650157
- Reading age : 8 – 12 years
- Grade level : 3 – 7
I received a Netgalley copy of this novel from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.
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