The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor graphic novel is funny, sweet, goofy, serious and a light read. There is a lot going on and it is also just a simple story of adventure. IT is diverse without being forceful about it, though Girl Power is in your face (but done with love and humor). Maybe it will not become a classic, but Shaenon K. Garrity will be a writer to look out for. I cannot wait to find more goodies by them. Do I smell a series?
The story is basic: a teenager named Haley loves reading. Gothic romances and only gothic romances. After all, who does not love the moors? And brooding lords? And damsel maidens? Her teacher, that’s who. Or at least, she does not like having Every. Single. Book. Report done on a gothic romance title. So, when Haley is told she has until Monday to write a new report, on any other book than a Gothic romance, Haley realizes Jane Eyre and interpretive dance just will not cut it. But maybe finding a young Lord drowning (or maybe escaping…. No, he’s drowning) might be the answer to her problems. Then again, who wants a soggy, brooding Lord to get in the way of being a dashing Maiden when Haley finds herself pulled into a mystery of her wildest dreams: she finds herself in a Manor that stepped out of the pages of her favorite books.
A spoof of the Gothic Romance tropes, Haley, three manor-bound brothers, a ghost (with an interesting secret) and one heck of a bad@ss maid take on evil bile, evil monks/friaries (even if he has candy, he’s no good) and the literally cracks in the family home come together to break some rules, break free from the things that hold them from growing and maybe the universe if they are not careful.
Christopher Baldwin’s illustrations are cozy, comfortable, amazing and while not overly detailed, they are filled with what is needed. The color scheme was also basic but fits the tone and idea of the story. Pay attention to the ending pages as there are some big clues to how Haley has and has not changed. It probably is my favorite part (after the scene in the spooky secret passageway) of the story as it was an almost “blink and you miss it” moment, but very important to the whole of things.
There is kid friendly adult humor, a little fantasy violence (one brother gets stabbed, there is a smidgen of blood, he plays stoic and lives to grump another day) and a quick same sex romantic kiss. Best for strong 10 and up readers, though strong ages 8-9 could read, but not necessarily appreciate some of the concepts, but content is perfectly fine.