Tom's Midnight Garden Graphic Novel

This is a graphic novel adaptation of the 1958 classic novel by Philippa Pearce, a book that I knew nothing about. Twelve year old Tom goes to stay with his aunt and uncle, and discovers a mysterious garden appears outside whenever the old hallway clock strikes thirteen. I don't know what I expected going into this book, but it certainly wasn't a time travel story! It's such a great story, suitable for all ages, and is one that I'll definitely be revisiting.

If you know the original written book well, this comic book style of retelling this story is exquisitely matched in both its illustrations and its succinct use of words from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult as did the children. This can be read in one short sitting (whereas the original - when it was read to each child - obviously took longer but was just as enticing to read aloud and continuously...if it wasn't time to actually go to sleep back then!). My children were in their primary school years and are strong, confident readers. The original book was read first. Purchased this illustrated version end 2023 - age range 10,13 and older.

My niece loved it

I love the story, “Tom’s Midnight Garden” – that is the original, written by Philippa Pearce nearly 60 years ago. I think I may have discovered it first on “Jackanory” when I was probably the same age that Tom is in the book, and very soon got hold of the book. I remember the lump-in-the-throat ending. I’ve since seen the film and TV versions (some better than others), and listened to the radio dramatization with my own children – and when we went to Ely we climbed the tower together. It was like a pilgrimage. Now it has been reimagined as a graphic novel by French artist/writer Edith. As a story, perhaps particularly if I did not know the original, it is well done. I am sure children would enjoy it, and most of the key elements of the original are there. One bonus of a graphic novel is that the pictures can speak for themselves so there is less need to have lots of description. So the way in which Hatty ages, could be done a more subtle way than in Pearce’s novel, where it has to be actually pointed out. Similarly, descriptions of the garden, etc. Or at least it should be because the text still does describe these things, which I felt is a missed opportunity. But if you do know the novel then… well, I think Tom is too young – or at least too small - and slightly shockingly cartoony, in contrast with the adults. I was puzzled as what or who Edith’s Tom reminds me of – and then I realised. He is Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s “Little Prince”. The colours, even in the garden, are also strangely subdued, and the countryside is… wrong (less the Fens – more central France). Almost of the memorable lines of dialogue are still there, some of the subtleties perhaps less so – but the main absence is at the end. There is the twist, and there is the build up at the end, but no hug, there is no statement from his aunt about how Mrs Batholomew looks like a little girl again. The end is curiously flat, compared to the novel. So, anyone new to the story will love it I am sure – and hopefully will be encouraged to read Pearce’s complete story. But if you know and love Pearce it will bring back memories, you will enjoy most of it, but I think you may feel slightly cheated at the end. So a compromise of four stars JB

The graphic novel is absolutely amazing. Love the illustrations in the book and the story is really interesting. It's a big book aswell do you will never get bored.

Supported the children with SEND in my class and the others who found it easier to visualise it with this book.

I’ve read Tom’s Midnight Garden more times than I probably care to admit, and I have a truly old, ex-library copy, with a picture of “Tom” and “Hetty” on the front cover - Amazon says that this edition was published in the late 50s but mine is probably a reprint. I loved the story and re-read it every so often and it has truly stood the test of time with me personally. So I was curious when I saw this, a graphic adaptation of one of my much loved childhood books. This is probably my first attempt at a graphic novel - I have The Exile by Diana Gabaldon, but have never got around to reading it. This whiled away about an hour or so during a quiet shift at work, and while I enjoyed it, there were some things that I wasn’t keen on. There are some minor changes from the original novel - but nothing too significant and just small things that you won’t really notice, unless the book is fresh in your mind. But most of it is just cutting it down to fit the graphic novel retelling. What I really didn’t like was the illustrations. When you’ve gone through so many years of seeing the characters based on a picture from the front cover, seeing another person’s interpretation of them just doesn’t ring true. The illustrations in this were very childish and almost Tintin-esque in appearance, with strange noses and odd features. This annoyed me throughout the reading, although I tried to put it to one side and enjoy the story. If you know/remember the story well enough, you’ll zip through this in no time at all, and it has put me in mind to dig out my old copy from the bookcase and re-read it. I think what would have improved this for me is better illustrations.

The book is so good that I wanted to see how it had been turned into a graphic novel. It looks good so far.

A modern classic which every child should read but this graphic novel version surely can be an aid in their imaginings. Loved the illustrations!!

Beautifully illustrated and composed book with a good synopsis of the story. I recommend reading the novel first to fully appreciate the plot. This is a gift for my eight-year-old granddaughter who has read the book and likes graphic novels. Hopefully she will enjoy this.

I read the original version of this book over 40 years ago in grade school. The story greatly affected me. I loved it. As time went by, I forgot the title and the author, but one day my wife found the book in the local library and identified it based on my description of the story that I talked to her about for over 40 years. When this graphic novel came out, I just had to have a copy of it as well. My favorite book of all time.

This is a wonderful graphic novel based on a book from the 1950's. Perfect for adults and children. Great price and great delivery.

Full color! Beautiful graphics. I had read the novel, and never imagined a graphic novel could do the book justice. I was overjoyed when the graphic novel arrived. A pure treasure!