dxfnx_25's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
saywhatsteve's review against another edition
5.0
An incredibly sad story about the care and empathy all humans need
dereadergal's review
3.0
Overall I enjoyed this story. Great plot written in diary form, and wonderful illustrations.
librowry's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
weeptchi's review
5.0
I wish I could give it more stars but I can't. This is one of the best books I think I've ever read. I read it in about 2 hours without stopping and I will probably read it again very soon!!
ktxx22's review
3.0
More like 3.5. This creeped me out… but I didn’t really enjoy the story overall.
contemporarymeepsie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thornhill is part Graphic Novel and part diary entry driven narrative. It tells the story of trauma and friendship. When Ella moves in to a house that backs on to the dilapidated Thornhill, an 80s children's home, she begins to notice that it isn't quite as abandoned as she first thought. As the mystery of Thornhill unravels, she comes to learn of Mary. A tragic story of betrayal, lonliness and friendships that never were drive these two closer together despite the generations that separate them.
This book was outstanding. I adored the way that Mary's story was delivered in diary entries whilst Ella's is told through imagery. It is both heart-warming and devastating. These characters both have their strife which makes them endearing even if they are not lovable. As a reader I felt sorry for them both and could completely understand the actions they took as a result of the hardships they faced. They are believable to me which is a feat many of the books I've read this year have missed out on. I genuinely looked forward to reading this book every evening and the spooky themeing was perfectly timed for Halloween. A happy accident. If I had to give 1 criticism it would be that it was heavy to hold. I genuinely have no fault with the plot, characters or art style/writing style.
This book was outstanding. I adored the way that Mary's story was delivered in diary entries whilst Ella's is told through imagery. It is both heart-warming and devastating. These characters both have their strife which makes them endearing even if they are not lovable. As a reader I felt sorry for them both and could completely understand the actions they took as a result of the hardships they faced. They are believable to me which is a feat many of the books I've read this year have missed out on. I genuinely looked forward to reading this book every evening and the spooky themeing was perfectly timed for Halloween. A happy accident. If I had to give 1 criticism it would be that it was heavy to hold. I genuinely have no fault with the plot, characters or art style/writing style.
sarahrusty's review against another edition
2.0
Haunting and depressing all wrapped up into one ghost story. The true effects bullying have on someone is evidence in this tale.
frogie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A story told in two parts running parallel to one another - a silent graphic novel about a lonely girl in 2017, and an epistolary novel about a selectively mute, severely bullied girl in 1982.
While the art style wasn't quite my thing, the simplicity of it and the lack of dialogue bubbles really did the story justice. The author did a good job of expressing a scene without having to resort to characters talking to each other.
Story-wise, I definitely felt the underlying unease. Mary's story was definitely front and centre; though Ella's sheer loneliness was nothing to scoff at, it was horrible to read Mary struggle in the face of an unrepentant bully. The ending was depressing but not really unexpected. The main theme throughout this story seems to be neglect and its ever-spreading consequences - for the victims and the perpetrators both.
Genre-wise, I consider this more gothic than it is horror.
While the art style wasn't quite my thing, the simplicity of it and the lack of dialogue bubbles really did the story justice. The author did a good job of expressing a scene without having to resort to characters talking to each other.
Story-wise, I definitely felt the underlying unease. Mary's story was definitely front and centre; though Ella's sheer loneliness was nothing to scoff at, it was horrible to read Mary struggle in the face of an unrepentant bully. The ending was depressing but not really unexpected. The main theme throughout this story seems to be neglect and its ever-spreading consequences - for the victims and the perpetrators both.
Genre-wise, I consider this more gothic than it is horror.