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kendranicole28's review against another edition
4.5
I enjoy dipping into graphic novels every once in a while as a change of pace for my reading life, and this book was a delightful choice. Inspired by the Enola Holmes novels (which I have not read), this collection of three mysteries tells the story of Sherlock Holmes’ 14-year-old sister, Enola. When Enola’s mother disappears from the family’s country manor and Enola’s older brothers determine to ship her off to boarding school, Enola emulates her mother’s disappearance, adopting various disguises and employing masterful skills of subterfuge to avoid capture. While evading her brothers is her primary pursuit, Enola also moonlights as an amateur sleuth specializing in the discovery of missing persons including a kidnapped young boy, a teen thought to have run away with her lover, and even Dr. Watson!
Enola is a remarkable young protagonist: spunky, quick-witted, kind-hearted, clever and quirky—just what we would expect from the sister of one of literature’s most renowned sleuths. The mysteries presented in each installment are complex and a whole heap of fun, and the ongoing arc of Enola’s search for her mother (and her brothers’ search for her) is just as engaging.
I often will find myself enjoying the essence of a graphic novel but not caring for the illustrations; here, the illustrations are beautiful and enhance all aspects of the reading experience. I especially loved the illustrated spy portfolios lifted from Enola’s notebook that include various insights into the characters, historical notes, and secret codes.
This is written for a middle grade audience, and I would recommend it for readers on the older end of that age bracket (maybe 10 and up?) since some of the stories can be difficult to follow and many of the most fun Holmes references and history-based jokes would be lost on younger readers; there is also some questionable feminist ideology and allusions to cross-dressing that may not be suitable for the littles. But I have a feeling Charleston will love this in a couple of years.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars (Rounded to 4 Stars on Goodreads) // Book Format: Print
Enola is a remarkable young protagonist: spunky, quick-witted, kind-hearted, clever and quirky—just what we would expect from the sister of one of literature’s most renowned sleuths. The mysteries presented in each installment are complex and a whole heap of fun, and the ongoing arc of Enola’s search for her mother (and her brothers’ search for her) is just as engaging.
I often will find myself enjoying the essence of a graphic novel but not caring for the illustrations; here, the illustrations are beautiful and enhance all aspects of the reading experience. I especially loved the illustrated spy portfolios lifted from Enola’s notebook that include various insights into the characters, historical notes, and secret codes.
This is written for a middle grade audience, and I would recommend it for readers on the older end of that age bracket (maybe 10 and up?) since some of the stories can be difficult to follow and many of the most fun Holmes references and history-based jokes would be lost on younger readers; there is also some questionable feminist ideology and allusions to cross-dressing that may not be suitable for the littles. But I have a feeling Charleston will love this in a couple of years.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars (Rounded to 4 Stars on Goodreads) // Book Format: Print
quirkylitlover's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
jeanettesonya's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully illustrated and what a fun character Ebola is.
the_one_krissy's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
h_373489's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
miss_alaina's review against another edition
4.0
The concept of Sherlock's younger sister sounded intriguing to me, but it was truly the gorgeous illustrations (and all the beautiful pinks and purples!) that pulled me into this graphic novel. This is very much a small piece to a larger story, and I wish I had understood that better before reading this. It's so short (like 50 something pages) - it ended just as I was really getting into the story. I'll definitely be picking up the other graphic novels to see how this story continues - and I'll be checking out the novels, too!
apurplehycainth's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75