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Beautiful illustrations, but the story in the illustrations didn't intrigue me. I cared much more about the written text.
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Child death, Suicide
Une très très bonne lecture et qui maintient en suspens du début à la fin ! On s’attache vite à Mary comme on connaît l’histoire à travers ses yeux ! Les illustrations sont incroyable et le style et si dérangeant ça colle parfaitement à l’histoire
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Maybe because it’s not my typical sort of read, I found it especially clever and compelling. One girl’s story told in diary entries and the other in illustrations. Nice level of creepy for middle grade YA
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Oh, man, don't make me cry at 9am... or do, I guess ??????
Pam Smy’s Thornhill is such a creepy gothic novel, it left me feeling weirded out and a sadness which lasted all night. The text is original and creative, having two parallel plotlines explored in different forms. The first focuses on Ella and is displayed as a graphic novel, the illustrations are all in black and white and have a Tim Burton type feel. Ella’s story is set in the contemporary, her mother has recently passed away and her father is retreating in his grief and is omniscient from the home. They have moved to a new house, backing onto the ruin of Thornhill. Ella is lonely and bored, so is instantly interested in the house after seeing a girl running around the property’s gardens. The second half is presented as epistolary fiction, displayed as a diary of a orphan who lived at Thornhill Institute for Children in the 80's. Mary is constantly bullied by the other girls in the home, but especially by one unnamed girl, referred to as Her. Mary's prose is deeply upsetting to read, while reading about her traumatic time living in the home, we become aware of what sad conclusion this novel will have - but you cannot look away. The two plotlines gradually intersect with one another as Ella becomes determined to find out what happened to Mary and Thornhill.
The blending of genres, horror, gothic, mystery and contemporary creates a unique tale, focusing primarily on the themes of bulling and isolation. Like Mary, Ella is isolated spending most of her days alone to mourn her mother. She takes comfort in finding Mary’s broken puppets and restoring them while researching Mary’s story and why Thornhill was abandoned. While Ella is isolated due to her grief, Mary is isolated from her peers due to excessive bullying and her only company is through a nice carer called Kathleen, and her homemade puppets. Mary’s life is described as a horror story. She is tortured by nighttime pranks and as a result, has become mute.
I think the ending was missing something, we see that sadly Mary takes her own life to escape the bullying, and desperate for a friend we can assume that she convinces Ella to set the abandoned Thornhill Institute alight to either complete her original plan of burning down the building, or to purposely convince Ella to also take her own life through a fire to ensure there is another trapped soul there. It could be argued that Ella is Mary’s bully, and her thumping at the door is her determination to be let in. To conclude the novel, we see a new character, Jacob, move into Ella’s old room, and gaze out at the dilapidated Thornhill Institute. Readers are sadly aware that he will befit the same fate when he notices the two girls playing in the garden. A really fantastic read, creative and well produced in a beautiful copy.
The blending of genres, horror, gothic, mystery and contemporary creates a unique tale, focusing primarily on the themes of bulling and isolation. Like Mary, Ella is isolated spending most of her days alone to mourn her mother. She takes comfort in finding Mary’s broken puppets and restoring them while researching Mary’s story and why Thornhill was abandoned. While Ella is isolated due to her grief, Mary is isolated from her peers due to excessive bullying and her only company is through a nice carer called Kathleen, and her homemade puppets. Mary’s life is described as a horror story. She is tortured by nighttime pranks and as a result, has become mute.
I think the ending was missing something, we see that sadly Mary takes her own life to escape the bullying, and desperate for a friend we can assume that she convinces Ella to set the abandoned Thornhill Institute alight to either complete her original plan of burning down the building, or to purposely convince Ella to also take her own life through a fire to ensure there is another trapped soul there. It could be argued that Ella is Mary’s bully, and her thumping at the door is her determination to be let in. To conclude the novel, we see a new character, Jacob, move into Ella’s old room, and gaze out at the dilapidated Thornhill Institute. Readers are sadly aware that he will befit the same fate when he notices the two girls playing in the garden. A really fantastic read, creative and well produced in a beautiful copy.
I feel a sense of loss and confusion at the ending. It was rather open ended and I dislike books with no closure, however I did read the whole novel within one sitting easily. The illustrations were BEAUTIFUL
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
haunting, mysterious, beautiful, sad.
perfect for teen readers looking for something a little gothic.
perfect for teen readers looking for something a little gothic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness
Minor: Suicide, Fire/Fire injury
I read this book in Dutch but I will write my review in English.
I heard stuff about this book, stuff I wasn't all too happy with, but even with that I couldn't hide my curiosity for this book. So I was delighted when one of my libraries had this book in Dutch. I reserved it immediately, and set to reading it pretty fast.
The book is set in two times. Ours (2017), and Mary's (1982). There are two girls, Ella and Mary. Two different lives, but both girls aren't happy.
Ella moved away from her old place to this new place. She is living right next to Thornhill (though it is pretty much broken down now). She doesn't have the easiest lives. Her mom died (or left). No this is not a spoiler it is pretty much obvious from the start. Her father keeps on working and leaving his kid alone all the time. I get that he has to work, but really? Who leaves their daughter alone so much? She also needs a parent. She needs someone to talk to..
Ella spots someone (or something) at the Thornhill place, and so her adventure begins. She starts finding dolls (dolls we also see in Mary's story), and she is going to fix them (which I really loved. It is not the easiest hobbies to have, at least from my understanding. So I was happy she was willing to go through all that to help out that mysterious girl). Slowly she finds out more about the house, about Mary, but it isn't until she finds a diary that the whole story comes out.
Mary lives in Thornhill. She is an orphan, and she is bullied terribly. Why? Well, because kids will be kids. Mary is a bit different from the group of kids there. She has selective mutism so she isn't a chatterbox, she prefers her dolls and her books over interaction (then again I would also hide in my room if I had such a demon in my life). Throughout the book we see the bully situation escalate as Thornhill empties out (due to various reasons). It was quite hard to read at times, being a victim of lots of bullying myself. But I soldiered on, as I wanted to know if Mary would find happiness in the end. If she would find someone she can trust, and who can help her.
Especially in the later parts, when Thornhill empties out, the story gets more and more sad with each diary entry. So yeah, if you come here to see happy endings for Mary? Stay away.
I was just horrified how that girl ruined Mary's life. How she not only did things like remove clothes, or destroy/hide stuff. She also went to Mary's room at night to scratch at the door, to hit the door in repetitive moves, and I could go on. This girl is highly disturbed. But does anyone do anything? No. Even though Mary stays silent, so many people know this is happening. But no one does anything. It is the standard fare around again, the victim needs to speak up. Which I think is absolutely poppycock. You know it may get worse if you talk. You know people may not believe you. You know that people will probably do something shitty instead.
I loved that Mary's parts were in text (diary), whereas Ella's were all illustrations telling the story. I loved this format in other books I have read and I look forward to see more books like those and this one.
I am a bit confused to the ending of the story.
I am a bit worried about the last few pages with the new guy. I hope he doesn't follow the same path as Ella, as Mary. But I fear he will just be one of them soon. Mary is filling the house up again. But also again, why now? Why 35 years after?
All in all, I really loved reading this one, even though it did break my heart many many times. I do want to warn people, the bullying is really terrible. You may not feel any happiness when you are done reading this one.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I heard stuff about this book, stuff I wasn't all too happy with, but even with that I couldn't hide my curiosity for this book. So I was delighted when one of my libraries had this book in Dutch. I reserved it immediately, and set to reading it pretty fast.
The book is set in two times. Ours (2017), and Mary's (1982). There are two girls, Ella and Mary. Two different lives, but both girls aren't happy.
Ella moved away from her old place to this new place. She is living right next to Thornhill (though it is pretty much broken down now). She doesn't have the easiest lives. Her mom died (or left). No this is not a spoiler it is pretty much obvious from the start. Her father keeps on working and leaving his kid alone all the time. I get that he has to work, but really? Who leaves their daughter alone so much? She also needs a parent. She needs someone to talk to..
Ella spots someone (or something) at the Thornhill place, and so her adventure begins. She starts finding dolls (dolls we also see in Mary's story), and she is going to fix them (which I really loved. It is not the easiest hobbies to have, at least from my understanding. So I was happy she was willing to go through all that to help out that mysterious girl). Slowly she finds out more about the house, about Mary, but it isn't until she finds a diary that the whole story comes out.
Mary lives in Thornhill. She is an orphan, and she is bullied terribly. Why? Well, because kids will be kids. Mary is a bit different from the group of kids there. She has selective mutism so she isn't a chatterbox, she prefers her dolls and her books over interaction (then again I would also hide in my room if I had such a demon in my life). Throughout the book we see the bully situation escalate as Thornhill empties out (due to various reasons). It was quite hard to read at times, being a victim of lots of bullying myself. But I soldiered on, as I wanted to know if Mary would find happiness in the end. If she would find someone she can trust, and who can help her.
Spoiler
Sadly, she never does. Really. If you expect a happy ending stay away from this one. You will be very much disgusting by the people in Thornhill (with the exception of Kathleen who seemed to be the only one who had an actual brain). Especially Jane, you will want to just shake Jane. But Jane is just like so many people when confronted with a bully situation. Not only does she think it is the victim's fault as well (like we fucking choose to be bullied), but she also tries to have the girls be friends, and even puts them together on a list to be selected for the SAME new place. Jane is a terrible terrible person.Especially in the later parts, when Thornhill empties out, the story gets more and more sad with each diary entry. So yeah, if you come here to see happy endings for Mary? Stay away.
I was just horrified how that girl ruined Mary's life. How she not only did things like remove clothes, or destroy/hide stuff. She also went to Mary's room at night to scratch at the door, to hit the door in repetitive moves, and I could go on. This girl is highly disturbed. But does anyone do anything? No. Even though Mary stays silent, so many people know this is happening. But no one does anything. It is the standard fare around again, the victim needs to speak up. Which I think is absolutely poppycock. You know it may get worse if you talk. You know people may not believe you. You know that people will probably do something shitty instead.
I loved that Mary's parts were in text (diary), whereas Ella's were all illustrations telling the story. I loved this format in other books I have read and I look forward to see more books like those and this one.
I am a bit confused to the ending of the story.
Spoiler
Namely, how could Ella see Mary, was it due a connection (both girls aren't happy). I can't imagine that Ella is the first to live in that home next to Thornhill in the 35 years that has passed since Mary's story, but yet it seems Ella is the first. Why (and how) did she give Ella the dolls? To lure her in? Or did she just want a friend? Still to lure someone in and then have them be killed seemed excessive and very weird for Mary. It just doesn't seem to fit her, but then again, it may just be because of the house. It corrupts people it seems (at least that is what is told during one of Mary's parts).I am a bit worried about the last few pages with the new guy. I hope he doesn't follow the same path as Ella, as Mary. But I fear he will just be one of them soon. Mary is filling the house up again. But also again, why now? Why 35 years after?
All in all, I really loved reading this one, even though it did break my heart many many times. I do want to warn people, the bullying is really terrible. You may not feel any happiness when you are done reading this one.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/