In the graphic novel adaptation of Mary Downing Hahn’s THE OLD WILLIS PLACE, Diana and her brother Georgie live on the grounds of an abandoned manor. When a new caretaker arrives with his daughter, Lissa, the pair observe them from afar for a while. Diana is lonely and craves companionship, so she breaks one of their rules and befriends Lissa. As their bond grows, the mystery of the Willis place unravels and threatens their friendship. An appropriately creepy story that’s perfect for middle grade readers craving ghost stories, this will serve as a great introduction to Hahn’s classic scary tales.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an eARC of the book with me.

I loved reading Mary Downing Hahn's books as a child, and this graphic novel was a great way to revisit her work. The art was excellent, and this is a spooky and emotional story that is perfect for this time of year.

I was absolutely excited to be approved and receive an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion from NetGalley. I first started reading books by Mary Downing Hahn in middle school and checked out every book by her that my school library had. The Old Willis Place was not available at my school, and my local bookstore didn't have it in stock. So, this is the first time I've ever read this book.

Right away, I knew that Diana and Georgie were ghosts. However, I'm not sure if I would have figured that out as a kid. I had a general idea of what would happen throughout the story, but I was surprised by the ending. It was great but bittersweet.

For a book that's geared towards children between the ages of eight and twelve, the characters are more developed than others written for this age range. It also was well written with just the right amount of spookiness.

All I can say is that Mary Downing Hahn writes some of the best middle grade stories, and The Old Willis Place met and exceeded my expectations. Five out of five stars!

Nice graphic novel. A full circle of a ride. I had a hunch of the characters and true story like 40 pages in. The colors were nice. The sequence had me hooked. The diary entries were a nice touch. The mystery was wow. Everything divulged has an explanation and story to match. A nice book for teens and younglings.

Great adaptation of a truely classic feeling host story. Two wild children living on an abandoned farm property when the new caretaker and his lonely homeschooled daughter arrive. The sister immediately longs for friendship but the brother wants to keep things they always have been. Does he have a reason for being so secretive? The whole plot is a mixture of mystery, horror, and deeply felt seclusion that makes any young child who has ever longed for a friend sympathetic. The artwork adds to the over all yesteryear feel of the story and the characters. Nicely done.

Each of the Hahn GN adaptations has been better than the last! These books have just the right level of gruesome for a middle-grade reader, without exposing them to some of the more gritty horrors common in adult spooks.

I think most kid readers will figure out early on that the narrator of this book, Diana, is no longer of the living. And that’s kind of a fascinating way to START the book. The tension isn’t about a human protagonist being in danger–although we do have a living human girl, Lissa, as a backup narrator–but about the “rules” that Diana and her also-dead brother Georgie instinctively know. And, of course, the mystery of HOW they died.

The illustration team put fantastic effort into every page. With the forest setting, they have had to draw thousands of leaves and twigs and other background features. The woods feel dense and wild, unkempt and feral, just like Diana and Georgie.

The ending of the book is nuanced, and actually made me tear up. The story allows for moral greyness, and thus allows for healing. Diana, Georgie, and Lissa all have growth. Which is impressive, when 2 out of 3 kids is dead!

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

Scott Peterson breathes new life into Mary Downing Hahn's classic stories and his graphic novel adaptation of "The Old Willis Place" is no exception. The story is accompanied by incredible illustrations that will captivate (and spook!) its middle grade audience. Peterson's adaptations are among my highest circulating novels in our library and I do not doubt that "The Old Willis Place" will circulate just as well. Its crips colors and haunting, atmospheric illustrations make it an instant classic.

Special thanks to NetGalley and to Clairon Books for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an unbiased review. My kids will be so jealous that I got to check this out ahead of its September release!!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. My students love graphic novels and they’ll enjoy this one. Lissa, a girl that just moved into the area, soon becomes friends with Diana and Georgie. As the book progresses, the kids along with Mrs.Lillian realize that they hold grudges and dislikes; that it’s hard but much better to forgive.

I LOVE that Mary Dowling Hahn books are being made into graphic novels! There were so many good creepy books when I was a kid and now they are being rereleased in a new format for a new generation to experience. I had not read this one when it was first released, so the story was new to me. It still had that cozy horror feel of kids horror books. I was pretty sure I knew where the story was going, but I enjoyed the process of getting there. This is a wonderful graphic novel for any kid or adult who wants a slightly creepy a ghost story.

I great retelling of Hahn's spooky story for kiddos!
Very atmospheric! I will be recommending this graphic to kids who want something mysterious and a little bit scary.

This was a good comic retelling. The illustrations were bright, colorful, and sharp. The story was fast paced enough to keep kid’s attention. I read a lot of Ms Hahn’s books as a kid but I can’t remember if I read this one or not so I’m glad I was able to read the graphic novel version. I will definitely look for more graphic novel retellings of her work.

Thanks to the authors and publisher for the e-ARC I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I love that Mary Downing Hahn's stories are having a resurgence with this younger generation! This one is child friendly while also being genuinely scary in some respects. I love that these stay true to the original source while bringing new life to the story through the graphic novel format. Perfect for those looking to get their feet wet in the horror genre. Artwork is also awesome!

"The Old Willis Place: Graphic Novel" adaptation brings Mary Downing Hahn’s spooky tale to life with vivid illustrations by Scott Peterson. The story revolves around Diana and her little brother, Georgie, who roam the grounds of the decrepit Willis mansion. They enjoy an unusual freedom, bound only by mysterious rules that keep them tethered to the eerie estate.

The narrative kicks off intriguingly, painting a vivid picture of the siblings’ peculiar existence. Diana’s excitement over the arrival of Lissa, the new caretaker's daughter, introduces a relatable longing for friendship amidst their lonely life. The graphic novel captures the ghostly ambiance of the original novel, with haunting visuals that enhance the eerie atmosphere.

However, the story’s adaptation into graphic novel form feels somewhat lacking. While the artwork is commendable and captures the creepy essence of the old mansion, the pacing of the plot suffers. The suspense and mystery, which are pivotal in the original novel, do not translate as effectively in this format. Key plot points and character developments are rushed, leaving readers with less emotional connection to Diana and Georgie.

Diana’s struggle with the rules and her growing desire to connect with Lissa forms the crux of the plot. The illustrations do a good job of depicting her internal conflict and the looming sense of dread. However, the climactic revelations and the supposed "ghastly secret" of the Willis house might leave readers wanting more depth and detail.

In summary, "The Old Willis Place: Graphic Novel" is a visually appealing yet somewhat underwhelming adaptation of Hahn's original work. It offers a decent read for younger audiences new to the story, but may not fully satisfy those who are fans of the novel’s richer narrative. A three-star rating feels appropriate for this graphic novel that, while engaging and atmospheric, falls short in delivering the full impact of its source material.

This is a fantastic graphic novel, adapted from Hahn’s now classic novel, The Old Willis Place! I just cannot express how much I enjoyed reading the text and viewing the illustrations. Both had that satisfyingly creepy vibe throughout.

If you aren’t familiar with the story, it follows a young girl, Diana, and her little brother, Georgie, as they go through their days on the grounds of a large and long deserted manor house. They are free to do almost anything each day… no bedtime, no bathing, they can’t get hurt so they can be daredevils and no food is needed, although they sometimes long for a tasty morsel of their past. All will go well provided they follow a few very clear and utterly important rules, one being never to reveal yourself.

There have been several loser, lazy caretakers since Old Miss Willis died without leaving a will and the house is now owned by the township. When a new caretaker and his daughter, Lissa, move into the caretaker's trailer on the grounds, Diana yearns to make a friend, due to every boring day being the same. She has wanted a new friend for a long time. But there is just one problem, Diana and Georgie aren't allowed to have friends; it's one of the rules. If she makes contact with Lissa will evil be unleashed?

This book may be scary if not disturbing for some readers. The mystery of Diana and Georgie’s disappearance is at the crux of the sad sad mystery of the children’s disappearance, but I won’t spoil it for you.

And, there is a valuable lesson to be learned. IMHO.

Oh my gosh, I just cried my eyes out over this one. I LOVE Mary Downing Hahn and this was yet another great story. Georgie and Diana are such sweet little souls and I can’t understand why they live in the woods without any parents. Until the truth is revealed about who they really are. Their connection to the Old Willis house is slowly revealed through the story and it’s quite a heartbreaking one. Georgie and Diana have always had very strict rules they follow, but when Lissa, a girl the same age as Diana shows up with her father, things change. Lissa’s dad will be the new caretaker of the old house and Diana is drawn to her. She wants a friend so bad after all these years, but the rules don’t allow it. But one day she decides to break the rules and everything changes for Georgie and Lissa. The truth will finally set them free from the rules, but are they brave enough to tell the truth?

I loved Mary Downing Hahn books as a child. She has a way of writing horror that can scare the Jesus out of a child, but not so much that they don’t continue to love the genre. This graphic novel does an OK job. It is better than other books in the graphic novel Hahn books. The graphic novels are very wordy and long. Sometimes they’re a pain to get through. This one wasn’t a pain, but one felt every page. I’m also not a big fan of the art style. It works with the books, but I don’t find it complements the story. Overall, I do like this book because I like the original it’s based on. If not for that, I might not suggest this to other readers.

Wow! This is a fabulous, engaging, and creepy read. I hadn’t read Hahn’s original novel that The Old Willis Place is adapted from, but I certainly want to read it and other ghost stories by Hahn now. Many caretakers have come to the estate, but many of them don’t stay long, and none of them have children that Diana could pal around with. But the old Willis place holds secrets, and if the rules are broken, it could be disastrous for everyone.

Lissa’s dad is the only dud in a fascinating graphic novel that ends with great satisfaction. He’s a struggling writer whose sole purpose in the storyline is to get Lissa to the estate. Otherwise, he is an uninvolved, slightly annoying character who doesn’t believe his daughter when she expresses concerns about missing things and feeling like she is being watched. He was a necessary character, but not much more than the invisible adults in a Charlie Brown cartoon. Fine by me, because this story would be amazing with or without him.

Fabulous, detailed artwork combined with an irresistible story encourages me to read The Old Willis Place again. Highly recommended!

I cannot wait to get a copy of this for my library. I cannot keep Mary Downing Hahn's books on the shelves, even the ones with 30 year old covers. The graphic novels are super popular and the kids love them.

Using the graphic novel format makes this story, which reads a bit outdated in the original form, come back to life. It is perfect for creeping out the preteens in your life!

Thanks to Harpers Collins Children's Books, Clarion Books, and NetGalley for the eARC!

My students are going to love this new GN remake of @marydowninghahn book. The illustrations were attractive and fun to look at. The story had just the right amount of spook that I feel comfortable purchasing for upper elementary.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC.

I absolutely love graphic novels as they always keep my students engaged. The Old Willis Place is surprisingly creepy but adventurous as well. The images are spectacular and are sure to keep your reader interested. I loved the ending and all the hints the author sprinkled along the way!