“All I wanted was a friend.”
A book between two worlds, Thornhill by Pam Smy is a stunningly balanced mixture between an epistolary novel and a graphic novel. Being, first and foremost, an illustrator for the most of her career, Pam Smy is well-versed in the transmission of feelings through images. But with Thornhill, where she found her written voice for the first time, she also proved that both image and words are powerful tools alike when she gets her hands on them.
Published in 2017, Thornhill was introduced into the literary world as an illustrated ghost story, but that is a great understatement. You might think so at first glance, if you pick up the book at a library and browse through its pages in a rushed attempt to unravel its mysteries. Yes, there is a ghost, and yes, Smy does rely on some of the most common elements of ghost stories: an abandoned house, creepy puppets, an isolated attic, and a dark basement. However, the novel holds a much deeper subtext and reducing it to a simple ghost story is quite unfair.
Throughout the novel, contrasts become a constant for the story and its development. In the textual plane, written and visual elements run parallel to one another both in narrative form and time. With two masterfully interwoven timelines, the written sections are set in 1982 and follow Mary through her diary entries, while the visual elements happen in 2017 with Ella, who just moved into a house next to the Thornhill institute. The catch here is that Mary experiences selective mutism and so she does not speak —out loud that is. The paradox arises when the reader notices that Mary, the one who chooses not to speak, is the one who narrates the story and has a voice. On the other hand, Ella, who does not show any sign of not being capable of speaking, is unable to do so, because her father is always absent and also because her story is told through beautifully detailed black and white illustrations. Both girls are unconsciously tied by the loneliness that arises from the neglect of their surroundings and their inability to speak up.
Along with this clever opposition, Pam Smy also relies on one of the ever-present paradox in the genre of horror: no matter how terrifying supernatural elements are, evil people will always surpass that. That is the key to understand Thornhill; Quoting that famous American Horror Story line: “All monsters are human.” The creepy house, the ghost, the dolls… they are all there to be the obvious elements of terror, but they cannot compete against Mary’s bully and the despicable things she does to our poor narrator.
The girl, who remains nameless throughout the story, embodies all that is wrong in human nature: she is self-centred, jealous, cruel, and a liar. There is not a single moment of redemption for her, and even if her own unhappiness is hinted at as the source of her attacks towards Mary, the most frightening thing is that she gets away with it all. Hand in hand with the bully, another recurrent element she explores is neglect. It is no surprise that passive adults are as much part of the problem as bullies themselves. Pam Smy delves into the topic with great determination, not only denouncing how teachers and tutors pay no mind to what is happening right under their noses, but also demonstrating how the neglect from an absent parent can be as damaging to the emotional development of young children.
Through these topics, and the Gothic atmosphere the British author imbues her illustrations with, Thornhill is a deeply sad novel that transmits a crippling feeling of hopelessness, sadness, despair, and, above all, of loneliness. In a crescendo of emotions, Thornhill reaches its peak in an outburst of desperation, very reminiscent of Stephen King’s Carrie —even if Mary’s outburst is rather futile. In any case, in the end, when both timelines collide, Mary finds what she had missed throughout her entire life: a friend who loves her for who she is. The end transmits a crystal-clear metaphor: neglect has its consequences and even if the victim of it will not end up alone, it will scar their existence for life —and death.
For fans of We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, Thornill is a graphic novel that you will be devour in one sitting. With some lovely nods to classic literature, such as The Secret Garden or Jane Eyre, Pam Smy is able to portray that decaying loneliness of some of the greatest pieces of literature, while being able to appeal to people who would rather enjoy a piece of current times. Don’t be afraid to meet the ghost of Thornhill, because it is the only soul that will not haunt your nightmares. After all, all we ever want is a true friend we can cherish and who loves us back.
Thornhill is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Parallel plotlines, one told in text and one in art, inform each other as a young girl unravels the mystery of a ghost next door.
Mary is an orphan at the Thornhill Institute for Children at the very moment that it’s closing down for good. But when a bully goes too far, Mary’s revenge will have a lasting effect on the bully, on Mary, and on Thornhill itself.
Years later, Ella moves to a new town where she has a perfect view of the dilapidated, abandoned Thornhill Institute. Determined to befriend the mysterious, evasive girl she sees there, Ella resolves to unravel Thornhill’s history and uncover its secrets.
Ella’s story is told through striking, bold art; Mary’s is told through diary entries. Each informs the other until the two eventually intersect to reveal the truth behind Thornhill’s shadowy past, once and for all. Strikingly told and masterfully illustrated, Pam Smy bends genres and expectations alike.
This is an absolute fantastic class read (especially with a visualizer for Ella’s story). My Year 6 class were mesmerized and wanted a sequel with Jacob. I used it as a pre-teach for an English unit after half term and cannot wait to get started on it! My class is in the majority boys and they absolutely loved it!