DAN IN GREEN GABLES

A playful, queer graphic novel reimagining of Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery’s classic coming-of-age novel.

Fifteen-year-old Daniel Stewart-Álvarez is accustomed to a wandering life with his free-spirited, brown-skinned mother. Arriving in rural Tennessee in the spring of 1995, Dan is eager to meet his deceased father’s parents, who present white. But when he wakes up to a goodbye note from his mom, he’s devastated to have been abandoned. Kind, patient Mawmaw comforts him, sparks his interest in the farm, and shares his love for Dolly Parton. Rough, conservative Pawpaw is a harder nut to crack, bristling at Dan’s unusual clothing and gregarious personality. Despite facing homophobic comments at his new school and getting into a fight, Dan makes some fast friends, including Rudy, a Black girl whose liberal church community welcomes him. Dan also develops an unexpected crush on a boy who might just like him back. The dreamy, whimsical illustrations are steeped in the sweet, slow feeling of a humid East Tennessee afternoon. Pops of saturated color flood the background of some panels, highlighting emotional moments and mirroring Dan’s vibrant personality. Satisfying thematic parallels and a spirited, vulnerable carrot-topped protagonist will satisfy fans of the original, which is refreshingly remixed by Terciero’s joyfully queer spin.

An effervescent search for belonging and a heartfelt ode to a beloved classic.