This is a modern retelling of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, set on a horse ranch. The comparison's are there, the rich versus the poor, prejudice, flights of fancy, misjudging someone, etc. But, this graphic novel also subverts the original by having the two leads be queer. Now, the meaning behind all of the secrets, the deceptions, the lies has added depth and seems even more monstrous. Both boys feel lonely, feel trapped in a place that others them and scolds them for being themselves. They face derision, hate, anger, and fear. Which leads both of them to believing they cannot be loved or do not deserve love. The subtle browns of this book are at once soothing and scary. The tones shift depending on scene, the darker the background the more likely they are either at "haunted" Northranger or are dealing with darker matters. When the pages are white it usually conveys more lighthearted content. It helps to prepare the reader for those jarring moments of hate, of bigotry, of misdirected fear. It also reflects the emotional turmoil these two boys go through as they struggle to both be themselves and hide themselves. These narratives are always so disheartening, because this is all too common still. So many places are not accepting and/or are hostile to those in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. But, this story is also hopeful, that while some are always going to spew hate and fear, others are actively working to learn, to be better, to accept and to love. And, Cade and Henry are learning to love themselves more than listen to all of that hate.
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