Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels by Serena Blasco

This is a graphic novel adaptation of the original books by Nancy Springer set in Victorian England. This Graphic Novel has watercolor illustrations and is heavy on text. Enola Holmes is the much younger sister of the famous detective Sherlock and the ornery Mycroft Holmes. She has been cloistered away with her mother, being raised without the input of others or society. Her mother disappears on her fourteenth birthday and Enola is left to either be sent to boarding school or set out on her own, away from her brother’s grasp. She runs away to London and begins her life as a detective. The books are divided up into cases and each case has its own storyline and theme. Book 1 has cases 1-3 and Book 2 has cases 4-6.

Reading Level: 9-12 years

I will review the overall series and then break down the volumes case by case. There are spoilers in this review.

Case 1 was my least favorite as I found the most red flags in it but subsequent cases were much better. As far as Graphic Novels go, I did enjoy this series and I really did love the art. I love Enola’s Secret Notebooks at the end of each book where she records information from the case. The information such as the language of flowers, fans, and all the codes are very interesting. There are some things I really don’t like but would be comfortable talking them through with my child. I would suggest ages 10+ depending on maturity and the communication level of your child.

Language:
damn it, lady of the night (see individual case-by-case review)

Questionable Behavior:
Enola is a 14-year-old girl who runs away and survives on her own in London. She is often attacked and subject to violence by older men, somehow always getting away. She is on her own with no one looking out for her. She is often in situations and dangers far beyond her years.

Sexual Content:
There are several mentions of prostitutes or ladies of the night which is common for this time period and this style of literature. It may go over the child’s head or might not, it is not explained or expanded upon in any way.

Other Things to Know:
There is a very heavy push for feminist literature and feminist ideas throughout. Being a wife only or useless to society is seen as the greatest evil that could happen to her. Palmistry(palm reading) is used and explained in Case 6. Please see individual case-by-case review below.

Case 1
Our introduction to Enola is when her mother disappears and she runs off to London to find her mother and to escape her brothers who want to put her in a boarding school to make her a proper lady.

Things to Note:
Photo of her backside in a bustle
Reference to Mary Wollstonecraft
Degrading comment on prayer and faith
Photo reference to a prostitute with a businessman on her arm
Violence against Enola- man tries to stab her she is kidnapped
Bad guy says “Damn it”
She discovers one of the crooks was cross-dressing to be in disguise

Case 2
Enola continues to hide from her brothers in London supporting herself through her detective work. This case is about a missing young socialite and follows Enola as she works the case.

Things to Note:
Attempted strangling
Missing victim was accused of “chasing after a man
Attempted strangling and she stabs the attacker with a knife.
Hypnosis is a theme here for the villain but is not promoted or believed in by Enola.

Case 3
Enola investigates the disappearance of Dr. John Watson. Her only clues being an old bouquet, she uses her knowledge of the language of flowers to find her brother Sherlock Holmes’ partner.

Case 4
Enola investigates the attempted forced marriage of the previous victim, Cecily. She gets the chance to work with her brother Sherlock and rescue the girl using secret codes and her many disguises.

Things to Note:
Scary situations and violence

Case 5
Enola investigates the disappearance of her landlady after a secret message is discovered. She meets Florence Nightingale and discovers what she has done to send secret messages of her own and why.

Things to Note:
Lady of the night reference, Disparaging comments on being a “wife only.”

Case 6
Enola continues her search for her mother only to discover she was traveling with the gypsies. She works with her brothers to find out the truth.
Palm reading done on Enola by gypsy, Enola learns of her mom’s death in a letter.

This review was written by Good Book Mom contributor, LeeAnne. To learn more about LeeAnne, click HERE.

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