ARC Review: “Sprite and the Gardener” by Joe Whitt & Rii Abrego

“Sprite and the Gardener” by Joe Whitt & Rii Abrego

Publishing Date: May 4, 2021

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Fiction

Page Length: 88 pages (electronic review edition)

Synopsis:

Long, long ago, sprites were the caretakers of gardens. Every flower was grown by their hand. But when humans appeared and began growing their own gardens, the sprites’ magical talents soon became a thing of the past. When Wisteria, an ambitious, kind-hearted sprite, starts to ask questions about the way things used to be, she’ll begin to unearth her long-lost talent of gardening. But her newly honed skills might not be the welcome surprise she intends them to be.

The Sprite and the Gardener, the debut graphic novel by Joe Whitt and Rii Abrego, is bursting with whimsical art and vibrant characters. Join our neighborhood of sprites in this beautiful, gentle fantasy where both gardens and friendships begin to blossom. (description from Goodreads)

Review:

This is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about a friendship between Elena, a gardener, and Wisteria, a sprite. In this world, sprites used to be the sole caretaker of gardens, but once things shifted to the modern age, there was less of a use for them. Wisteria is a new sprite in town that struggles to fit in and make new friends with the others. She longs for the old days and starts to work her fairy magic on Elena’s garden. Once Elena and Wisteria meet face-to-face by accident (the sprites existence is supposed to be a secret), they strike up a new friendship.

Through working together, the two learn more about each other and have a great sense of teamwork as they try to revive the garden to its former glory. It’s a quiet graphic novel with its lush scenery of blooming flowers, sprite magic, and the color and tones used to depict the characters. The first thing that struck me about the character design was its similarity to an anime style with its own unique twist. These aspects combined added to the overall fantasy feeling the story exudes. It transports readers to a serene and fanciful world where nature and magic combine.

I loved the gorgeous artwork of this story and the theme of friendship and finding joy in simple things. Seeing all of the hard work that Elena, Wisteria, and the other fairies put into restoring the garden reminded me of the summers I spent working in my grandma’s garden. This graphic novel made me feel nostalgic and left me with an overall sense of comfort. It’s a soothing story with a story that will entrance readers of all ages. If you enjoy cute stories with charming fantasy elements, I recommend adding The Sprite & The Gardener to your reading list!

Final Verdict: