It has been 11 years since I first read Nathaniel Hawthorne's book The Scarlet Letter. I was so pleased to have the chance to rediscover my favorite classic novel in manga format. This new adaptation of Hawthorne's work should be, in my opinion, in every junior and senior level English literature classroom. Stacy King's adaptation and artwork make this story accessible to a new generation who may struggle with the antiquated language of Hawthorne's original novel. It can also provide an extension of learning for all readers by studying King's choice of characterization as well as her revisions to the original language. If I ever move up to teach high school English, this manga will certainly have a place in my curriculum.

The manga is true to Hester Prynne's story of adultery, although it never uses the word for her crime. (That's another choice that teachers and students can examine!) As I am already familiar with the content of the main plot, I could easily see how the author foreshadowed the twist in the story and I appreciated her efforts in doing so. I do not believe it is as easy to incorporate a subtle foreshadowing in a visual medium as it might be in a written medium. I especially loved the artist's portrayal of Pearl. King captures Pearl's other-worldliness perfectly through a combination of art and original dialogue. The graphic novel adaptation also provides a satisfying conclusion to the story.

I highly recommend that anyone interested in classic literature to take a look at this book as well as the entire series of manga by this publisher. I will be purchasing physical copies of some of these manga adaptations for my classroom in the future.