The Pale Queen by Ethan M. Aldridge is a poetic middle grade graphic novel that draws inspiration from fae myths and folklore to tell a story about the support it takes to pursue your biggest dreams—and the sacrifices we are and aren’t willing to make along the way. In particular, it will appeal to young readers looking for a graphic novel in that (sapphic) sweet spot between the empathetic darkness of Emily Rodda and the thoughtful whimsy of Dianna Wynne Jones.
The main character is Agatha, a young girl in a small town who’s got her eyes set on the stars. She loves astronomy, but finds her future limited by financial and societal constraints. When a not-so-chance encounter with the mysterious, magical Lady who lives in the hills near her little hamlet opens her eyes to new possibilities, Agatha must decide if they are worth the cost.
This isn’t Aldridge’s first foray into faerie tales. His previous graphic novels included a changeling story set in the present day, and a high fantasy bardic bildungsroman. The Pale Queen has elements of those earlier works’ theme— namely, the desires for a place to belong and to pursue a future you are passionate about—but uses them to flesh out the bare bones of old Queen Mab stories into something uniquely compelling.
What I appreciate most in Aldridge’s works is his refusal to render antagonists in absolutes—and in doing so, giving warmth and humanity to the characters through more than just his illustrations. The Lady here is a force to be reckoned with, but she is also hurting, distressed, and capable of kindnesses; we get the sense that, in her own twisted way, she does care for Agatha. Which makes the inevitable conflicts all the more charged.
I also love the artwork. And I’m not the only one. I first came across this book while at the Society of Illustrators’ annual exhibition of the year’s best children and middle grade books. According to the label next to a framed two-page spread, Aldridge used a combination of traditional watercolors, ink and Photoshop in creating these pages. It’s so beautiful and lends itself perfectly to the atmosphere, and to playing with the lighting of different scenes. The facial expressions are also nothing to sneeze at, as are the character designs. You can see where life has worn Agatha down, but also where hope and passion bring light and youth back to her features. We watch her change with the heady feelings of first crushes, first relationships and the power that comes from trusting others. Agatha and other prospective love interest Heather’s little flirtations put the biggest grin on my face and the warmest glow in my heart. And the twilight color wash on the panels for their first private moment? Swoonworthy.
While it is targeted towards ages 8-12, it’s also a sapphic gothic fantasy. Those three words encompass over three-quarters of my reading. Who cares if this book is for kids? I knew I had to get my hands on it. Three re-reads later and I can safely say that Aldridge’s fourth book, while not as intricately novel in its worldbuilding, is just as heartfelt and beautiful as his previous ones. I’d also venture a guess that older readers will find themselves charmed* by it, too.
*I know she’s fae or whatever and we aren’t supposed to trust the fae or whatever, but when I saw The Lady of The Hills, all I could think was this: “If Evil, Why Hot?”
