Heidi: A Graphic Novel

by Mariah Marsden, Ofride (illustrator)

Discover the heartwarming magic of Johanna Spyri’s beloved tale in this gorgeous graphic novel adaptation. From the author of the critically acclaimed Anne of Green A Graphic Novel comes another thoughtfully retold children’s classic.

When young Heidi is sent to live with her grandfather in a small shepherd’s hut in the Swiss Alps, everyone expects him to turn her away. He has a bad mean, growly, and harsh as the cold mountain winds. But Heidi is quick to take on any challenge, whether it’s keeping an eye on the rebellious goats, learning to read, or melting Grandfather’s icy heart.

Heidi’s adventures take her up and down her beloved mountain, from picnics in the high alpine meadows all the way to the distant streets of Frankfurt and a city life she could never have imagined. But when homesickness strikes, Heidi must weigh old friendships with new ones and find her place in an expanding world.

Given new life as a graphic novel in artist Ofride’s warm, folk art–inspired style, Heidi celebrates the joy of storytelling, the wonders of nature, and the healing power of kindness.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Classics, Middle Grade, Comics, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Fiction

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2025

About the author

Mariah Marsden spent her childhood hunting for faeries amidst the old hills of the Missouri Ozarks. She began telling stories to pass the time on her family’s farm, and she hasn’t stopped since. A former children’s librarian, she earned her MFA in Creative Writing & Media Arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She writes about the dreams and difficulties of girlhood, the folklore of her region, and the complexities of rural life. She’s still on the lookout for faeries.

Reviews

[Mischenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narrative unfolds with the arrival of a young, orphaned girl, Heidi, at the home of her paternal grandfather. He isn’t happy about her being there as he’s been somewhat of a recluse in recent years; however, Heidi’s spirit quickly wins him over. Her days become filled with the simple, profound joys of nature. She develops an indissoluble bond with new friends, animals, and the beautiful surroundings. This is abruptly interrupted when Heidi is thrust into a new life in Frankfurt.

The illustrations are beautiful and story kept similar to the classic. My youngest daughter devoured it. Personally, I’d hoped for more of an ending. This is a keeper regardless.

5*****

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Johanna Spyri's 1880/1881 Swiss orphan themed novel Heidi (which was originally published in two volumes, namely Heidis Lehr- und Wanderjahre and Heidi kann brauchen was es gelernt hat) is one of my all-time favourite stories, both for my inner child and also just as much for adult me (first and foremost the German original, of course and which I have read at least twenty or so times, although I have also perused and managed to appreciate some of the English language translations of Heidi as well, but indeed, only those that stick closely to Spyri's contents and are neither too abridged nor overly adapted). And with the above in mind, while I was definitely intrigued and tempted by the concept of a graphic novel adaptation of Heidi, I have also approached how Mariah Marsden textually and Ofride (Elena Bria) illustratively present their 2025 Heidi: A Graphic Novel with a lot of questions and equally with some misgivings (and that unfortunately, especially textually speaking, my worries concerning Heidi: A Graphic Novel were and remain pretty justified).

Yes, Marsden's adaptation of Heidi does decently enough present Johanna Spyri's original story thematics and contents wise (from Heidi arriving at her grandfather's alpine hut with her aunt Dete to after her sojourn in Frankfurt coming back to her grandfather) and that I do appreciate how unlike with her Anne of Green Gables graphic novel adaptation, for Heidi: A Graphic Novel Mariah Marsden provides a nicely educational biographic sketch of Spyri, not to mention that the information on Swiss culture and folklore is excellent, although I do think that the folklore blurb in Heidi: A Graphic Novel should also feature a list of titles for further reading (and that I also find it rather silly and strange how instead of reading religious hymns to Peter's blind grandmother from a favourite book she can no longer read because of her lost eyesight, Marsden instead has Heidi in Heidi: A Graphic Novel read stories of Gargantua and other Swiss folklore, since in Heidi the all all all encompassing joy and delight Johanna Spyri shows the blind grandmother as experiencing when Heidi takes her hymnal and reads the grandmother's favourite songs to her is so utterly sweetly delightful and wonderful, and this not appearing or rather appearing as majorly altered in Heidi: A Graphic Novel, it sort of textually breaks my heart a bit).

And while I actually quite enjoyed what Mariah Marsden textually did with the Anne of Green Gables graphic novel (although I admittedly kind of hated much of Brenna Thummler's artwork), sorry, but her adaptation in Heidi: A Graphic Novel is for me only adequate at best, leaves out way way too much, becomes jumpy, all over the place and has some huge and majorly infuriating story holes. So as an example (with this being not the only issue I have encountered with Heidi: A Graphic Novel but one which totally and weirdly personally chafes), we really do not understand from Marsden's words alone in Heidi: A Graphic Novel why Heidi is always hoarding bread rolls in Frankfurt to take them back to Peter's grandmother, since unlike with Johanna Spyri, we are not told in Heidi: A Graphic Novel that Peter's grandmother has trouble chewing hard whole wheat bread but that Peter's mother does not make enough money to purchase soft white bread (and furthermore, and even more making me textually cringe, I totally and hugely despise Mariah Marsden's very much changed, her rather hugely altered ending of Heidi: A Graphic Novel, where Clara is still wheelchair bound and does not recover as she does in Johanna Spyri's original and which has always made me just so so hugely smile).

Finally, while Spyri also provides much humour (and a copious amount of social satire) in and throughout Heidi, with especially Peter often behaving and acting like a clown, like a fool, with Clara's tutor and even more so her governess Fräulein Rottenmeier both being portrayed sarcastically and with multiple bitingly witty asides from Johanna Spyri, and that the episode with the kittens is also really funny in Heidi, as well as to a point how Heidi's sleepwalking totally freaks out Sebastian in a rather entertaining manner, sorry, but NONE of said humour has been in my humble opinion even somewhat transferred from Spyri's pen to Marsden's words for Heidi: A Graphic Novel, that Heidi: A Graphic Novel is textually alright but does not really do verbal justice to Johanna Spyri's narrational richness for Heidi, that Mariah Marsden's words for Heidi: A Graphic Novel do leave me rather hugely frustrated.

And just to point out that albeit I do find Ofride's artwork pretty fantastic, that I do think Elena Bia's colourful accompanying illustrations for Heidi: A Graphic Novel is visually delightful, providing a nicely realistic and historically accurate portrait of late 19th century Switzerland and Frankfurt am Main, Germany, with the pictures of the Swiss landscape and the Alps appearing as absolutely visually spectacular, as aesthetically stunning (and that I in fact do enjoy Ofride's artwork for Heidi: A Graphic Novel quite a bit more than what Mariah Marsden textually provides), well, I do still think it rather strangely disconcerting (and not at all in accordance with Johanna Spyri) how in the pictures for Heidi: A Graphic Novel, Peter's house looks quite large and not really like the small and poorly built wooden hut of Spyri's text, that words and pictures work decently enough in Heidi: A Graphic Novel but not all that realistically and accurately regarding the verbal and visual depiction of 19th century Swiss alpine poverty. So for me, Heidi: A Graphic Novel has been mildly entertaining, somewhat engaging but definitely not in any way outstanding and thus rates only as a very low three stars (although Marsden's textual adaptation is actually worth only two stars for me, that Ofride's pictures is what makes Heidi: A Graphic Novel three stars (although I do think that my three star rating for the combination of text and image in Heidi: A Graphic Novel is indeed and in fact quite majorly generous of me).

Last but not least (I promise), I do enjoy that both textually and also visually (as well as nicely realistically) Mariah Marsden and Ofride in one panel of Heidi: A Graphic Novel feature the famous German cake known as Frankfurter Kranz (Frankfurt Wreath in English, an absolutely delicious and sinfully rich sponge-like cake with butter cream icing both inside and outside), although it would be even better if a recipe for Frankfurter Kranz were included.

[suonnahbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heidi graphic novel by Marie Marsden and Ofride
Omg this graphic novel is Gorgeous and an adorable story about family, friendship, nature and more. I loved Heidi’s care free spirit, she’s adorable and so sweet. The drawings in this book are truly stunning I felt like I truly was there in the Swiss Alps. This made me want to go on a cabin trip. This book was adorable.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up with the isao takahata version of this story and it’s such a profoundly huge part of me that I actually gasped when I saw this graphic novel edition. How did I not know about this sooner? Maybe it’s the nostalgia but something about Heidi always makes me so emotional what a timeless beautiful story and the art was perfect

[Nicole Magolan]

omg, I love Mariah Marsden's graphic novel adaptations and I love Heidi! Can't wait to read this. 🥰

[Kassie Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve actually never read this story so this was my first introduction to it! I loved it so much and loved the illustrations!!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ Stars and a huge shout out to my friend, Shannon, for the recommendation. I've always dug my heels in against reading classics, probably due to HAVING to read them in school. I could not understand why people liked them so much. I know this is one of Shannon's favorites and when she mentioned that she found, read and loved the illustrated graphic novel and she thought it would be a good introduction for me, I was willing to give it a try. The illustrations are amazing and the storyline has me adding the original version to my TBR pile. I also plan to read The Secret Garden now too as this is a good gateway taste of the classics for me.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Heidi is near and dear to me, having grown up with the anime cartoon. This graphic novel was done beautifully, and there was more to the story than I remembered. I loved getting to share it with my 2 daughters too!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enjoyable read. The illustrations are beautiful. The story is charming. Quick and relaxing read. I will definitely add this to my “to read again” shelf. PS: Don’t forget to read the author’s notes after the story! It’s worth it.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh this was so beautiful and I cried while reading it
I kept going back in memory to the times I visited beautiful Switzerland and I felt for Heidi who got stuck in the city 💔
Can’t wait to finish the book!💜💜

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these!!!

[Marsha Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful graphic illustration, perfect adaptation of this story for a youth audience of readers.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such beautiful illustrations! I love the expressions on the characters faces and feel like it captures the essence of Heidi very well. It’s been a long time since I read the original novel, I think I’ll plan a read sometime in the near future.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marsden’s illustration style is absolutely breathtaking and very fitting for the story of Heidi!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy score for me, having grown up with the story of Heidi and sharing it with my own kids. Enjoyed the adaptation, loved the illustrations (relishing the many “quiet” pages without dialogue), and appreciated the additional bibliographic, historical, and cultural notes at the end.

[Emvee ⚔ Woman Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was BEAUUUUTIFUL!

Peter is such a little bitch.

[Literarykittens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic story + cute illustrations

[sladana blagojevic · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
Love Heidi (seriously one of my all time favorite books) but this was, in my humble opinion, too short. ❤️

[D.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not as familiar with the story of Heidi, but the art style is charming.

There are some passages without words that probably skim over the story, but I didn't notice anything that took away from the narrative

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artwork in Heidi is absolutely stunning. The illustrations feature bright pastel hues, with lovely shades of blue and green for the sky, leaves and grass. The Swiss Alps are depicted so perfectly, rising majestically across the pages with wildflowers scattered along the mountainside and fun pages of Peter herding the goats. It evokes memories of watching The Sound of Music, particularly the iconic scene where Maria is twirling in the meadow.

Key scenes from the original classic are present, like Aunt Dete bringing Heidi to live with her grandfather in the Alps, his initial awkwardness and gruffness with her being left with him and how they gradually soften and warm up to one another. The illustrations beautifully depict rural life, the changing seasons, and the contrast between Heidi's time in the mountains versus living in the city with Clara.

Included within the book is a bibliography of Johanna Spyri, a photograph of the original cover of the German edition of Heidi's Lehr-Und Wanderjahre (Heidi's Year of Wandering and Learning). There's a map of Switzerland, helpful information about Swiss folklore, crafts, and celebrations as well as descriptions of the plants and animals found in the Alps. There's even a list of the various adaptations that have been made of the classic book, to include games and movies. Such a wonderful story and I can't wait to purchase my own copy.

Other graphic novel adaptions by Mariah Marsden include The Secret Garden and Anne of Green Gables. I'm looking forward to reading these as well very soon.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mariah Marsden’s adaptation of the Spyri classic Heidi was wonderful in heart and art (panels by Ofride) right up until the end…because it wasn’t the end.

Marsden’s brief text captured the gentle, free spirit of young Heidi, the love she gave to her cranky grandfather, Peter the goatherd and her chosen grandmother in town, and the key players in Herr Sesemann’s house in Frankfurt. She also was able to convey the heaviness of Heidi’s homesickness that drove her to sleepwalk! Marsden’s simple words combined with the outstanding illustrations really did a fantastic job. So why then, didn’t the duo finish the story with Clara’s regained ability to walk? It would have only taken a dozen or so additional pages but lovers of the original work are going to feel as I did and significantly “zing” an otherwise beautiful graphic adaptation and take away several stars.

Despite its glaring omission of the rightful conclusion, elementary readers of warm-hearted stories are sure to love this one.

Thanks for providing me with an eARC, Edelweiss.

[BritSG · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series of adaptions by Marsden, and so I was very excited to see that she was doing Heidi. Ofride’s anime style illustrations are wonderful, and the colors are so vibrant! But why why why did Marsden choose to dispose of Spyri’s original ending??? And she didn’t even replace it with a different kind of climax or story twist. It’s like there is no ending. Just kids saying “ok, well… goodbye.” If Marsden disliked the original conclusion she could have left Heidi alone and wrote her own book. I’m really curious to understand what she was thinking.

[Loreley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice graphics, but why change the ending??

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally written by Johanna Spyri in 1880, this is a timeless tale surrounding the simple joys of life, friendship, kindness, and the wonders love and care can bring.

Heidi's parents died when she was very young. Her aunt, no able longer to care for her, takes her to an alm high in the Swiss Alps, where her grandfather lives alone and secluded from the nearby town. Despite the townspeople's concerns, Heidi thrives in the mountains as she helps her grandfather with the goats and daily life. Her attitude is always kind, bubbly, and cheerful...and naive. When she's slightly tricked into traveling to Frankfurt to become a playmate for a sick girl, Heidi's paradise is left far behind. Despite the homesickness, she tries her best to come to terms with the situation, but plans on returning back to her grandfather as quickly as possible.

This classic story is one that my husband and children have grown-up with, know, and love. So, I'm jumping into it with the knowledge of the original story as well as years of watching the anime on repeat. This graphic novel version carries much of the same atmosphere as the anime. The illustrations, however, hold a lighter, pastel color pallet, which fits very nicely with the scenes and brings the beauty of the mountains across very nicely. It also fits well to Heidi's sweet personality and cheerful view of the world. It was enjoyable to gaze at these and also catch the cultural and historical details built in. The characters are brought across with care and emotions in all the right ways.

The story flows quickly, but then, this is a graphic novel. It flows very smoothly and lets the tale unfold with the goodness and emotions needed to let it touch the heart and work its goodness. I was surprised that an important part of the original story is dropped from this novel at the end and disappointed since this adds a last wave of feel-good vibes. It would have only needed a couple more pages, so I'm unsure why this choice was made. Those who don't know the story won't miss anything, though.

As if the story itself wasn't pleasant enough to read, the author has also included quite a bit of knowledge and information at the end. Explanations surrounding Swiss culture, history, and more round everything off and make this a read, which would slide nicely into a classroom theme or homeschooling chapter.

[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2 Stars

There have been countless adaptations of Heidi over the years. This is the latest version and claims to be the first full-length graphic adaptation of the novel. I’ve watched the Japanese anime multiple times and read the book last year.

This graphic edition is more on the lines of the anime but in a much more condensed format. Think of it as an abridged version covering all the important elements. The heavy bits of faith and god from the original have been removed to keep the focus on nature. The core story is more or less the same, though I don’t remember the characters making snowmen in winter.

TBH, I took the book mainly to see the illustrations. These are really well done. So good that we have quite a few pages where the plot progresses without a single dialogue. The expressions and illustrations in each panel do the job very effectively! The color scheme is softer and uses pastels rather than rich vibrant colors. However, the result is not that different. Heidi is taller (compared to the anime) and has short messy auburn curls framing her face. The goats are adorable!

What sets the book apart from others is the extra content at the end. Apart from the full-page information about the original author (along with her picture), there are many added details about the local celebrations, goat-herding, flowers in the region, etc. These would make good topics for discussion after reading the story with kids.

To summarize, Heidi: A Graphic Novel is a lovely book to own. I’m sure the illustrations would be even better in a physical copy. Whether you want to read the story with little ones or buy a copy for your collection, this graphic novel is a good choice.

Thank you, Edelweiss+ and Andrew McMeel Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic novel retelling of the classic story about an orphan girl who is dumped on the doorstep of her grandfather, a grumpy old man who lives high in the Swiss Alps with his goats. Against all expectations, Heidi thrives there, melts the old man’s heart, and becomes fast friends with the goats and the goatherd boy Peter. But when Heidi’s aunt finds a job for Heidi in the city as a companion to Clara, a spoiled rich girl confined to a wheel chair, Heidi struggles to adapt to the city culture. Though she does become friends with Clara, she wilts under the pressure of Clara’s governess and longs for her Grandfather, the Alps, and the goats and Peter. Will she ever get to see them again?

I think this was my favorite adaptation of this story I’ve seen. I read the original (translated into English) as a child, and watched Shirley Temple’s movie adaptation…and I think an animated version??? I always felt like her time in the city was so heavy that it made it hard for me to enjoy the story, but this managed to scatter glimmers of hope even through the rough city time and made it more bearable. I really liked the biographical note about Johanna Spyri in the back of this graphic novel. It was fascinating to read.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Jealousy leads Peter to destroy something important. He apologizes and makes amends.
Ethnic diversity: The characters are Swiss or Austrian.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified.
Other: Clara’s governess is very strict and emotionally manipulative/hurtful. Heidi gets physically ill with homesickness. Clara is in a wheelchair, but doesn’t let that stop her from trying things.

[Jupiter Phaeton · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fellow writer who’s always been drawn to stories that radiate warmth, resilience, and transformation, I was absolutely charmed by this graphic novel adaptation of Heidi. From the first page, it’s clear that this isn’t just a retelling, it’s a loving tribute to Johanna Spyri’s original, reimagined with tenderness and care.

The artistry is breathtaking, with a folk-inspired style that feels like it was born straight from the Alps themselves. But beyond the beauty, what struck me most was the emotional depth. Heidi’s joy, her curiosity, her quiet strength, it’s all there. And watching her melt her grandfather’s frosty heart reminded me of why we write stories in the first place: to connect, to heal, and to remind readers (and ourselves) that kindness is never wasted.

As a fantasy author, I often live in worlds far removed from Swiss mountains and goat pastures, but at the heart of my work is the same belief: that courage and compassion can change everything. In my latest book, a young empath must confront both magical enemies and emotional truths, and in some ways, she’s not unlike Heidi, navigating a world that keeps asking her to grow.

Thank you for this beautiful adaptation. It made me nostalgic, hopeful, and inspired all at once. 💛
Would you like to know more about my writing journey? I think we might be weaving from different threads, but creating something deeply connected.

With admiration,
Jupiter Phaeton

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

See the story of Heidi in a new and colorful presentation with this upcoming release. Mariah Marsden was also author of Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel. I loved that one, too.
The words are kept to a minimum and the luminous graphic panels show us all the special details.

It has been awhile since I read the original. I had forgotten all the goat names. My favorite was Snowflake. This new graphic does a tremendous job of depicting Heidi's influence on her grandfather and others around her. Peter, Clara, and others are blessed by this little girl and her exuberant love for life.

Included in the back matter is information about Joanna Spyri, Swiss Folklore, Flora & Fauna of the Alps, Tending Goats, and a History of Wheelchairs. This is a delightful way to revisit or discover a beloved classic.🐐🌼

Thank you to Andrews McMeel and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd graphic novel adaptation I’ve read by Mariah Marsden & her illustrator colleagues and it may very well be my favourite!

This is the 1st one where I haven’t consumed the story in another way before reading this - Anne of Green Gables I’ve read the book, The Secret Garden I’ve seen the movie but I actually didn’t know the story of Heidi aside from knowing it’s about a little girl and her grandfather.

The story actually has elements of both of the other stories, I noticed - an orphan being raised by older people (AoGG) and then befriending a young person who is unwell (TSG).

Even if this graphic novel is just a tiny piece of the story - it’s so charming and precious. The illustrations by Ofride are absolutely gorgeous and really almost make you feel the mountain air.

The story is fantastic - which I’m sure is why it’s been so popular for so long. I felt for little Heidi so much when she was homesick that I almost teared up.

Definitely recommend to everyone - whether you know the story or not!

[AK · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read Heidi before, so this was my first time engaging with this work, and I absolutely adored it. The art and colour were beautiful and truly told the story so well in accompaniment to the classic story of Heidi. I think this is a great intro into the classics and a good place to start for younger kids who might find the full novel daunting (I am not a classics reader so this was perfect for me).

The story, at it's heart, is about friendship and family and the bonds you build through kindness and love. I appreciated all the different aspects - how much joy and love Heidi had in her heart, despite her circumstances; the feeling of jealousy when your best friend must move and makes new friends and feels more worldly when they return; the feeling of joy, knowing that you have place and people that you can call home. It's a lovely story, and I do wish I had given it a chance earlier, but now might be the time for me to jump into reading the full story!

TW: mentions death of parents

Finished copy gifted by Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review.