Review by Frank Plowright

Simon doesn’t do too well at school, having been kept back three times, but he’s a practical lad, a worker and is able to spot an opportunity. When his teacher finally decides it’s time he left school, he knows exactly what he’s going to do at twelve years old. This is the mid-1800s, and he’s heard that turkeys sell for five dollars in Denver, whereas he can buy them from Mr. Buffey in Union, Missouri at 25 cents each. What he’s not quite aware of is the distance from Union to Denver. Still, as noted, he’s a practical lad.

Kathleen Karr’s children’s novel The Great Turkey Walk has won all sorts of awards since being published in 2000, and there’s obviously been a French translation to inspire Swiss artist Léonie Bischoff. You’d have to have read the original novel to know how faithful the adaptation is, but as a graphic novel on its own merits this absolutely sparkles.

Bischoff keeps the drawing simple with minimal backgrounds, but the people are very expressive and there’s always a sense of place. Her Simon is more instantly likeable as a smiling lad in dungarees than the dark haired lump drawn on some novel covers, and almost every character’s reactions mirror the circumstances we gradually come to know about them. Drawing a thousand turkeys on a march of eight hundred miles would be a task putting off many artists from beginning the project, but Bischoff showing them from distance gets the job done, and it’s only rarely that they’re seen in as much detail as the cover.

Before setting off Simon employs mule driver Bidwell Peece, and along the way picks up two further friends. He’s largely oblivious to any danger, and when it first arrives it’s from a surprising, yet persistent source. Karr’s original plot constantly delights via the people Simon meets and the situations he finds himself in, and his kindly nature wins most over. There are occasions when that’s exploited, but he’s a quick learner and doesn’t get fooled twice.

The Great Turkey Walk is an inspirational story told with wit, style and immense talent. The youngster in your life shouldn’t be deprived of it.