Students of literature will appreciate the powerful poetry that brings life to Mary Shelley’s story the way that Shelley...
That a teenage girl in 19th-century England could have written a novel as original as Frankenstein has fascinated generations of readers.
This fictionalized biography in first-person free verse unveils how Mary Shelley’s unusual experiences shaped her imagination and inspired her to give the world the first “mad scientist” in science fiction. From extensive source material, Judge pieces together a timeline from 1812 until the anonymous publication of Frankenstein in 1817. As a pregnant teenager, Mary is banished by her father for her relationship with libertine poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Her social circle of prolific Romantic-era writers includes poet Lord Byron, who challenges the group to write ghost stories one rainy evening. (Among the tidbits in the backmatter are thumbnail biographies of these secondary players and a bibliography of related titles.) The author/illustrator pulls no punches in her portrayal of Mary’s dismal life. The book is heavily illustrated in black-and-white wash, with darkly evocative images that echo the grief behind Mary’s writing, including the loss of a baby and sharing Percy Shelley with her stepsister, Claire. A prologue and epilogue from the Creature’s point of view pull modern readers in: “She conceived me…till I was bold enough to climb out of the page / and into your mind.”
Students of literature will appreciate the powerful poetry that brings life to Mary Shelley’s story the way that Shelley herself breathed life into her novel of a scientist who animates a corpse. (introduction, biographical note, author’s note, notes, bibliography) (Historical verse novel. 13-17)Pub Date: Jan. 30, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-62672-500-3
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Nov. 12, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2017
A highly creative way of providing insightful social commentary.
An African American poet explores the special joys and challenges of Black girlhood.
Educator and writer Shanté draws on her life story to explore what it means to be a Black girl in contemporary society. From the beginning, she pays homage to wide-ranging experiences, some positive, some not, of women of all ages, while acknowledging her connections to them through her writing. She uses a variety of poetic forms, including free verse and haiku, to describe ways that Black girls are characterized from an early age. Others negatively judged Shanté’s mother’s status as a single parent, even as her mom sought supportive connections: “she wanted us to know / that we had community / a culture / a home / a safe space / to land. / In a hard / hard / world.” Her mother’s guidance was critical to Shanté’s ability to overcome limitations imposed both from within and outside the community. By weaving her personal experiences with reflections and observations, the author provides a rich tapestry of perspectives on Black girlhood. In addition to culturally specific episodes, the poems explore universal themes around family dynamics, coming of age, and personal acceptance. The author effectively uses the imagery of being boxed in (and stepping outside boxes) to link the poems and vignettes. Footnotes cleverly expand on the ideas contained in the main text. A comprehensive readers’ guide completes this unique literary package.
A highly creative way of providing insightful social commentary. (Poetry. 14-17)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9798890039538
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2024
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