Frankenstein

Children's Literature - Kathleen Foucart

The "Monster Chronicles" is a series of reference books about things that go bump in the night. In this book, divided into four sections, readers are introduced to the monster of Frankenstein. The first section talks about the monster and mythologies that discuss creatures made up of other parts. The second is all about Mary Shelley and her life and work creating the story of Frankenstein. The third and fourth sections give information on Frankenstein in entertainment, from the first plays to modern depictions. Except for the fact that it takes until page thirteen to learn that Frankenstein is the name of the scientist, not the creature, this is a well-researched introduction into the story of Frankenstein. Written in a way that is easy to understand, this would be a great asset to anyone looking to write a report on Mary Shelley's classic novel. Even if someone was not interested in the novel, there is an excerpt in the back that might spark interest after the reference book has been read. As with all the "Monster Chronicles" books, there is a bibliography and a list of Web sites included at the end so more research may be conducted if needed.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-Written in a chatty style that draws readers in, these titles attempt to explain the origins of and continuing fascination with the individual monsters. Drawings and movie stills make up the bulk of the illustrations. Frankenstein and Vampires also include brief excerpts from the novels Frankenstein and Dracula. However, since Frankenstein is not the name of the monster in Mary Shelley's book, the references to him as such are erroneous. Although Krensky clarifies this misconception in chapter two, he continues to refer to him in subsequent references as "Frankenstein," which is confusing. There is also a mistake in the description of the plot of Young Frankenstein. Gene Wilder's character is not the son of Victor Frankenstein but his grandson. Vampires is missing several sentences in its description of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In addition, a caption of George Hamilton as a vampire in Love at First Bite is incorrectly labeled as being from the movie Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Despite some errors, these titles are sure to entice horror fans.-S K Joiner, Brazoria County Library System, Angleton, TX Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.