Mary's Monster

Reviewed by: Kathy George - Gray Publlic Library, Gray, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 12, 2018

Review

Frankenstein was written in 1818 by teenage Mary Shelley whose life was as dramatic as her main character. While working through her own demons, Lita Judge leaves the world of picture books,to write about a young girl who fought her own dark demons. Raised to embrace free love and communal living, young, willful Mary falls for Percy Bysshe Shelley, who was already married. Together they run off to what Mary hopes will be a life of adventure and excitement. Instead, they are spurned by family and friend alike. Mary has two monsters, The one in book form and the one she carries with her. Ms. Judge tells of Mary's life in six parts and in free verse. Her language makes the reader feel Mary's emotional state as she lives with Shelley, but it is her illustrations, dark, dramatic that pull the reader into Mary's life. This graphic novel is haunting, terrifying and breathtaking in its rendering. A must read both for the story and the art.

Overall Book Score: excellent