Candlewick, May, 2006
ISBN: 0763629944 .
Available: New
“What manner of ungodly baby kills its creator?” Even at sixteen, Mary Shelley’s nightmares force her to face this question. Angelmonster takes us into the mind and heart of the author of Frankenstein, in the entwined stories of her tragic love affair and marriage to the tormented poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and the terrible events that she must come to terms with to write this classic tale of horror. Veronica Bennett has taken some liberties with the order of events, but the story does follow along the lines of Mary’s life with the poet, and her fictional take draws us in to this unconventional, passionate, and independent woman’s thoughts and feelings. Angelmonster is gripping and gorgeously written historical fiction woven with strong elements of romance and horror, but don’t expect lots of gore and sex. This would be a great book to bridge readers of paranormal romances to historical fiction, or to connect readers of historical fiction to gothic novels and classic horror fiction. Since the Frankenstein story is so pervasive, there are a lot of great literary and media connections as well. Although it’s not strictly horror, Angelmonster deserves a place in the well-rounded YA horror fiction collection. Highly recommended- suggested for grades 10-up, due to mature content. Contains: extramarital affairs, suicide, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, and the death of small children.