Gr. 4^-7. This semi-comic-book version of Mary Shelley's Gothic classic is a "lite" story that won't scare anyone. In cartoon style with jolly colors, the exaggerated illustrations create a silly farce. However, the words are powerful: Mould's retelling manages to simplify the Victorian prose without losing all the terror and melancholy of the monster story. Especially at Halloween, this will interest middle-grade readers who know the story of the giant freak--or think they do. Older kids will want to read Mary Shelley's full story in the edition also reviewed in this issue or, best of all, in the stunningly illustrated version by Barry Moser. Hazel Rochman
Review
"A new retelling of the story in attractively cartoony pictures... There is a spirit of cheery, Halloweenish fun to the drawings, dominated by autumnal orange or a deep, macabre green... Mould's chipper retelling achieves some of the pathos of the novel's final pages... His final picture is haunting,...an image to send chills of terror and pity up the spine of any kid, no matter how old he is."--The New York Times Book Review
"Younger readers--and all ages--are sure to go for [this] recent picture book version of Frankenstein... Chris Mould does a great job retelling the famous horror tale in short form. Mould's cartoonlike illustrations give some comic relief, but in terrific artistic detail still capture the spirit of doom and gloom."--Atlanta Journal Constitution
"The words are powerful: Mould's retelling manages to simplify the Victorian prose without losing all the terror and melancholy of the monster story."--Booklist
"A cartoon format makes a classic novel accessible to younger readers."--Publishers Weekly
"A clever adaptation... This story theme presents a classic case of an abused and neglected child growing up to become an abuser himself. It clearly relates how important nurturing and love are in a child's life. This adaptation can stand on its own."--Book Report
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