About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is feeling stifled by expectations or struggling to find their unique creative voice. It is a brilliant choice for young writers or history buffs who enjoy a clever, irreverent take on the past. The story reimagines the life of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, by giving her the magical ability to bring her drawings to life. Accompanied by her future husband Percy Shelley and the charmingly chaotic Lord Byron, Mary embarks on a high-stakes adventure involving clockwork men and secret societies. While the tone is comedic and fast-paced, the heart of the book explores themes of female independence, the weight of talent, and the loyalty of friends. It is a witty, sophisticated romp that celebrates the power of the imagination while navigating the complexities of young adulthood and first love in a magical 19th-century setting.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
1. DISTRESS: There are scenes of mild peril involving clockwork attackers and a kidnapping attempt that may create tension. The process of Mary bringing drawings to life involves a small amount of self-inflicted pain (a pinprick for blood), which is described but not dwelled upon.
Ideal Reader
A creative 14-year-old who feels like a bit of an outcast and loves 'what if' scenarios, especially those involving literature or science fiction.
Parent Prep
This can be read cold, but knowing the basic premise of Frankenstein helps the jokes land. It might be helpful to explain that the real Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein during a famously rainy summer at Lake Geneva, which this book parodies and reimagines. A child expressing that they feel they have to hide their talents or 'tone themselves down' to fit in socially.
Age Experience
Younger teens will enjoy the slapstick humor and the 'monsters' (the Fae and the animated drawings). Older teens will appreciate the sharp social commentary on gender roles and the romantic tension.
What Makes It Special
It belongs to the 'Lady Janies' style of historiography: irreverent, feminist, and magically altered, making 'stuffy' history feel immediate and hilarious.
Read plot summary
In this supernatural reimagining of literary history, Mary Shelley is an 'Alchemyst' with the power to animate her illustrations. When she accidentally brings a man to life (not a monster, but a very handsome, very confused creation), she must flee London. Joined by the idealistic Percy Shelley and the dramatic Lord Byron, Mary navigates a plot involving the suspicious 'Luddites' and a quest to find a place where her creations can exist freely. The narrative blends historical facts with steampunk elements and high-concept magic.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Mary's power requires her to use her own blood to bring her creations to life. What do you think this symbolizes about the process of being a real writer or artist?
2
The book portrays Lord Byron as incredibly dramatic and self-centered. How does his presence change the dynamic between Mary and Percy?
3
Ada Lovelace appears in the story as a child genius. How does her interest in 'thinking machines' complement Mary's interest in 'living' creations?
4
In the world of the book, Alchemysts are feared or controlled. Why do you think society in the story is so afraid of people who can create life?
