STITCH: REIMAGINING FRANKENSTEIN, by Pádraig Kenny, Walker Books US, July 22, 2025, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 8-12)
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein gets reimagined in Stitch, a middle-age gothic adventure by Pádraig Kenny.
Stitch and his friend Henry Oaf were brought to life by the genius Professor Hardacre. But when his wicked nephew takes over the laboratory, they soon discover that the new professor’s sights are set on Henry as his next experiment.
Can Stitch and Henry escape his clutches and make their way in a world they were never built for—and that may only ever see them as monsters? —Synopsis provided by Walker Books
There’s a bright, optimistic thread that runs through author Pádraig Kenny’s text that lifts Mary Shelley’s story, and makes it accessible and exciting for middle readers.
Stitch has a heart of gold. He’s different, and because he’s different, he sees the world differently. He is a character that wants to right, even when it’s hard. He’s beautifully realized, adding charm to a gothic tale.
Through Stitch and his friends Henry and Alice, readers are treated to a story of friendship, prejudice, morality, empathy and kindness.
Stitch is so much more than a monster story. It would be an excellent read-aloud in a classroom or fun to read on a dark, stormy night.
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