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Gris Grimly's Frankenstein

Name: Gris Grimly's Frankenstein
Item: Gris Grimly's Frankenstein
Rating: 5
Author: Michael Berry

Book review by

Michael Berry, Common Sense Media

Gris Grimly's Frankenstein Book Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

(i)

Illustrated version puts fresh, surreal spin on classic.

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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 1 review

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Educational Value

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is one of the cornerstone works of Gothic literature. Gris Grimly's abridgement makes the story more accessible to modern readers, retaining some of the archaic prose but illustrating the action with drawings that are by turns whimsical, grotesque and surreal.

Positive Messages

In creating his creature, Victor Frankenstein flouts the natural order and pays a terrible price. As a novel, Frankenstein emphasizes that pride goes before a fall and that some of God's secrets are not meant to be known by humankind.

Positive Role Models & Representations

To the modern reader, the title character of Frankenstein may not seen particularly sympathetic. Prideful, arrogant, and stubborn, Victor Frankenstein digs up corpses to build his Creature and is surprised when his work turns out to be an abomination in the eyes of nearly everyone. He pays a terrible price for his hubris, however, and by the end of the book, most readers will have pity for him.

Violence

There's plenty of violence in Griss Grimly's Frankenstein, including strangulations, an unjust execution, and murder by arson. Many of these events happen "offstage," but when they are depicted, their bloodiness is undercut by the cartoonish nature of the illustrations. Readers sophisticated enough to deal with Mary Shelley's prose are unlikely to be upset.

Sex

Frankenstein and his cousin Elizabeth are childhood sweethearts. As adults, they marry, with disastrous results. Whatever sexual content this abridgement has, it's pretty well hidden.

Language

Characters mention hell and damnation in their literal religious meanings.

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Gris Grimly's Frankenstein is a lavishly illustrated abridgement of Mary Shelley's classic novel. It uses portions of the original 1818 text and incorporates Grimly's distinctive drawings, which are by turns grotesque, whimsical, and surreal. Although there's plenty of violence (including strangulations, an unjust execution, and murder by arson), much of it happens "offstage," and any depicted bloodiness is undercut by the cartoonish nature of the accompanying illustrations. Gris Grimly's Frankenstein may serve as a welcoming gateway to a deep and rich literary tradition for adventurous teen readers.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written byklthomp33 November 7, 2013

age 10+

Extremly awesome

I love him. He is original and extrremly talented.

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Adult Written byMpirata November 8, 2013

age 8+

Great story and great graphic art

Everybody knows the story. Filosofie meets fantasy. And great graphics! My son loves it as I also do. He is 8

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Teen, 14 years old Written byISHITA GUPTA May 21, 2017

age 13+

THE MIGHTY MONSTER

Ishita Gupta(10th)Mind Tree School FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley is really one of the best horror books I have ever read. It is a spine-chilling book about a fer... Continue reading

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What's the story?

Victor Frankenstein is determined to unlock the secrets of life and death, and his experiments lead him to create a gigantic, terrifying creature out of dug-up body parts. Everybody views the Creature as an abomination, but all he wants is to live in peace somewhere with a female version of himself. The Creature promises to exact a terrible vengeance on Frankenstein unless the scientist creates another monster to serve as his soul mate. But is Frankenstein willing to loose another Creature upon the world?

Is it any good?

Mary Shelley's original novel is a classic of Gothic horror, still enthralling after two centuries. Its language and narrative structure can be daunting for young modern readers, however, and GRIS GRIMLY'S FRANKENSTEIN finds a way to make the story accessible without tossing Shelley's distinctive prose aside. The tension between the florid, archaic writing and Grimly's stylized, grotesque, and somehow whimsical illustrations creates a unique and engaging reading experience. It won't be to the tastes of purists, but Gris Grimly's Frankenstein may serve as a welcoming gateway to a deep and rich literary tradition for adventurous teen readers.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about about Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, and how it remains so powerful after almost two centuries. Why do you think it's been adapted so many times in books, movies, and TV shows?
Is it possible to both fear and pity Frankenstein's Creature? Are his violent actions understandable in any way?
Do you think there are subjects that scientists should not investigate, for fear of upsetting some kind of "natural order"?

Book details

Author: Mary Shelley
Illustrator: Gris Grimly
Genre: Horror
Topics: Adventures, History, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires, Science and Nature
Book type: Fiction
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication date: August 27, 2013
Number of pages: 208
Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle