Parents' Guide to

The Madman's Daughter

By Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Extra horror, romance in "Island of Dr. Moreau" update.

Book Megan Shepherd Science Fiction 2013
The Madman's Daughter Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 15+

Based on 3 parent reviews

dragon.elf
dragon.elf Adult
July 6, 2016
age 16+

Gripping horror with questions about humanity

Based on The Island of Dr. Moreau...a mad scientist who experiments with dissections and organ transplants. I have to admit that although the idea is terribly disturbing, I was also incredibly fascinated with it. Juliet is the daughter of exiled doctor Henri Moreau, living alone in England as a servant. When she runs into her childhood friend, Montgomery, she demands that he take her with him back to the island where her father is now living. Along the way, they rescue a castaway who is a young gentleman named Edward Prince. On the island, Juliet comes to realize that the rumours about her father's madness are true, and they were only a small bit of the horrors he has been practicing in his lab. Negative content: Dr. Hastings tries to take advantage of Juliet. Her friend Lucy convinces her to go to a party, where the boys keep trying to touch them. Juliet sees a prostitute in the city and wonders if she will end up like her. There are many scenes where Juliet and either Montgomery or Edward kiss, or she is thinking about being with them There are a couple uses of h*** as profanity
caitlind218
caitlind218 Adult
June 6, 2016
age 15+
It was a great book if you have a big imagination, like me. Although the author could have put more detail into scenes and characters, visualizing what the characters looked like was so much fun to do because everyone can have a different opinion on the matter. I feel that the story ended rather abruptly, but thank god for sequels!
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Juliet Moreau is desperate to leave London. Abandoned years ago by her father after he was maligned by the medical community, then by her mother when she succumbed to consumption, Juliet works scrubbing blood off medical building floors. Late one night she catches some medical students conducting a secret vivisection with one of her father's stolen papers, then traces its origins to a shady London inn. There she's shocked to find her childhood servant Montgomery. He's brought a giant malformed attendant with him to pick up supplies before heading back to the Pacific and back to her father. She begs to go along. Maybe she can dispel the rumors of his madness once and for all. But, after a harrowing journey, she arrives on her father's island, and his crimes and madness are worse than she could have imagined. But for her strong connection to Montgomery and Edward, a handsome and mysterious shipwreck survivor, Juliet would be going mad herself.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (1):

Even if readers are not huge fans of gothic horror or the H.G. Wells sci-fi classic THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER borrows from, it's hard to put this book down. Sure, author Megan Shepherd keeps the science of making humans out of animals sound kind of hokey. (Hey, why not introduce the idea of DNA as in the 1996 movie version of The Island of Doctor Moreau?) Plus, Juliet Moreau's mood swings may grate on readers after a while. (Who really likes her: Edward? Montgomery? Is she going mad like her father? When will she have another fit, hit her father, and break things?)

Hokey science aside -- man, can this story take a surprising turn. And then another. The suspense ratchets up early and doesn't let up; there are plenty of dark mysteries to uncover as the story moves forward. For starters, who or what is hunting them in the jungle, creeping into the doctor's compound? Shepherd throws together some fantastic nail-biter scenes, making The Madman's Daughter well worth another trip to H.G. Wells' bizarre and creepy island.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the H.G. Wells' classic The Island of Doctor Moreau (find a good synopsis online if needed). What did author Megan Shepherd keep the same? What did she change?

  • The ethical questions from the H.G. Wells book remain the same, especially in this age of DNA mapping and cloning. Do you think there are times that science crosses a line?

  • One thing this book adds in heavy doses: romance. Which suitor of Juliet's were you rooting for? Why? Where do you think the series -- and the romance -- go from here? Will you read the next book?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate