Description

SHORTLISTED FOR THE KATE GREENAWAY MEDAL
It began with a girl named Mary. She liked to daydream and imagine. And she grew up to write Frankenstein.
The inspirational true story of the great writer Mary Shelley, brought to life for children in this stunning picture book by multi-award winning author Linda Bailey and with beautiful illustrations from Julia Sarda.
Mary loves stories, but the stories in her daydreams are far more thrilling than those in any book. One dark and stormy night Mary huddles around the fire with friends, telling ghost stories. But Mary knows she can write much better than those! After learning about electricity that can make dead frogs twitch, she has a nightmare that triggers the birth of one of the greatest scary stories of all time: Frankenstein…
Praise for the illustrator: “Julia Sarda’s illustrations are dark, dream-like, detailed” THE TIMES

Publisher Review

"This narrative non-fiction look at Mary's life promises to be a particularly atmospheric and stylish affair" -- Fiona Noble * Children's Buyer's Guide * "A fascinating biography of Mary Shelley with luscious illustrations." * Irish Independent - Books of the Year 2018 * "In this wonderful tale of Mary Shelley, information is conveyed with a fittingly melodramatic touch and a visual style that borders on that of a graphic novel." * Inis Reading Guide * "Stunning... A perfect read for the very youngest aspiring writers" * Askews & Holts Library Services * "Exciting and empowering... Sarda's illustrations superbly capture the tempestuous atmosphere and environment that acted as both backdrop and catalyst to Mary Shelley's novel." * Association of Illustrators *