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Linda Bailey
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Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein (Who Wrote Classics) Hardcover – Picture Book, August 28, 2018

by Linda Bailey (Author), Júlia Sardà (Illustrator)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 136 ratings
See all formats and editions
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The inspiring story of the girl behind one of the greatest novels -- and monsters -- ever, perfectly timed for the 200th anniversary of the publication of Frankenstein. For fans for picture book biographies such as I Dissent or She Persisted.

How does a story begin? Sometimes it begins with a dream, and a dreamer. Mary is one such dreamer, a little girl who learns to read by tracing the letters on the tombstone of her famous feminist mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, and whose only escape from her strict father and overbearing stepmother is through the stories she reads and imagines. Unhappy at home, she seeks independence, and at the age of sixteen runs away with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, another dreamer. Two years later, they travel to Switzerland where they meet a famous poet, Lord Byron. On a stormy summer evening, with five young people gathered around a fire, Byron suggests a contest to see who can create the best ghost story. Mary has a waking dream about a monster come to life. A year and a half later, Mary Shelley's terrifying tale, Frankenstein: or, the Modern Prometheus, is published -- a novel that goes on to become the most enduring monster story ever and one of the most popular legends of all time.

A riveting and atmospheric picture book about the young woman who wrote one of the greatest horror novels ever written and one of the first works of science fiction, Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein is an exploration of the process of artistic inspiration that will galvanize readers and writers of all ages.
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    5 - 9 years
  2. Print length
    56 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Kindergarten - 4
  5. Dimensions
    7.81 x 0.46 x 11.81 inches
  6. Publisher
    Tundra Books
  7. Publication date
    August 28, 2018
  8. ISBN-10
    1770495592
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1770495593
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Named one of Horn Book’s CaldeNott Honour Books 2019
One of USBBY's Outstanding International Books 2019
One of Children’s Book Review’s Best Non-Fiction Picture Books of 2018
A Canadian Children’s Book News Bookseller Recommendation (Winter 2018) 
One of CBC Books' Best Canadian Children's and YA Books of 2018
One of Globe and Mail's 100 Notable Books of 2018
One of Globe and Mail's 100 Best Books of the Year 2018
One of Publishers Weekly's Best Children’s and YA Books 2018
One of New York Public Library’s Best Books for Kids 2018
One of Evanston Public Library's 101 Great Books for Kids 2018
A Booklist Editor's Choice, Top of the List 2018

PRAISE FOR Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein:

“[Júlia] Sardà’s distinctive angular illustrations are rife with thoughtful period detail and patterns in rich tones, evoking an appropriately maudlin mood while showcasing how Shelley’s life was a catalyst to art and creativity—and, perhaps, the birth of science fiction.” —STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly

"[Bailey’s] writing is warm and inclusive, posing occasional questions directly to the reader and establishing Shelley as a spirited dreamer . . . . Readers will revel in this artful portrait of a celebrated young author and better appreciate the true brains behind the operation." —STARRED REVIEW, Booklist

“The many decorative details, reminiscent of 18th-century gravestone designs, will fascinate children, and the gaunt, Gorey-like, grave-pallid figures will send chills down the spine. An exciting tale in its own right, this biography should prime readers for the original.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Sardà’s snappy, elegant illustrations evoke Gothic suspense. . . . Visually atmospheric and bold.” —Toronto Star

“If you have an aspiring writer on your list this year, a story of one of literature’s finest female horror writers will thrill and inspire them." —Barnes & Noble

"Linda Bailey will inspire young writers with this picture book biography of Mary Shelley, the girl who dreamed up the idea for one of the greatest novels of all time." —School Library Connection

“Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein . . . is sure to inspire would-be writers and other imaginative minds. I heartily recommend this book for any library, public or personal – adult readers will enjoy it, too!" —Resource Links

“A riveting and atmospheric picture book . . . an exploration of the process of artistic inspiration that will galvanize readers and writers of all ages.” —Children’s Book Review

"[T]his account of Shelley’s life and how she dreamed up her now-famous story will captivate young readers.” —Booklist Online

 “Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein shows how a book can be imagined and created through the inspiration of personal experiences and daydreams. It is a book that will inspire readers that they, too, can become writers by tapping into their own experiences and imaginations!” —CM Magazine

“An excellent introduction to classic literature for young readers. . . . With the muted palette of grey, maroon and burnt orange, one feels transported into a world of gothic intrigue where ghouls can roam amongst us.” —Canadian Children’s Book News

About the Author

LINDA BAILEY is an award-winning author who has written more than thirty books for children, including Carson Crosses Canada, Under-the-Bed Fred, The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library and Seven Dead Pirates. She has won the Blue Spruce Award, the California Young Reader Medal and the Georgia Storybook Award, among others. Like Mary, she has been building "castles in the air" all her life. She lives and works in Vancouver, British Columbia.

JÚLIA SARDÀ is an artist who has illustrated many books for children, including The Liszts by Kyo Maclear, and number of classics such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Her work has been published around the world in many languages. She lives in Barcelona, Spain.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tundra Books; Illustrated edition (August 28, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 56 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1770495592
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1770495593
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 - 9 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Kindergarten - 4
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.08 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.81 x 0.46 x 11.81 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 136 ratings

About the author

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Linda Bailey

Linda Bailey

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Linda Bailey is the author of more than thirty-five books for children. She was born and grew up in Winnipeg, but a passion for travel took her around the world, mostly by ship, before she settled on Canada's west coast. It was there that she first began to write fiction and discovered the splendours of a different kind of travel — into imagined worlds.

Her books, now published in fifteen countries, have won multiple awards across North America, including the California Young Readers Medal, the Ontario Blue Spruce and Silver Birch Awards, the Arthur Ellis Crime Writers Award and the Georgia Picture Book Award. Linda has two grown daughters, Lia and Tess, and lives in Vancouver, close to the sea.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
136 global ratings
Get to know the girl who wrote the horror classic!
4 Stars
Get to know the girl who wrote the horror classic!
Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein, is a biographical book written about the life of Mary Shelley for children by Linda Bailey. This summer, while studying for the Praxis English Middle School Examination, I first learned of how the story of Frankenstein came to be and how it tremendously differs from today's green faced monster with bolts in his neck!I love how Bailey introduces this woman behind the creation of Frankenstein and how society was unaccepting of the horror story and was unbelieving of who the story was written by. This young girl, could not possibly have written such a thing; how did she even come about it? Although, the information shared about the writer and the story was true; which provides an example to our students that young people can do incredible things too. The stories that we dream about, create in class, and make up out on the playground could be the next timeless classic novel. Nobody really knows until they try. It has been 200 years since Mary Shelley published the book of Frankenstein and we are still discussing it!From the publisher: How does a story begin? Sometimes it begins with a dream, and a dreamer. Mary is one such dreamer, a little girl who learns to read by tracing the letters on the tombstone of her famous feminist mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, and whose only escape from her strict father and overbearing stepmother is through the stories she reads and imagines. Unhappy at home, she seeks independence, and at the age of sixteen runs away with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, another dreamer. Two years later, they travel to Switzerland where they meet a famous poet, Lord Byron. On a stormy summer evening, with five young people gathered around a fire, Byron suggests a contest to see who can create the best ghost story. Mary has a waking dream about a monster come to life. A year and a half later, Mary Shelley's terrifying tale, Frankenstein: or, the Modern Prometheus, is published -- a novel that goes on to become the most enduring monster story ever and one of the most popular legends of all time.A riveting and atmospheric picture book about the young woman who wrote one of the greatest horror novels ever written and one of the first works of science fiction, Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein is an exploration of the process of artistic inspiration that will galvanize readers and writers of all ages.I received an Advanced Digital Reader Copy of this book from Netgalley & Tundra Books in exchange for my honest review. This book will be released today, August 28, 2018.
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Top reviews from the United States

Rozanna
5.0 out of 5 stars Good service
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2019
Verified Purchase
Excellent service. Delivered as promised in timely fashion and great condition. Beautifully illustrated. Too bad children don't appreciate it.
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deborah marcero
5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking, Haunting, Gorgeous
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2019
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Mesmerizing story told through beautifully crafted words and even more stunning illustrations. I would give this book 100 stars if I could.
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Helen
5.0 out of 5 stars Great beautiful book that led us to other interesting learning!
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2019
I love reading picture book biographies with my daughters because I often learn a lot as well. This book, which starts with Mary Shelley’s early life and stops at age 18 when she pens Frankenstein, is a tale adult’s are likely quite familiar with, but as an adult, I still loved the reading this beautiful book with my girls.

The selection of Júlia Sardà as illustrator was inspired. As soon as I opened the book I recognized her style from The Liszts, which was an altogether odd book but was wonderfully illustrated. Mary Who Wrote Frankstein has the benefit of being not only a fabulously illustrated book but also a fabulously written one. The illustrations are dark, complex, and almost eerie at times, but still quite lovely; great for any aspiring artists or art lovers to peruse.

I also love books that inspire us to look further into a subject or that ties into something else we are interested in. For Christmas, I received Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year. I have the lofty goal to read one poem with my girls each day. The first poem was The Garden Year by Sara Coleridge. Sara Coleridges’ father, Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and is mentioned in the book as having a major influence on Mary and her imagination. The girls loved that tie in and so did I!!

We really enjoyed this book. Right now, as I am writing this, my husband picked up the book and is reading it! He stopped to look up Fantasmagoria, the ghost story anthology, Lord Byron was reading to the group during that fateful storm and he just downloaded a copy to read himself!! Like I said, great book!
3 people found this helpful
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Terri
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Love This!
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2018
(Recieved from NetGalley for an honest review).

This book is written in a narrative format sowing some key events of Mary Shelley's life as a child and some of her inspirations in becoming a writer and prominent female figure of her time. I really like the references to other literary thinkers/works that Mary would have interacted with, such as her own mother (Mary Wollstonecraft) and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It shows some of the struggle for a young girl to be such a bright thinker during the time period, although not necessarily unheard of. The facts from Mary Shelley's life are illustrated with unique images on every page as well as prose that makes this book feel more fictional, even though it's definitely a biography.

My specialty of study is the British Romantic period, and some personal favorite writers of mine are Coleridge (I loved the illustration with the "Rhyme" reference), Mary Shelley, and Percy Shelley. Frankenstein is one of my favorite novels, and I thought this book was so pleasantly put together that I think it would definitely be a fun introduction to a Frankenstein or British Literature unit in high school, regardless of grade level. Seniors love the chance to have a picture book read to them in class, and this book give excellent context about the time period and the writer herself, making it the perfect unit intro. There's also a really nice author's note at the end that talks about the origin of the information, true information first told by Mary Shelley herself to answer questions about the writing process and how it affected her as a young woman.

Whether you are using this book as a classroom tool or reading it for fun, anyone of any age can find enjoyment in it!
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Judith P. Larson
4.0 out of 5 stars Mary, author of Frankenstein
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2020
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I was in a book club reading Frankenstein and thought this might be interesting to read about the author. When I ordered, didn’t realize it was a young person’s book about the author. A young person would enjoy this
One person found this helpful
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Michelle Kidwell
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Children’s Book
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2018
Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein
by Linda Bailey
Penguin Random House Canada

Tundra Books
Children's Fiction
Pub Date 28 Aug 2018

I am reviewing a copy of Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein through Tundra Books and Netgalley:

This beautifully illustrated Children books tells the story of Mary Shelley the author of Frankenstein! It tells of a Mother who she never really knew but always missed her mother died when she was eleven days old. A stepmother who she didn't care for and one. Mary is angry and unhappy at home and when she is only fourteen her Father sends her away to live with strangers in Scotland. She stays with the family who she likes until she is sixteen, she comes home and then runs away with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, her stepsister Claire goes too. Mary’s family is horrified.

The trio travel Europe by horse and donkey with very little money, and take a boat down The Rhine River.

A ruined Castle named Frankenstein that she sees on this trip becomes the inspiration for the well loved horror novel Frankenstein.

On the next trip together, eighteen months later Mary, Shelley and Claire go to Switzerland where they meet the world’a most famous poet Lord Byron, they end up going sailing with him. A rainy night in leads to Byron suggesting they have a contest to see who can write the best ghost story. Sometimes later a dream leads her to begin Frankenstein

Mary was only eighteen when she wrote Frankenstein, and it had rejected by two publishers until it was finally published by a third.

I give Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!
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Top reviews from other countries

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Tessa Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful inspired book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 6, 2023
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The media could not be loaded.
 I think this is a beautiful book.
The illustrations are stunning.
I appreciate other comments about not being sure what age this is suitable for but for the younger reader I think the focus of the story could be dreaming and what can be achieved from a simple idea, and for the older reader (adults included) there is a childlike view into the world of Mary and Frankenstein
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nightreader
5.0 out of 5 stars Mary sees mystery everywhere, finds creativity fulfilling her life. Creative words and drawings
Reviewed in Canada on June 17, 2019
Verified Purchase
I am in awe of the creativity and the story in this book. In fact, I really enjoyed the book. I love the illustrations in this book, both the imaginative and creative drawings, and the creative writing. Kids and adults are going to love these drawings, as creative as the original story itself. This is a childrens' book, so creative. As it says, How does a Story Begin? Sometimes it begins with a dream. A children's book (or ya), the drawings are contagious, I would not have recognized the story from the historical original, very unique.
One person found this helpful
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aroa24
5.0 out of 5 stars Muy recomendable
Reviewed in Spain on August 5, 2019
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Compré el libro porque me cautivaron las ilustraciones de Julia Sardá, además son un apoyo ideal al texto que acompañan. La historia sirve para conocer un poquito a la creadora de Frankenstein, Mary Shelley. El nivel de inglés es muy básico y muy fácil de leer.
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anand babu
5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful book. kids should read this!
Reviewed in India on October 31, 2018
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a perfect window to classics like frankenstein. very beautiful art.

packaging and delivery: spot on
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mr andrew k ostick
5.0 out of 5 stars Satisfied
Reviewed in Canada on January 5, 2021
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I am very satisfied with this item. It arrived on time and in good condition. Thank you. P.Ostick
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