I absolutely loved this book. A perfect read having read-read the original recently. I really enjoy Catherine’s style of writing and ,Following Frankenstein, was no exception. A wonderful book with unexpected twists, together with friendship and acceptance at the heart of it.

Following Frankenstein is an incredible read and one that holds your attention from the get go.

I loved that there is a true element and nod to Shelley's Frankenstein with the darkness and bleakness to Bruton's world. There is a fantastic blend of the two with Maggie's (our wonderful protagonist) father having seen Prometheus (I'm aware technically he isn't called this but for years; I have acknowledged Frankenstein's monster as this. Sorry, I just dont like calling him momster or creature constantly) wandering around London years before our story begins. I think this works so well to acknowledge Shelley's work and hopefully encourage young readers to search out this classic when they're able to.

This sighting has caused Maggie's father to become obsessed with finding the monster, and has thrust the two of them into destitution and yet? He doesn't stop nor truly see what his actions have caused his innocent daughter to endure. As an adult reader, I felt so much frustration at his actions and his inability to care fully for his daughter and I imagine that same feeling will carry across to children thanks to the creative world building that the author has gifted the reader. Bruton's words enable you to practically feel the dirt on your skin, and the hunger all the children suffer from thanks to the scenes that play out.

Maggie is far more the adult in their family than the father, and that is shown so much in how she cares and tries to protect her father from making poor decisions but alas; and to of course, begin our great adventure? Her father is deaf to all her fears, concerns and pleas for him to see the dire results of his actions.

Adventures on the high seas finds Maggie as a stowaway as she desperately tries one last time to save her fsther from abject ruin, alongside the ships Captain, Ishmael who swears to have seen Frankenstein's monster, and the ship's crew. Promises are made, but could it be too late for Maggie to salvage her family from what is close to insanity?

This is a story that whilst being for middle grade children, is thought provoking and deals with true historical events alongside those from fiction in a wonderfully blended manner that do cause one to think. With mentions of the slaves, the dire events of the slave trade itself and the Underground rail roads (Something I didn't know much about as it wasn't taught in school etc) that often led to salvation for those torn from their homeland? There is much to talk about and provide insight into a horrific time in our history.

Whilst there is some bleak moments in the book, there is also some wonderfully light moments filled with hope and happiness. Even though Maggie's life isn't what it was; she never loses hope of a better fortune and the restoration of her father to a better place in body and mind. Following Frankenstein is a reminder of acceptance both of yourself and of others who maybe different in both looks, beliefs and expectations. A story of found family and a strong hope in the goodness of others.

It's a read for all, and you will experience a myriad of emotions along the way.

My class loved this! What an adventure. They didn’t want me to put it down & upon finishing it, lots of them wanted to read it again independently. Wonderful!

This novel would make a great springboard for middle grade readers into more complex books and also finding out about the classics. This novel begins after Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein ‘ has ended. I felt this was a more assured and confident novel than ‘Another Twist in the Tale’ (which sits alongside Dickens’ ‘Oliver Twist’). I loved how other characters from other nineteenth century novels were weaved into the story. This would make a great class read/book club pick for years 5-7 - a fantastic adventure with lots to discuss. Thanks to Netgalley for my ARC.

A really intriguing take on Frankenstein, with good values of needing to be kind to others instilled throughout.

This was an enjoyable read for me, with an interesting cast of characters and a great pace set from the start.

Following Frankenstein was such a heart-wrenching and beautiful story that I loved reading! The writing was very engaging and so was the plot. The entire adventure was very memorable and overall I loved this book!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

We have so enjoyed seeing bright faces read this exciting adventure. A perfect companion to our reading of Pullman’s version.

I’ve hit a bit of a slump with my reading and so I’ve decided to read a few middle grade novels to get back on track. When I taught in Year 6, I loved reading children’s fiction and our English curriculum was, and still is, based around whole class texts. I’ve missed reading middle grade novels and so I was delighted to get a copy of Following Frankenstein through #netgalley from @nosycrow to read and review.

The story follows young Maggie, who has just lost her beloved Aunt and whose father has been ruined by years of searching for the creature of Frankenstein, after a fateful encounter with the scientist and his creature in the Arctic. He’s lost his reputation and his fortune and Maggie feels further away her father than she ever has. At her Aunt’s funeral, Maggie’s father is approached by a stranger, Count Florenzo - a man of science, or so he seems - who wishes to fund a new expedition to find the creature of Frankenstein. Of course Maggie’s father is fuelled by promises of riches beyond his wildest dreams and agrees to take part in the expedition. Maggie knows there is only one thing for it - she has to follow him. But where will it lead? What will they discover and who will they find?

I really enjoyed reading this story and couldn’t put it down. The opening line had me hooked and I wanted to find out what happened. I loved that this was a sequel to Frankenstein and how the story intertwined lots of different story ideas. It made me think of The Greatest Showman in parts. It’s a story that celebrates friendships and standing up for what you believe in and how we must all be inclusive and celebrate differences. The authors note acknowledgment at the end of the book was a very interesting read too. Her passion for the novel really comes across and it was interesting to read how she was inspired to write it. She explains that this story is one about neurodiversity and disability and one that she hopes 'celebrates diversity, challenges discrimination- and encourages young readers to do the same'.

This was a story absolutely brimming with heartfelt emotion.
I didn't know too much about this Frankenstein retelling before reading other than that I had enjoyed the source text and was intrigued to see where the author would take us on this journey.

This book had so many aspects that I enjoy in middle grade fiction, great friendships, loyal characters and even an animal companion. (Victor the mouse was undoubtedly one of the bravest heroes of this story!)

As well as just being a fun and interesting retelling of a classic I appreciated the author including themes such as discrimination based on gender, sex, disability, race etc and how small acts of kindness can give hope.

I also really liked the inclusion of different aspects of history, such as the mentions of the indigenous peoples of America and Canada, the Underground Railroad as well as some recognisable historical figures. Even if these events were mixed with some creative licencing I think they provide a good topic of conversation for young readers to ask ,"Well what was the underground railroad, who were the indigenous tribes, what is their culture?" etc and therefore creates space for more questions, learning and investigation.

I also really enjoyed the writing style, it flowed well but wasn't oversimplified with some great descriptive and poetic imagery.

Unique, imaginative, middle-grade reads are a special love of mine and I was delighted to be accepted for this one. I had no idea what to expect but it was certainly a story that I won’t be forgetting in a hurry.

Maggie’s father has dedicated his life to searching for the monster created by Victor Frankenstein. For one last time, he and Maggie are setting off to the Arctic on a voyage that will hopefully fulfill her father’s ambition. The monster is nowhere in sight but he has fathered a son via a human woman.

Each of the chapters are headed by a beautiful illustration of Maggie, Kata and Maggie's pet mouse Victor running. The fact that it runs along the narrative with us is the perfect visual of the journey and with each appearance, I was excited to see which direction it would take us in.

Maggie’s mother died giving birth to her and she feels a certain guilt for that. Her father’s obsession with Frankenstein is connected to his desire to reverse death and of course, that desire comes from a world of pain. Of course, her father loves her but he doesn’t seem to pay a lot of attention to her and I can only imagine that this comes from the pain that she reminds him of.

The ship that takes Maggie and her father to the Arctic is full of Moby Dick characters. When these characters showed up, I knew that this book was something a little bit different. I couldn’t work out whether the whole thing was a young girl’s rich, wild imagination running riot while reading the classics or whether the voyage was somehow really happening. You could read the book in both ways and I love the fact that its left to the reader to choose which approach to take.

There’s a scene where an old woman in the Arctic community talks about a young woman who sounds remarkably like Mary Shelley. I loved that Bruton managed to weave part of this extraordinary writer’s life into this wonderful celebration of her greatest work. I think I would have liked more references to it and perhaps have made them more explicit but it was great fun to be able recognise her presence.

One of the main messages of the book is that everyone needs and deserves true love. Bruton manages to deliver this universal message through what we know of fairytales and of course, this relates perfectly to what Frankenstein is all about. It’s an important lesson for everyone to learn and it resonates wonderfully through the story of Maggie and her beautiful friendship with Kata, the monster’s son.

Of course, the question of who the real monster is, is left at the end of Shelley’s novel and it’s very much echoing at the end of Bruton’s too. The journey that Maggie and Kata take leads down many dark, heart-rending roads and there are many candidates for the biggest monster. Watching Maggie’s love for Kata blossom coupled with her fierce determination to protect him from those who want nothing more than to take advantage of him is beautiful. I had no doubt that together they could smash through any barriers that were thrown in their way.

I didn’t expect the book to take me to the underground railroad but I was so glad that it did. The juxtaposition of this very real element of history with the fictional characters that were around at the same time was so cleverly done and it just drew everything together into a harrowing picture that was tinged with a warm glow of hope. It also opened up the opportunity to see Kata’s mistreatment alongside that of the slaves and it’s a stark reminder of how terrible human society is at its core.

Following Frankenstein is a middle-grade, historical novel that is truly one of a kind. Maggie is an easy protagonist to root for and it preaches a mantra of looking deeper than outer appearances and recognising inner beauty for what it really is. The truth is that you can only have true, fulfilling, long-lasting relationships when you love the whole of the other person. I really wish this was the essence of every children’s book ever because the sooner we learn this, the more beautiful love stories we can embark on.

I always found Frankenstein an interesting story so when I saw this I just had to read it.
Can love really be shared out it does all just have to be for one person?
There is a difference between love and being consumed by a passion and Maggie is soon to learn that a passion can bring love together and take them on a journey.
I loved this book the characters and the plot had me hooked straight away.

I was so happy to be reviewing a book from Catherine Bruton and this was excellent. Good pace for middle school and enough clues to keep them guessing, but still with a nice twist at the end. The fact that one does not need to have read Frankenstein first is a real positive and I am sure that once children have read this book, they will be curious to read the actual Frankenstein book as a follow up. Following Frankenstein will work well as a set reading text for schools and I especially liked the subtle focus on diversity and not judging people by how they look. The way in which Maggie was determined to look out for her father despite his neglect of her due to his fanatical obsession with Frankenstein’s monster reflects the reality of many children and despite the nastiness of a number of characters, there was also kindness to be found. Another good discussion topic is of slavery and how awful and shameful this was (and still is with modern slavery still occurring).
We will be bringing this to Costa Rica and promoting it to schools as a possible set English text.

Frankenstein has always had a special place in my reading experience, so as soon as I saw the title I was hooked.
Maggie Walton is the daughter of a man obsessed with Frankenstein’s creation, a man who has brought the family to nothing in his pursuit of the infamous monster. Maggie and her pet mouse, Victor, have grown up with stories of the search for Frankenstein’s creation. So, when her father decides to try one last time to find him, Maggie decides to stow away.
Her journey involves characters from many literary tales. Each plays their part in guiding Maggie to a journey that could not be believed in her wildest imaginings. A journey that involves the son of Frankenstein’s creation.
This was a story that took us through numerous landscapes, and which had - at its heart - the message to look beyond superficial differences and to value people for who they are. For a Frankenstein fan it was a real treat, but I think it could inspire new readers to dip their toes into Shelley’s world.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this before publication.

This is the story of a mans obsession with finding Frankenstein and how this obsession affects his mental health as well as those close to him.
His daughter, Maggie is therefore more or less abandoned by him whilst he goes on his wild adventures. Maggie, however, decides to smuggle herself onto his latest voyage to be close and to look after him during his adventures.
They travel upon the Moby Dick and reference is made to May Shelley's Frankenstein in an attempt to determine what has become of him.
The story is a mixture of folk lore, the greatest showman (with a wicked showman) and then an escape and a chase.
The story is well written and the pace is set well. Although this is a middle grade book, I still found myself sitting on the edge of my seat and holding my breath waiting for the next events.
The story is incredibly sad in parts and deals with mental health, loss, family, differences, slavery (!) and kindness.
Overall a beautiful well written story which has a lot of discussion points.

I am extremely grateful to have received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A simply wonderful story featuring a classic spin.

I adore Catherine Bruton’s writing and this one certainly disappoint. I’m always amazed at how diverse a writer she is, and pulls it off effortlessly.

Maggie's Father is dangerously obsessed with Frankenstein and his monster ever since meeting the scientist Frankenstein on a voyage as a young captain.
With Maggie's mother and aunt now both dead, life in the poverty-stricken English dock yard is unbearable.
The overbearing and creepy Count Florenzio arrives on the scene and just when Maggie thinks her father is at last going to be home to take care of her, he's back out to sea again on another futile quest to find the legendary monster. Maggie is out of options and to stows away with her small white mouse Victor.
It's not the monster they find, but someone who will be to Maggie, the loving family and trusted friend she needs to survive. In fact, they need each other for survival as you will find out!
The exciting and clever story unfolds at pace as characters from classical literature (Frankenstein, Moby Dick) drift in and out amongst a cast of wondrous misfits, those discriminated in society, displayed in a circus of horrors for the pleasure of paying customers.
The plot twists and turns as Maggie and her friend are chased across North America and into Canada. The author educates the reader about such things as secret codes in quilts hung outside homes, as Maggie escapes using a route with slaves on the underground railroad. She's even helped by Native American tribes folk who told tales of massacre and displacement at the hands of the white settlers.
This book carefully and successfully sews together a patchwork of themes including family and togetherness, acceptance and representation, finding your true tribe, loyalty and doing what's right.
A very enjoyable read with many brilliant discussion points.

One of the most gripping openings I have read - the words of the prologue filled me with suspense and a small amount of fear. The seed that something terrible was going to happen was planted and I desperately wanted to read on to find out just what that might be.

Maggie’s father has a dangerous obsession with finding Frankenstein’s monster. Having once seen it he has squandered what money they had in a cursed quest to find it again. When a strange man appears at her Aunt’s graveside Maggie is instantly suspicious.

Her suspicion is well founded and she soon finds her father back on his ill fated quest.

Stowing away in a last ditch attempt to save her father - Maggie meets Ishmael the ships Captain who also claims to have seen the creature. Together he promises they will steer her father back home safely - but is that possible or has he been lost to deeply?

I truly felt for Maggie when they learnt of the monsters child. How many wanted it dead because ‘it had killed its own mother’. The parallel to her own life - losing her mother in childbirth, a father who abandoned her, living in a place where she didn’t truly belong. My heart ached as I read those pages - feeling the pain that Maggie must have felt and her pleas to leave this poor child be.

This book also looks at the slave trade and the Underground Railroad. Depicted respectfully but with the reality still there to allow readers to understand the life that slaves lead.

Throughout the story there are many dangers but equally there are many moments of hope and kindness.
This is a story about acceptance of those who are different from ourselves and finding family.

Maggie and Kata are helped by many unlikely allies throughout the book and despite the moments of horror and pain, ultimately I was left with a feeling of hope and joy.

Trigger warnings: loss of parents, harming others, slavery

This is a brilliant tale of obsession and compassion, of friendships and jealousy, of polar coldness and of unexpected humanity. It's also a gripping adventure, featuring a race across America with ships, trains and a circus!

We are plunged into the story immediately. Maggie is effectively alone in the world as her mother and beloved aunt are dead and her father has lost himself to an obsessive pursuit of the elusive Frankenstein. Warned by her aunt to destroy the letters and free herself from the entangling passion, Maggie does the opposite. She follows her father and is soon embroiled in the chaos of greed, fear and desperation that the creation of Frankenstein has stirred up.

Pacy and rich, the story moves through a multitude of settings and cultures, each one vividly described. It also has a wealth of wonderful villains and noble heroes, not least Maggie's endearing mouse, Victor. Maggie herself is a wonderfully believable and utterly lovable character growing to understand the world around her in all its brutality and all its brave loyalty.. Catherine Bruton challenges the reader to ask searching questions. What is humanity? What is love? How can we include the excluded and still celebrate difference? When does interest tip into obsession and what is it that drives desperation? How can the dangerous power of story be used for good? Meanwhile, the story never misses a beat as the tension mounts and the pursuers close in.

My one reservation was that I felt it ended a little abruptly. Some questions were left hanging, other ends tidied away perhaps a little too neatly. But maybe even that is a strength; the book has asked questions with no easy answers, and happiness can nevertheless be found despite uncertainty. It is a book that left me pondering.

Having loved Catherine's previous spin-off novel, "Another Twist in the Tale", relishing the ingenious riffs on Dickens' original, I was initially a little anxious that not having read Frankenstein would mean I enjoyed this less. I needn't have worried. This is an excellent story in its own right, and although I am sure I missed multiple links with several of the books so cleverly woven into this story, it in no way spoilt my enjoyment. In fact, this book whetted my appetite for these and would work superbly as a gateway to these older classic novels. Catherine Bruton has perfected a balancing act; she uses a style and vocabulary suited to the novels that inspired her, whilst remaining accessible and clear. She addresses the same themes and issues, but never forgets that she is above all telling her own exciting story. As a result, she has created a work that is at once an enticing invitation to a wider world of literature and also a rattling good yarn.

Wow! So I was initially drawn to this book because of the futile ‘Following Frankenstein’ , as a book lover I was intrigued. This story utilises characters from literature in order to tell the story of Frankenstein’s monster’s son and a girl called Maggie, her little mouse Victor and her fathers obsession over finding the monster.

I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did, the literary references are always a bonus but I loved how the author made them her own. We see how Maggie has become incredibly lonely after her fathers obsession with Frankenstein’s monster has led them to the artic. This story talks about so many topics and has so much depth to it, you are rooting for the main characters but also anxious to see the ‘bad guys’ get what they deserve.

This book is gritty and has some heartbreaking moments but also tells the story of those who often seen as ‘monsters’ in such an important way. We see how the story takes a life of its own, featuring circuses, native Americans and references to Moby Dick. Honestly, after reading this book I think I appreciate it even more. A great story that tackles important topics in a beautiful literary way.

I would also like to note that it is not often I read acknowledgments and give them so much attention but they were such an important part of this book and you can tell the author really cares and is passion about the message her story portrays. She thanks young carers, she’d light in disability and neurodiversity and the whole idea of ‘otherness’ and how people are excluded and ostracised for being different. This book may be aimed at 9-12 year olds but I think it’s reach is much further than that. I could see this a great book to study alongside Mary Shelley’s masterpiece, a mirror of her story with the context of today inspiring a new generation to be enamoured with the beautiful and heartbreaking tale.

I honestly didn’t think I would have so much to say about this book, but as I said… I think this book has so many more levels that just the words on the page. A fantastic read and thank you to Netgalley for sharing this book with me for an honest review.

As a huge fan of the original story of Frankenstein, I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately I didn't. I was disappointed by the minimal appearances of Frankenstein himself, and I didn't love the ending.