As a big fan of the novel Frankenstein, I enjoyed this addition to the lore. It was a good fun adventure that moved at a brisk pace. It moved too quickly almost, with quite surface level characters and problems skimmed over very quickly and things happening very conveniently. However I enjoyed the passages near the end about the Underground Railroad being a network of kindness and about people being judged by their character not their appearance. I would recommend for young readers who enjoy an adventure story.

This a fun book but not one I'll find myself rushing back to.

Following Frankenstein follows the daughter of Robert Walton, Maggie, who after the death of her aunt and her father's spiralling depression, is taken on a last ditch attempt to change their fortunes and settle old traumas to rest and discovers the son of the very monster which started this saga. As a Frankenstein fanatic, this premise had me sold. You didn't need to tell me anything else about this book; I was already in. Yet, the execution is something I wasn't a fan of. The story felt rushed. There just wasn't enough time really to develop the characters and heavily relies on you having the basic knowledge of Frankenstein to really get the full effect of what it was trying to do. The story is still fun and fast-paced but doesn't reach the height the premise promised. Also, the references to Moby Dick are just not needed - they don't add anything and really just feel like an odd addition.

For the most part, the characters are fairly brief impressions without depth. Maggie is fun to read and with her being the main character, we get to know the best probably is the most developed. Her relationship with her father is very tender and painful to experience with her. But the central focus of the novel is perhaps her relationship with the monster's son - Kata - and this is fairly lacklustre in execution. The son himself is very basic honestly and I just think with a little more time given to its characters, this could be elevated so well.

This is just a side note but I hate when villains or characters from a lower-cast are accented while all the other characters speak in perfect RP. This book features it heavily and only serves to reinforce stereotypes of idiocy and villainy associated with the working-class. Just do better because all it's doing is reinforcing negative stereotypes.

All in all, it's a nice quick read that offers a fun adventure that never quite hits the mark. Entertaining in parts and if you're a fan of the original source material, the little references will provide you with a field day (as they did with me) but will leave with a feeling of want for just that bit more.

This story is a great sequel to Mary Shelley’s original and focuses on a young girl, Maggie Walton, whose father is obsessed by finding Frankenstein’s monster. His obsession has cost him all his wealth and reduced his family to living to living in rooms near London Docks. A mysterious stranger arrives looking for Robert Walton and employs him to lead a final expedition to the Arctic to find the monster.
Maggie stows away and then becomes part of the ship’s crew. The story then follows their voyage across the arctic ice where they meet a community of Innuit who have met the monster and his child. The child is captured and taken to America to the mysterious stranger. However, the stranger is not what he appeared to be and their fate is very different to that which they imagined.
The author describes her characters and the different landscapes brilliantly and the story is fast paced so you never lose interest. There are several strong themes in the book including what it means to belong somewhere and also the subject of mental illness. The effects of her father’s obsession on Maggie are made really clear.
I loved the acknowledgments at the back of the book and enjoyed finding out more about what inspired Catherine Bruton to write this book. This is another great book from the publishers, Nosy Crow and I’m really grateful to them and Net Galley for allowing me to read this advance copy.

This was a fun and enjoyable adventure, following the daughter of Captain Walton (the man we met in Frankenstein on the ship in the Arctic) as she tries to put a stop to her fathers obsession with finding the monster he once saw in the distance. Instead of finding Frankensein however, they come across his son. I thought the idea of Frankenstein having a son was great, and I enjoyed following the developing friendships between him and other characters. However, I was a little bit disappointed by the minimal appearances of Frankenstein himself, and I didn't love the ending. Some of the choices and actions of the father felt a little bit difficult to believe and repetitive too, though that may be more because i am 25, rather than the 9-12 years this book is targeted.

This book is a really cute introduction to Frankenstein, and looks at emotional abandonment and parental neglect in a relatively gentle way. The writing style does suggest a younger audience than I was expecting, but over all it was really cute and is a great addition to any budding reader's shelves. A lovely way to introduce kids to classics, and an easy choice for reluctant readers.

First, I feel the need to mention the acknowledgements at the end of this book. I must admit, I don’t often read them in books but I really felt the urge once I had finished Following Frankenstein as I just wasn’t ready to let this book go! I am so glad I did. Catherine Bruton’s acknowledgement was very insightful and added more meaning to an already wonderful story.
I think the thing which struck me the most in Following Frankenstein was Bruton’s fantastic use of language, she has a great way with words which allows a reader to clearly imagine characters as well as action. Bruton’s writing will allow your vocabulary to grow as she uses a range of interesting but well-chosen words throughout the book.
The story is told by a girl called Maggie. She lives with her dad, who has been obsessed with Frankenstein’s monster for as long as she can remember; Maggie often wonders if he loves the monster more than he loves her. When the opportunity arises for Maggie’s father to hunt for Frankenstein’s monster, he goes for it but this time Maggie decides she is not being left behind. What follows is an adventure, which Maggie didn’t quite expect, but one she and her dad ultimately really benefit from.
Following Frankenstein is a story about not being accepted by people around you and if you enjoyed watching The Greatest Showman, this story will definitely resonate with you. I also think fans of Katherine Rundell and Emma Carroll will enjoy it. I will certainly be seeking out more of the Catherine Bruton books to add to my class library as well as adding Following Frankenstein after its release.

I loved Frankenstein and have used it as a reading group with some of my Y6s (abridged), however, this book was brilliant - how could you improve on a brilliant story? It tells the continued story of Frankenstein's 'monster' and his search for friendship and family - a definite twist on what makes a family. Fast packed action dealing with what it takes to belong (in all its forms).

As a lover of anything gothic when I saw a sequel for children to Frankenstein I almost salivate at the thought of reading it and I was not disappointed. This is a wonderful book so well written with great characters that I devoured in one sitting.

Is there anything Catherine Bruton can’t do?! Her writing is a masterclass on everything a book should be. She builds empathy with ease; I adore her writing and was delighted to find that Following Frankenstein is no exception.

What a fantastic story! I love how, in her last two books, Catherine has taken a classic tale and given it a twist. Following Frankenstein stands alone beautifully for those who haven’t read the Mary Shelley classic, but also has lots of nods to the original for those who have read it to enjoy.

Not only is it a great story, but, like Bruton’s other books, it has a beautiful message at the heart of it. I cannot wait to add this to our Year 6 class library. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I suspect that, like most people who have not read the classic novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, my understanding of what happens within its pages is considerably at odds with what really happens. Although I know that the title is the name of the scientist who creates the monster, rather than his creation, my impression of the events of the book is in reality likely to bear little resemblance to what the author intended, influenced as it undoubtedly has been by popular culture.

When I saw that this sequel had been written, my curiosity was sparked. Could a sequel written for a middle grade audience work well as a standalone? After all, the original text was intended for adult readers and although it is one that was recommended for my daughter at KS3, she was a particularly confident reader; I am not convinced that many young readers would either choose to pick it up or access it fully. Having now read this though, I can report that it is perfectly pitched for upper KS2 and absolutely no prior knowledge of the original story is necessary.

That story is well known to Maggie Walton, however, who we meet shortly after the death of the aunt with whom she has been living in the absence of her father who has been away chasing after Frankenstein’s creation. Attending his sister’s funeral Captain Walton, meets Count Florenzo who has heard of his reputation and tells him he wishes to fund an expedition to finally track down the monster. To Maggie’s enormous dismay, he agrees and will not listen to her protests, arguing that finding the creature is his destiny.

Worried about the effect on her father’s wellbeing, Maggie stows away on board the ship taking him north and is soon found by its captain, Ishmael, who also knows of the creature having travelled extensively amongst the people who live in the Arctic. While talking, Ishmael speaks of rumours of a second monster – a child, whose existence is as yet not known to Captain Walton.

Arriving in the far north, Maggie, Captain Walton and Ishmael meet Ahnah – a respected elder of the Inuit people who warns them to leave Frankenstein’s creature alone and the travellers learn more about the monster’s child. Led by one of Ahnah’s people the three of them find the child, who appears at first glance to be little more than a wild beast. While the adults around her have plans for the boy, Maggie wonders if he is more human than they think and tries to befriend him. But is she wise to do so, or is he too a terrible monster like his father?

Written from Maggie’s perspective, the reader is left with no doubts as to how she feels about the monster at the start of the book, as she continues to be of less interest to her father than the creature. Rather than letting this turn her against her remaining parent, as might be expected, she shows great strength of character when she determines to do all she can to bring his attentions fully back to her. On meeting the monstrous child though, she does not hold a grudge against him but judges him on his own merits – something that I suspect possibly not enough of us would do. This makes for a very powerful section of the story, which could be used to great effect in school to discuss difference and the importance of acceptance.

Although obviously a modern work of fiction, the story feels like an authentic older read but is one which is readily accessible to today’s readers. While the writer admits that she has used artistic licence here with regard to the history of the events of the original book and those that have been included here, including a lot of references to Moby Dick, the narrative is woven so skilfully that younger readers – and a great many older ones – will not think to question the events which unfold.

I really enjoyed this, and although I won’t be dashing out to read Frankenstein there may be younger readers who go on to enjoy one or more of the adapted versions suitable for children, or other classic texts – a good thing in my opinion. Suitable for Year 5 upwards, Following Frankenstein is published in paperback on October 7th. Huge thanks, as always, go to publisher Nosy Crow and Net Galley for my advance read. 5 out of 5 stars.