She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein

Book excerpt: A 2018 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Books On the bicentennial of Frankenstein, join Mary Shelley on the night she created the most frightening monster the world has ever seen. On a stormy night two hundred years ago, a young woman sat in a dark house and dreamed of her life as a writer. She longed to follow the path her own mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, had started down, but young Mary Shelley had yet to be inspired. As the night wore on, Mary grew more anxious. The next day was the deadline that her friend, the poet Lord Byron, had set for writing the best ghost story. After much talk of science and the secrets of life, Mary had gone to bed exhausted and frustrated that nothing she could think of was scary enough. But as she drifted off to sleep, she dreamed of a man that was not a man. He was a monster. This fascinating story gives readers insight into the tale behind one of the world's most celebrated novels and the creation of an indelible figure that is recognizable to readers of all ages. "Eye-catching artwork and engaging storytelling give this biography of a fascinating woman even more appeal."--Booklist