The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White - ESSENTIAL

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White, 304 pages.  Random House, 2018.  $19.  

Language:  PG-13 (26 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (deaths, some blood)

BUYING ADVISORY:  MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

At the age of five, Elizabeth Lavenza was bought from a orphanage as a companion for Victor Frankenstein, a troubled little boy just a year older than her.  Through the years Elizabeth has done what she needed to keep her position – even if it meant helping Victor cover up his darker impulses.  But Victor has been away at school for almost two years and Elizabeth needs to find out what is going on.  When she finally tracks him down, however, she still has to spend time covering up more dark acts.  How far will Elizabeth go for Victor?

“Lightning crawled across the sky, tracing veins through the clouds and marking the pulse of the universe itself.”

I rarely quote directly from a book, but Ms. White’s beautiful words open the book and they captivated me immediately.  I knew right away that this book would be as poetic and captivating as the original. I was not disappointed.  White has taken the original story created something new and equally beautiful.  Each step – all the way to the end – grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go.  This is a one day book – because you won’t be able to put it down.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian