This Broken Wondrous World

May 1, 2015
Advanced technology, experimental science, inspired revolution in the name of unity: sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. In the time since Boy's own technological catastrophe nearly outed his monster clan in Man Made Boy (2013), he has left his gritty, familiar home in Manhattan to study at university in Geneva. He's living on the estate of Dr. Frankenstein, whose descendants consider Boy family, particularly "cousin" and fellow freshman Henri. Boy hasn't quite settled in when a disappearing dwarf delivers a foreboding message, a carnivorous mermaid tries to eat him, and girlfriend Sophie Jekyll/Claire Hyde arrives with news that her brother Robert Jekyll is up to no good. Boy returns with Henri and Sophie/Claire to New York, where they learn that Robert has joined forces with Dr. Moreau. Cue: disturbing, warped plans of global domination. Characters from the first book join appealing newcomers, but with the high stakes of a monster revolution, the demises of some favorites are inevitable. There is still a fair amount of red-blooded monster boy behavior, but it isn't all sex, booze, and bloody battles. Affection, sorrow, guilt, anger, and particularly integrity are addressed; paraphrasing Claire, we're all capable of terrible things, but it's integrity that separates those who do and don't succumb. An enjoyably action-laden, sometimes bloody, globe-trotting lesson in what it means to be monster, to be man, and to be careful when serving dryads alcohol. (Science fiction. 12 & up)

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June 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-Boy is the teenage son of Frankenstein's Monster and the Bride. Yes, his name is just that, Boy. He has spent his entire life living in hiding with other monsters, including vampires, goblins, trolls, dryads, mermaids, and more. In this sequel to Man Made Boy (Viking, 2013), Boy has overcome his fear of humans and ventures to Switzerland to visit the descendants of Dr. Frankenstein. During his visit, Boy becomes embroiled in a conflict that threatens all of humankind. A mysterious doctor attempts to recruit Boy and his fellow monsters to join an army that will overthrow the humans. The protagonist quickly learns that this doctor has been creating disturbing monsters in a lab and that he is willing destroy anything that gets in the way of total monster domination. This work crisscrosses many different genres: fantasy, science fiction, horror, and humor. The plot is fast paced and filled with action, keeping readers engaged. At times, it can be difficult to keep track of all the various characters and their locations, especially for those unfamiliar with the previous volume. However, it can still be enjoyed as a stand-alone title. This book is best suited for older teens due to some mild adult content and some frightening scenes. VERDICT Fans of science fiction and humor will enjoy this clever, monster-filled read.-Annalise Ammer, Henrietta Public Library, NY

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