Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein
By Linda Bailey
The Story
A young dreamer who learns to read from her mother's tombstone runs away with a poet at sixteen, then on a stormy night in Switzerland invents a monster story that becomes Frankenstein.
Why It's Special
For the kid who's already scribbling their own stories in notebooks, this is proof that a wild imagination and a restless life can turn into something the whole world remembers.
- Big idea: Real life, even the hard and lonely parts, can be the raw material for great imagination.
- Vibes: Atmospheric, moody, and quietly thrilling — like a storm rolling in.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy picture book biographies about real, remarkable women
- like to make up their own stories and characters
- are curious about where ideas actually come from
- respond well to atmospheric, moody artwork
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & inspiration: What do you think gave Mary the idea for her monster on that stormy night in Switzerland?
- Real-life connection: Mary learned to read by tracing letters on her mother's tombstone — what's a special way you learned something new?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Mary felt escaping into books when things were hard at home?
- Imagination: If you and your friends had a contest to tell the scariest story, what would yours be about?
- Character: Why do you think Mary wanted so badly to be independent, even if it meant running away?
