Stitch: Reimagining Frankenstein

In 1996, during his Carnegie Medal acceptance speech, author Philip Pullman stated that "There are some themes, some subjects, too large for adult fiction; they can only be dealt with adequately in a children's book." Pádraig Kenny’s Stitch is a perfect example of how this can be true. Kenny tells a story that is a variation on themes of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, boiled down to their barest elements. Kenny explores loss, grief, loneliness, and loyalty in ways that are accessible and enjoyable to both children and adults. And he does so through the perspective of the titular character Stitch, who has an endearing, child-like quality that is maintained even during some of the novel’s darkest moments.

Stitch is a primer for its intended, middle-school audience and a solace for readers who may be a bit older, but still seeking answers to some of those unanswerable questions.