Mary Shelley's School for Monsters: La Llorona in the Machine. Vol.1

by Jessica Maison, Anna Wieszczyk (Illustrator)

A supernatural MARY SHELLEY, Shel, and her misfit monsters crew use dark magic, friendship, and snark to rescue creatures in crisis like La Llorona.

In 1812, a teenage MARY GODWIN (SHELLEY) becomes trapped in a mausoleum with occult scientist DR. M. He tries to reanimate a sewn together corpse with a combination of electricity and the book of the dead, NECRO. Mary attempts to save the living book from the madmen but ends up splitting herself into two beings—one who continues on to write Frankenstein, and the other who becomes SHEL, an immortal and powerful monster bound to Necro, who saves monsters from the evil humans who wish them harm.

Two centuries later, Shel has started a school for misunderstood monsters near Lake Geneva. Will, their local wisp, arrives by Aether from Arizona with news of a monster that needs rescuing. The infamous bogeywoman from Mexican American folklore, LA LLORONA (LOLO), has been kidnapped by Camp Scare CEO, Edith Sharp. Sharp trapped La Llorona in a video game, and now, children who play it are going missing. The team needs to rescue La Llorona before townspeople enter the forest to punish any monster that they can find to avenge their children.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

144 pages, Hardcover

Published July 23, 2023

About the author

A Nebula Award winning writer, Jessica is a screenwriter, novelist, comic creator and film director. She is the creator of the Mary Shelley's School for Monsters graphic novel series, director of the time travel thriller, Own Worst Enemy, and founder of Wicked Tree Press, Jessica Maison grew up by the shores of Lake Michigan and currently lives in Los Angeles. Book one of Mary Shelley's School for Monsters, La Llorona in the Machine, won the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Award and was a Foreword INDIES finalist in 2023. Book 2 in the series, The Killing Stone, is a Nebula Award Winner. Her cli-fi young adult trilogy, Plastic Girl, addresses her fears and hopes for her daughters as the world faces a climate crisis.

Reviews

[Jennifer Dawes]

Graphic novel for middle graders who like a little spooky. This is a nice introduction to the monsters of lore. Shel is a version of Mary Shelley author of Frankenstein, but this "monster" version helps monsters. In this first book of the School for Monsters featuring Shel, Frank (yep Frankenstein), Medusa, and Will (a will'o the wisp from Scottish lore) going to the aid of La Llorona. La Llorona is the spirit of a woman who killed her own children cursed to walk the earth in search of them and stealing other children. La Llorona has been trapped in a video game and the children who play go missing.
Fun and creative reimagining of monsters in a not too scary way. Medusa has pink snakes! My favorite, of course. Introducing iconic monsters as misunderstood to a middle grade reader reduces the scary factor while encouraging empathy for another's perspective.

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine)]

This is a really enjoyable middle grade graphic novel using Mary Shelley (aka Shel), her monster (aka Frank) and a lifetime of adventure. Together they started a school for monsters, where they can be safe from "torches and pitchforks".

It's beautiful, bright and well designed. The character designs are unique, wonderful and well suited. Shel is perfect for Mary Shelley, I adore her curls and her dress. Frank is charming, their skin colour is perfectly toned. The Will o' Whisps (Will and Jack) have the right colour glows. A La Llorina is well perfectly chaotic.

The plot is fairly simple save the innocents but it suits the format. Each chapter is marked by a full page chapter marker including a title and a quote from Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley on the verso. The quotes are a very nice touch.

[Robert Pierson]

I was kind of worried at first because you never know with these reimagining of monsters how they will really work the artwork is really nice and I’d have to say it was a really cute story I’m actually glad I got this and I’m looking forward to reading more of the adventures it’s actually definitely worth the read is it perfect no but I had a good time with it and I think it’s A good read for the little ones who are in the monsters.

[Michael Daines]

I bought volume two of the series directly from the author recently, but wanted to read this one (from the library) beforehand.

“La Llorona in the Machine” sets up the premise of the series, which is that Shel is a split from the actual Mary Shelley,surviving until today (along with Frank), and working to protect all monsters. La Llorona has disappeared, and signs point to a popular new horror video game. Several kids have already went missing while playing, always when facing the final boss.

Up front, I knew this was targeted at a young audience, maxing out at middle school. The premise and art style match the audience, and the second volume won the Nebula this year. It’s a cute story and would make a good gift for a young person in your life.

[Donna]

Shel and Frank try to help La Llorona who is captured in a video game.

I did not enjoy this book at all. The art is cute but super static - almost every page was panels of people standing, talking. Occasionally someone was screaming, or the angle would be different so there were people standing and you were looking at them from the back while they talked. There really was no school - or at least nothing that was included in the book other than a gathering place for monsters. I did like Necro, the semi-sentient Necronomicon.

[Matt Harry]

Fantastic, fun re-telling of Mary Shelley's origins!

[Nicole Infante]

Jessica is a great writer - loved this book (and my daughter did, too!)

[Nav]

Love the lush visuals.

[Sean McDonnell]

Beautiful art and compelling writing. Jessica Maison and Wieszczyk are a superb team!

[Silver]

Well written but not my thing