What do you think?
Rate this book
Frankenstein
Generations of readers have thrilled to the story of a young doctor who dared to play God and the horrible consequences of his experiment. This graphic novel offers an easy-to-read version of Mary Shelley's classic of Gothic horror. Original illustrations, accompanied by condensed narrative and dialogue, bring new life to an enduring tale.
This Dover Graphic Novel Classic offers readers ages 8 and up an exciting introduction to a time-honored tale. Expertly abridged and packed with dramatic illustrations, this version offers a streamlined narrative that retains all of the storytelling essentials.
This Dover Graphic Novel Classic offers readers ages 8 and up an exciting introduction to a time-honored tale. Expertly abridged and packed with dramatic illustrations, this version offers a streamlined narrative that retains all of the storytelling essentials.
48 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2014
About the author
John Green
175 books10 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
London-based illustrator John Green has created artwork for most of the major U.K. publishers and since 1983 has authored more than 140 Dover titles, including many of our bestsellers. Titles ranging from Ballet Class to Horses of the World reflect his amazing versatility and detailed research.
London-based illustrator John Green has created artwork for most of the major U.K. publishers and since 1983 has authored more than 140 Dover titles, including many of our bestsellers. Titles ranging from Ballet Class to Horses of the World reflect his amazing versatility and detailed research.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 26, 2015
Ok, I know that this is intended for a much younger audience. And I know that this far less than what most would consider a condensed reading. That being said I wouldn't buy and I wouldn't sell it. The drawings are pseudo-Hollywood camp. The interaction between characters is ridiculous. It is almost as if Dover Classics was just trying to turn a buck on an out of copyright classic. Additionally, the digital copy is difficult to read because of the lack of coloring or shading. The cover says it all and most of the pages have a gross misuse of white margins. At 44 pages it could have been re-framed and cut to place in more panels and pushed the story into deeper development and still met the page restrictions. If you read my other review, Dracula, this one is slightly better but only because it keeps to the story more. It still guts the elements of Dr. Frankenstein challenges the laws of God and Nature but it does keep the crux there. Gothic horro was never meant for kids but instead a a means for educated Brits to knowing challenge the ideas of science, ethos, and religion ina socially safe context. These graphic renditions seem to loose all of that essence.
February 28, 2015
This graphic novel is very true to the original story of Frankenstein, which I liked. It's too short to really get in depth with all the characters though, and I kind of missed to get to know them all better.
The illustrations are okay, but not more than that. I think they are too simple, and I would've prefered if they were either colored or filled in with shades of gray - since they weren't, I just had a need to color them all.
All in all, a good introduction to the classic novel, but not the best adaptation I've read.
Source: I got this one from Netgalley, thanks to Dover Publications.
The illustrations are okay, but not more than that. I think they are too simple, and I would've prefered if they were either colored or filled in with shades of gray - since they weren't, I just had a need to color them all.
All in all, a good introduction to the classic novel, but not the best adaptation I've read.
Source: I got this one from Netgalley, thanks to Dover Publications.
December 10, 2014
I received this as a free copy from Netgallley so here is what I think.
This version is not for avid or keen readers. Dover Graphic has done an excellent job in capturing the theme, emotions and characterisations. But the problem is the book falls very short in its length. Just 50 pages are never enough to create the horror and suspense of Mary Shelley. But the art is smooth and crisp and although the story is shortened, it never feels boring or bland. If only it was a little longer.....
This version is not for avid or keen readers. Dover Graphic has done an excellent job in capturing the theme, emotions and characterisations. But the problem is the book falls very short in its length. Just 50 pages are never enough to create the horror and suspense of Mary Shelley. But the art is smooth and crisp and although the story is shortened, it never feels boring or bland. If only it was a little longer.....
February 25, 2024
Quick read graphic novel, originally published as a coloring book, telling the Frankenstein story in about 50 pages. Later publications were to those who were attracted to the beautiful artwork.
November 23, 2014
'Frankenstein (Dover Graphic Novel Classics)' takes a classic novel and combines it with a graphic novel and a coloring book. The results are really not bad for a book that's only 48 pages long.
It's a good introduction to the story of Frankenstein, and this is an adaptation of the book, not the classic Hollywood version, which changes much of the book. The book is told as a flashback, so there aren't a lot of word bubbles in the version. Lots of dialogue boxes and pretty good art. The themes are conveyed surprising well considering the concise nature of the book. It's short, but it's also about four bucks.
It might make a perfect gift for that nephew that likes monsters. Frankenstein is ghoulish looking with his stitched together monstrous appearance, and it's a pretty good introduction to a classic novel. It's a novel with themes that are still resonant today. A great story with good art with a good abridgement.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
It's a good introduction to the story of Frankenstein, and this is an adaptation of the book, not the classic Hollywood version, which changes much of the book. The book is told as a flashback, so there aren't a lot of word bubbles in the version. Lots of dialogue boxes and pretty good art. The themes are conveyed surprising well considering the concise nature of the book. It's short, but it's also about four bucks.
It might make a perfect gift for that nephew that likes monsters. Frankenstein is ghoulish looking with his stitched together monstrous appearance, and it's a pretty good introduction to a classic novel. It's a novel with themes that are still resonant today. A great story with good art with a good abridgement.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
February 3, 2015
*I received an ARC from Netgalley*
If you asked me to list my top five favorite books, Shelley's 'Frankenstein' would definitely be on the list. I love the epistolary construction of the novel, the complexity of themes, and the characters. I've read this novel more than five times, read countless reinterpretations and even taught this for a college level English course.
This graphic novel adaptation of the novel attempts to grasp the complexity of the original story; however, this abridged version misses the mark. I will concede that this version presents the essential plot points are basic themes to the reader in an accessible manner. This would be a useful text to have as a supplemental guide for those having difficulty reading the original text. However, so much is cut and other emotions lost that take away from the essence of Shelley's original.
I was not a fan of the illustrations. Arguably, the simple, stark black and white drawings are meant to echo themes within the novel; however, I think more emotion would have been possible with the usage of additional color or even more shading.
If you asked me to list my top five favorite books, Shelley's 'Frankenstein' would definitely be on the list. I love the epistolary construction of the novel, the complexity of themes, and the characters. I've read this novel more than five times, read countless reinterpretations and even taught this for a college level English course.
This graphic novel adaptation of the novel attempts to grasp the complexity of the original story; however, this abridged version misses the mark. I will concede that this version presents the essential plot points are basic themes to the reader in an accessible manner. This would be a useful text to have as a supplemental guide for those having difficulty reading the original text. However, so much is cut and other emotions lost that take away from the essence of Shelley's original.
I was not a fan of the illustrations. Arguably, the simple, stark black and white drawings are meant to echo themes within the novel; however, I think more emotion would have been possible with the usage of additional color or even more shading.
December 30, 2014
3.5/5 Stars
I’ve always loved the tale of Frankenstein and his monster. It is one of my favorite classics that I reread around Halloween every few years. When I saw this offered on Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to read it as part of my Halloween reading schedule. I found it to be a fairly faithful adaption considering its length and medium. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is not a large book, but it includes a good amount of discussion on the nature of mankind. For only being fifty pages this is not a bad adaptation, however I believe that trying to fit this story into so few pages leads to an overall loss of the book’s charm.
This would be good for someone looking for a refresher on the story as it includes most of the important details from the book. The illustrations were nice and I enjoyed them. They were clean drawings and the graphic novel was easy to read. I would have liked the illustrations to be in color but the lack of it doesn’t take away from the story in anyway. I would highly recommend reading the original novel though over this.
I’ve always loved the tale of Frankenstein and his monster. It is one of my favorite classics that I reread around Halloween every few years. When I saw this offered on Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to read it as part of my Halloween reading schedule. I found it to be a fairly faithful adaption considering its length and medium. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is not a large book, but it includes a good amount of discussion on the nature of mankind. For only being fifty pages this is not a bad adaptation, however I believe that trying to fit this story into so few pages leads to an overall loss of the book’s charm.
This would be good for someone looking for a refresher on the story as it includes most of the important details from the book. The illustrations were nice and I enjoyed them. They were clean drawings and the graphic novel was easy to read. I would have liked the illustrations to be in color but the lack of it doesn’t take away from the story in anyway. I would highly recommend reading the original novel though over this.
January 26, 2015
Recommended for ages 8 and up this is a small graphic adaptation of the famous novel illustrated with black and white drawings which the introduction suggests be coloured. This fell flat for me and I wouldn't recommend it as a first introduction to the story. The author fails to capture the obsession of Victor Frankenstien; in the novel he truly becomes the quintessential "mad scientist". He makes the monster not necessarily bad from the beginning but certainly frightening who then turns bad. This is how the story goes in the original but again the author fails to capture the essence of how wicked and *in*-human the monster actually is, except in man's most vile characteristics. Also the monster's object is to kill everyone that is close to Frankenstein to make him suffer through their losses, the deaths do occur here, but monster's intentions are never made clear. The basic plot outline of the original is here, but this graphic novel fails to capture any of the emotions, themes or frightening conclusions it makes about mankind
December 2, 2014
This is perhaps the best of the books I've read e-arcs of in this series, due to the nature of the original managing to be conveyed in a child-friendly manner, and the simplicity of the plot, however wrapped up it is in providing stories within stories. There are still flaws – someone dies and nobody could tell who she is, there are still problems with the translation of the original – sometimes simple captions, sometimes very convoluted vocab and large paragraphs of voice over, and so on, but this time round the pace of the piece as well as the adaptation were both things I could find more favourable than with, say, The Hound of the Baskervilles or Dracula. It's still not exactly a world-beater, but this version will go down well in school libraries.
January 10, 2015
I do love the work Dover Publishing is doing in bringing the classics to a new generation. In this book we see Mary Shelly's Frankenstein come to life in coloring book style pages. The story is condensed to be more adaptable to a younger audience.
In this book, we follow the creation of the Monster all the way to the demise of its creator, Dr. Frankenstein (yes, I'm very picky about that, Frankenstein is not the monster's name).
While the story is condensed, it does reemphasizes the idea that if you treat someone or something like a monster based on their appearance, they will eventually become the monster they are perceived to be. It's a good portrayal of the classic story.
Rating 5 out of 5
Read@Book
In this book, we follow the creation of the Monster all the way to the demise of its creator, Dr. Frankenstein (yes, I'm very picky about that, Frankenstein is not the monster's name).
While the story is condensed, it does reemphasizes the idea that if you treat someone or something like a monster based on their appearance, they will eventually become the monster they are perceived to be. It's a good portrayal of the classic story.
Rating 5 out of 5
Read@Book
November 11, 2014
I received a copy from NetGalley to review
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is not a large book, but it holds so many motifs and messages about the nature of man kind. For only being 50 pages this is not a bad rendition, however I believe that trying to fit this story into that small space loses a lot of it's charm.
For a child's introduction to the story of Frankenstein sure! I can see how this would be easier for them to understand being so abridged but I would not get this for my nieces and nephews.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is not a large book, but it holds so many motifs and messages about the nature of man kind. For only being 50 pages this is not a bad rendition, however I believe that trying to fit this story into that small space loses a lot of it's charm.
For a child's introduction to the story of Frankenstein sure! I can see how this would be easier for them to understand being so abridged but I would not get this for my nieces and nephews.
November 16, 2015
The story is abridged to fit the length, the format, and the intended audience of children 8 and up, but it retains the meat of the story. I love the clean artwork that makes the images easy to understand but also enables them to be colored in by the reader. What a great way to further immerse yourself in the story, express your creativity, or practice for a career in comics!
Note: I received a digital galley of this book through NetGalley.
Note: I received a digital galley of this book through NetGalley.
November 8, 2014
I found this to be a fairly faithful adaption considering length and medium . I enjoyed the art style; it was clean, crisp and easy to read. I would like to see some colour but its lack did not detract from the story in anyway. I would recommend this to anyone who wishes for a refresher on the story or a student who may be struggling with the original text.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 16, 2016
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have read the original book, and I did not like it at all - the writing style didn't appeal to me at all and the lengthy descriptions bored me. As none of these were in the graphic novel, I found that I do care for the characters and really like the story itself. The descriptions are well covered in the illustrations, which are fantastic.
I have read the original book, and I did not like it at all - the writing style didn't appeal to me at all and the lengthy descriptions bored me. As none of these were in the graphic novel, I found that I do care for the characters and really like the story itself. The descriptions are well covered in the illustrations, which are fantastic.
December 21, 2022
Frankenstein by John Green
This edition is a simple retelling of the Mary Shelley story of Frankenstein... detailed black and white drawings that bring the descriptions to life. Inspirational to those students that want to study art but are just learning the process.
This edition is a simple retelling of the Mary Shelley story of Frankenstein... detailed black and white drawings that bring the descriptions to life. Inspirational to those students that want to study art but are just learning the process.
November 22, 2014
Passable graphic novel adaptation designed to be a coloring book.
April 19, 2016
I have linked to the review on my blog. Please come and visit there.
http://mrbsbookshelf.blogspot.com/201...
http://mrbsbookshelf.blogspot.com/201...
March 16, 2015
A very brief retelling of the classic story - only 48 pages. Nonetheless, readers will love the sketched illustrations for them to color.
May 3, 2015
This was a ok kind of book for me. It didn't work all that well on my kindle and at time the printing was very small!
This is a book I got from NetGalley. For a review!
This is a book I got from NetGalley. For a review!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews