M Is for Monster
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
A scientist attempts to bring her younger sister back to life with unexpected results in Talia Dutton’s M Is for Monster, a Frankenstein-inspired graphic novel about ghosts, identity, and family.
When Doctor Frances Ai’s younger sister Maura died in a tragic accident six months ago, Frances swore she would bring her back to life. However, the creature that rises from the slab is clearly not Maura. This girl, who chooses the name “M,” doesn’t remember anything about Maura’s life and just wants to be her own person.
However, Frances expects M to pursue the same path that Maura had been on—applying to college to become a scientist—and continue the plans she and Maura shared. Hoping to trigger Maura’s memories, Frances surrounds M with the trappings of Maura’s past, but M wants nothing to do with Frances’s attempts to change her into something she’s not. In order to face the future, both Frances and M need to learn to listen and let go of Maura once and for all.
Talia Dutton’s debut graphic novel, M Is for Monster, takes a hard look at what it means to live up to other people’s expectations—as well as our own. It is one of the titles on our Surely list, which is dedicated to showcasing gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual creators and stories.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Dutton's pensive Frankenstein-inspired debut graphic novel nimbly explores grief, sisterhood, and identity. Driven by guilt following her younger sister Maura's death, caused by the Asian-cued siblings' latest science experiment, Doctor Frances Ai defies natural law to revive her. Frances and her cued-white spouse, Gin, stitch Maura's body back together. Using lightning as a conduit, they work to resurrect Maura; instead, they inadvertently birth M, a blank soul with no memories of her own. Fearing what Frances will do if she realizes her failure, M turns to Maura's disembodied spirit, which is bound to mirrors and visible only to M. As M learns about the siblings' turbulent relationship to maintain the ruse, she undergoes her own evolution toward personhood. Thick inky lines, dynamic paneling, and monochromatic hues enlivened with teal splashes fluidly develop an eerie, mid-20th-century setting. Though Frances's guilt is palpable, Maura's wry wit ("Science go oops. Energy go BOOM. Maura go bye-bye") and M's endearing missteps skillfully balance weighty circumstances with humor, conveying a moving story about prioritizing one's well-being, personal expression, and self-discovery. Ages 14–up.
Customer Reviews
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Have not read, but I love what others had to say!🙂