Frances and the Monster

“A joy to read!" — New York Times bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix 

What would you do if you accidentally brought a monster to life and set him loose on your town? 

Adventurous and charming, this middle grade twist on Frankenstein features a precocious main character who does just that. Perfect for fans of Serafina and the Black Cloak and the Greenglass House series.

Frances Stenzel was just trying to prove her scientific worth to her parents so they would take her with them to their scientific symposiums for once—instead, she reawakened her great-grandfather’s secret and most terrible invention.

Before it can destroy the town, she sets off after it, with her pet chimp and sarcastic robot tutor by her side. But monster-hunting isn’t easy, and she’ll have to face a persistent constable, angry locals, and an unexpected friendship ahead—all while the trail for the monster goes cold and time is running out before her science career, and the city itself, are doomed forever.

Full of thrills and heart alike, Frances and the Monster takes readers through winding streets and over perilous rooftops, with wily monsters, unpredictable twists, and powerful friendships waiting along the way.

She wanted to prove she was a scientist. But what happens when your greatest experiment has a mind of its own?

• A Frankenstein Retelling: Perfect for kids who love classic monster stories, this tale puts a brilliant young scientist in charge of a creature she can’t control.
• Sarcastic Robot Tutor: Frances is never alone thanks to Hobbes, her mechanical tutor whose logical—and often sarcastic—advice is not always helpful.
• Intelligent Animal Sidekick: With the help of an intelligence serum, Fritz the chimpanzee is more than a pet—he’s Frances’s partner in crime-stopping and monster-hunting.
• A Thrilling Monster Hunt: Chase a mysterious creature through the snowy streets and over the rooftops of 1930s Bern, Switzerland, before a determined constable catches you first.

Refe Tuma is the co-creator of Dinovember and the What the Dinosaurs Did picture book series, including What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night, named a Best Children’s Book of the Year with Honors by Bank Street College. His Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominated short stories and essays have appeared in all sorts of places, from wonderfully obscure literary journals to the New York Times. He lives with his family and his dog Boris in Kansas City, where he once experienced all four seasons in a single day. Learn more at refetuma.com. Oh, and it’s pronounced ‘reef.’