I don’t even know where to begin with this book because my goodness, what difficult topics it addresses, but does so in the most compassionate and empathetic way. This book is not what I was expecting. Kenny has created a tale with familiar (yet tweaked) fantastic characters that challenges and deals with the themes of loss/grief, family/friendship, hatred and acceptance in such a poignant and accessible way for all audiences. For this reason this book is dark and emotional for reasons other than the fact that it’s a middle grade horror. Definitely one to pre-read before giving to a younger audience, but perfect for parents/adults looking for a way to discuss/explain some of these important issues.

A charming book which is a retelling of Frankenstein for children aged 9+. Stitch is a very sympathetic character and I found the story to be engaging.

What a beautiful story! A Frankenstein-esque tale of Stitch and his friend Henry, both created by the Professor and left to fend for themselves when he dies. Their wide - eyed innocence at the world is touching and Henry's command of vocabulary is at times hilarious. Who are the monsters in this story? Not Stitch and Henry. A wonderful story of friendship. I loved it!

I have read and adored everything Pádraig Kenny has written, his charming characters win me over every single time, and the same is true with his latest novel Stitch.

This is a charming story, with so many wonderful messages of friendship and kindness, of support and acceptance. Loosely inspired by Frankenstein, though not the same plot at all, this is sure to be a winner with children and adults alike.

A beautifully written tale that can’t fail to warm your heart. A wonderful middle grade that I highly recommend.

You always know that when you pick up a book by Padraig Kenny it will be something exceptional and this latest book, lives up to his high standard. Using Mary Shelly’s creation as the inspiration for Stitch brings a younger audience to the poignant undercurrent of the various shades of humanity, where the real monsters are hiding in plain sight.

I adored the characters of Stitch & Henry and the way they can show the reader how to see through surface details and appreciate everyone, no matter how unique they are, to be amazing.

An electrifying adventure that readers will treasure.

This has such a good message for kids (and adults!) and I think will appeal to a number of readers as the characters are loveable. I like the idea of taking a classic and adapting it in this way that feels different to some retellings (in this case with the monster not being a monster as such but just like kids navigating the world, making it easier for actual kids to take in the message

I loved it!

Having only recently read POG and discovered the work of Kenny - I was super excited to read his new book.

This is a Frankenstein-inspired story for the younger reader but it keeps a gothic atmosphere. It has a great message about friendship and belonging woven through effortlessly.

It is a fun and philosophical read. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

‘The Monsters of Rookhaven’ and its sequel were great books, Now this author has produced a title pitched at rather younger readers but which captures the same mixture of humour, jeopardy and macabre thrills, underpinned with real depth, sensitivity and thoughtfulness. Strongly recommended.

A story for the 7-11 audience that really achieves what it wants. It is imbued with the Frankenstein essence, without ever labouring the fact, and seems all the better for it. Stitch is a Frankensteinian monster, but only in that he is a child constructed out of parts, sewn together a year and a half ago. He's not alone, as someone else in their remote and isolating castle was created the same way. But when a certain Professor's nephew comes calling, it is only going to shock Stitch – the very creator he thought had been tired out and sleeping for almost a year now, is in fact dead. Over the course of the story we are told humans can be monstrous, that looks are nothing to go on when faced with character, and we see in very much revisited form something that could be a cheesy tenth-generation Hammer Franken-reboot, but factors in the (potentially) naive girl, the giant with no sense of his own strength, the fixated scientist, the blind stranger, and everything the Frankenstein story involves (in the mind of those who have never read it, at least) and more.

And that is where I am divided in my opinions over this. No, it is not that I expect all the target readers to know the James Whale film and its following movies, but the fact remains this would be so much easier to deem a classic if it didn't rip off something to what this adult found a bizarrely great and obvious amount. You twig that this beat is open to the story, that it can potentially cover that, and that that character may do the work of someone else in the film, and all comes to pass. And I think it could have twisted things a lot more, without losing the Franken-sense and still feeling fresher.

But as I say, this, to a young reader is fine – to a point. I found the word-play, where one character comes up with uber-falutin' and, well, monstrously long words a bit much. That aside, however, it's four-star fine – the drama is certainly there, and the hero is goodie without being too goodie-goodie – you can see the line he could so easily have crossed into insufferable tweeness and schmaltz, but you can see him carefully avoid it. This then is an adventurous look at an old text, and one layering on the moral of kindness and acceptance, in a thankfully wokeness-free and honourable manner. In several ways, then, it is close enough to being a Whale of a time.

I will read anything by Pádraig Kenny, and Stitch did not disappoint. There are few writers as deft at creating characters who you will care for so much you will be reluctant to leave behind. Stitch and Henry Oaf are brilliant creations whose plight, left behind after the death of their creator cannot fail to move the reader. When the death of their creator leaves them at the mercy of his cruel nephew, they must choose to leave the only home they have ever known and make their way into a world where they soon find they are not welcome.

The plot is tightly woven and moves at a pace that will thrill the young reader. Pádraig Kenny does not shy away from the darker themes of the source material - death, grief and reanimation, but these are dealt with skilfully, weaving in information in such a way that what could, in a less skilled author's hands, be distressing, is sensitively presented, and the firm emphasis on friendship and courage gives the book a strong injection of hope.

In short, Pádraig Kenny has done it again, delivering a breathtaking adventure with characters who will steal, and at times break, your heart. An adventure-filled masterpiece.

Thank you NetGalley for this review copy.
Perfect mix of dark humour and classic storytelling. Original and the illustrations are cool.
Look forward to others.

Stitch is a Frankenstein inspired story, where Stitch and Henry are brought into the world by The Professor and the castle is all they know

But upon the arrival of the Professors nephew and his assistance, Alice, Stitch may have to reassess what he knows and branch out to find his place in the world.

Definitely a book that makes you ask what it means to be human and who the real monsters are.... a great read for children and adults alike

Thank you to Walker books for the review copy of this book, however, all opinions are my own.

I love new takes on classic stories and I’ve heard great things about Pádraig Kenny’s writing. So, I was so happy to be approved for his new Frankenstein-esque middle-grade story and I had a great time following these heartwarming characters.

Stitch and his friend Henry were created by a professor and have spent their whole lives in a castle in the woods. They’ve never seen the outside world but when the professor dies, his nephew shows up with some big scientific ambitions, which Henry is a key part of. Can Stitch and Henry escape into the unknown, unforgiving human world?

Stitch’s days are quiet and his existence seems quite pointless before the adventure starts. I loved getting to know him and his rich inner life, which is a sharp contrast to the tiny world that he inhabits. From the very beginning, he was a really interesting character to follow, so the connection was instantly there.

Henry is less developed than Stitch but due to his large size and strength, he is considered a dangerous liability and shut away. Stitch and Henry do have a George/Lennie dynamic and there is evidence that Of Mice and Men was another influence of Kenny’s while writing this. I loved their friendship and was fully invested in the two of them making it to safety and happiness.

The Professor’s nephew has an assistant named Alice, a young orphan who befriends Stitch. She tells him about monsters and how the human world treat those who look different. It’s a harsh reality and a lesson that Stitch has to learn if he is to venture beyond the castle grounds. I loved Alice’s role in the story and felt that she was a vital part in facilitating Stitch’s integration into society. Everyone needs someone to guide and protect them and it was heartwarming to see that Alice felt that she could do that for Stitch.

As is the case every time the topic appears, I also really enjoyed thinking about how monsters are not always easy to spot. It’s a major theme of Frankenstein and imparting that lesson in an easy-to-read, engaging children’s novel is genius. The whole book is built on values such as kindness and empathy, which allows room to explore the struggles that those who have gone without kindness and empathy have been through.

Stitch is a beautiful, unique retelling of a story that has been told many times before. However, although it’s clear where the influences have come from, this didn’t feel like recycled content. It felt fresh and relevant to a contemporary young readership, making it a great introduction to gothic science-fiction for the age 8-11 market.

've been in awe of Padraig Kenny's writing ever since I read The Monsters of Rookhaven and this new, relatively short novel inspired by Mary Shelley's Frankenstein absolutely tugged on my heartstrings. Simply told, the story, for me, takes us on an exploration of what it means to be human and what it means to be different.
Stitch and his friend, Henry, are alive - created by Professor Hardacre. But when Professor Hardacre dies and his troubled and ambitious nephew takes the helm, things take a sinister turn. Determined to progress science by experimenting on Henry, Stitch is horrified by the professor's intentions. Can Henry and Stitch escape?And what will become of them if they do?

Both Stitch and Henry - but especially Henry and his innocence - are incredibly special characters who will leave a monster-sized imprint on readers' hearts. Yet, as the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear who the monsters actually are. Challenging attitudes and preconceptions of anyone who is 'imperfect' or 'different', Padraig Kenny's paired back narrative only serves to make the impact of the tale more powerful - the simplicity of it allowing us to see the truth in a compelling yet clear way.

The length of the novel and the way it is told makes what is quite a literary story accessible. There's twists and turns and lots of hooks, an exploration of motives, conscience and the reasoning (or justification) behind actions and, most importantly, an exploration of acceptance. I was really sad when the novel ended and am wondering if we'll ever get to see more of Stitch and Henry's adventures.

Stitch is an utterly breathtaking and heartachingly captivating, gothic tale: poignant, profound and perfect storytelling.

585-day-old Stitch marks each day of his existence with a chalk mark on the wall of the turret room in the castle where he lives. Like his friend, Henry Oaf, he has been created by Professor Hardacre who has been asleep for 327 days. Unlike his friend, who has been locked in a cage during that time, Stitch has been free to roam the castle and complete his chores. Stitch is torn between guilt at leaving his friend locked up, and going against his creator’s orders.

When the Professor’s nephew visits with his assistant, Alice, Stitch is given the confusing and upsetting news that the Professor is dead. Whilst the Professor was intent on scientific discovery, his nephew has his sights set on something darker … and Henry is his next experiment. But, before he can realise his goal, Henry escapes his clutches and runs from the castle …

Determined to find his friend, Stitch leaves the only home he has known, but can he survive in a world that he was never meant to enter? Will the friends be reunited, or separated forever by the fear, hatred and prejudice of others?

This is an absolutely stunning, incredibly powerful and thought-provoking story that completely gripped me from start to finish. The action, brimming with peril, discoveries and secrets, kept me turning pages as I was desperate to find out how the three friends would survive in a world where their differences make them more likely to be hated or feared than accepted.

Stitch is the most remarkable creation and shows more humanity than many of the humans in his life. He is empathetic, kind-hearted and perceptive as well as having an innocence and natural curiosity that makes him incredibly endearing. He doesn’t judge people on how they look and shows kindness towards those in need, even if this brings trouble for himself. The bonds of friendship between Stitch, Henry and Alice are wonderfully heart-warming.

This is a story that addresses some big issues, including selfhood and self-awareness, the depth of grief, and prejudice shown towards differences. It is a story that challenges the reader to think about what constitutes a monster: is a monster created by others or self? Are they created by our own fears, pain and prejudices, but who does that make the monster?

This is a stunning, heart-warming and unforgettable story of friendship and inner strength that completely captured my heart, and is one that I cannot recommend highly enough to readers of 9+.

Stitch was absolutely wonderful. I read this in one sitting because once I met the brilliant character that is Stitch, I had to stick with him until the end. I’m a huge fan of gothicism and stories like Frankenstein and to see it reimagined in this way for children is just so cool. Also the message at the core of the book is so important for kids nowadays. Everyone is going to love this.

This was a lush deep dive into the intricacies of friendship and belonging. I loved how philosophical it was and it’ll definitely be one that grips children and teachers alike.

This is a very special book. Stitch is a wonderful character who warms the heart, and then settles right there.
Stitch, along with his friend, Henry, are creations of Professor Hardacre (snr). Until his death, they have lived a comfortable life at his castle, but when the Professor’s nephew arrives to take his place, there happy life seems ruined forever.
With echoes of Frankenstein, this story explores issues of acceptance, belonging, friendship and grief. Throughout, it prompts us to consider what it is that constitutes a human. Despite these deep, philosophical themes, the plot is simple and easy to follow for young readers, but without stinting on quality language or becoming patronising in any way.
There are so many amazing conversations that could come from this novel and I can’t wait to share this with groups of children. I would thoroughly recommend this to children, teachers and parents alike.

Stitch is a heartwarming and Gothic tale, about a creature, a world of monsters and heroes, and his journey in teaching others about which one he is.
I loved Padraig Kenny's Rookhaven books and so was really looking forward to reading this. It has a lot of similarities to Frankenstein - what makes someone living, what makes something 'monstrous' - but aimed at a younger audience. It is also funny and tender, and has characters that stay with you for a while. I really enjoyed this.
A wonderful tale about brave 'creatures' with huge hearts.

This is a rather sweet book about how everyone deserves a chance. About fitting in and proving to others that just because you look different doesn't mean you're less of a person. That what really matters is just being a good person.
It's a fast paced story with some loveable characters, some detestable characters, and some in between.
I found it really moving in places and would be a great book for children with physical differences. But hopefully also for those who judge others based solely on their differences.