By Padraig Kenny (author)
"A gripping Gothic adventure with real heart and humanity"
Paperback In Stock £7.99 £7.19
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January 2024 Book of the Month
Although obviously taking inspiration from Mary Shelley’s classic Gothic tale of Frankenstein , this is not just a watered-down version of that tale, but a fresh, original story which packs a real emotional punch within its 200 beautifully written pages.
Who could fail to find Stitch endearing? A boy who just happens to have been made (stitched together) rather than born, but who is simply trying to make the best of his life and live up to the standards his beloved Professor tried to teach him before he died. Stitch’s innocence, trust and curiosity make him very vulnerable to the likes of Professor Hardacre, who is the Professor’s nephew and has his own gruesome reasons for wanting to continue his uncle’s work.
Stitch soon discovers the peril that he and especially his friend and an earlier creation, Henry Oaf, are in and together with Alice, Professor Hardacre’s assistant they try to escape. Henry is another delightful character who reads extensively and the inventive embellishments to language add humour to the story mix.
Alice helps Stitch and Henry realise what they are and how they are made and warns them that the world is not very accepting of people who are different. Born disfigured and abandoned by her parents, she has direct experience of this before she was rescued and put to work by Professor Hardacre, who is perhaps not entirely bad.
Kenny’s novels often centre around the topic of difference and what makes us human and here in this gripping and enjoyable tale, which will have all readers rooting for a happy ending for Stitch and his companions, there are moments of great pathos as well as moments of love, hope and friendship. This is a rich and rewarding read which as a read aloud could provoke deep discussion and empathy in the audience.
A compelling, atmospheric and gothic Frankenstein-inspired adventure by an award-winning Irish author.
Read the full description
Stitch is not a monster – he’s a creation. He and his friend Henry Oaf were brought to life by the genius Professor Hardacre, and have spent all their days in a castle deep in the woods, far from humankind. But when the Professor dies and his pompous nephew comes to take over the laboratory, they soon find out that his sights are set not on scientific discovery, but personal glory.
And Henry is his next experiment. Can Stitch and Henry escape his clutches and make their way in a world they were never built for – and may never be ready for them?
A magnificent gothic adventure full of heart for age 8+
Everything you'd want a Frankenstein-inspired children's book to be: a thrilling gothic adventure, brimming with heart and bursting with big questions. I loved it. -- Lucy Strange
In a lightning-storm of beautiful writing, Pádraig Kenny brings his extraordinary cast of characters to perfect, charming life. A marvellously delicate parable of friendship and compassion, Stitch is witty, elegant and profound. -- Jonathan Stroud
A fantastic story and an important one with underlying themes of friendship, grief and owning being different. - NetGalley Reviewer
Pádraig Kenny is an Irish writer from Newbridge in County Kildare. He has a first class master's degree in Anglo-Irish Writing from Maynooth University, and he has taught English literature and creative writing. He has worked as a freelance arts journalist, and as a scriptwriter he has written drama and comedy for radio and screen. Tin is his first novel.
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A compelling, atmospheric and gothic Frankenstein-inspired adventure by an award-winning Irish author. Stitch is not a monster – he’s a creation.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Stitch and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
Stitch features in the following genres: Books of the Month, Recommendations, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Horror & Ghost Stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Star Books, Featured Books for 9+ readers
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Stitch was written by Padraig Kenny and published by Walker Books Ltd
Stitch has 202 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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