In 1818 Geneva, men built with clockwork parts live hidden away from society, cared for only by illegal mechanics called Shadow Boys. Two years ago, Shadow Boy Alasdair Finch’s life shattered to bits.
His brother, Oliver—dead.
His sweetheart, Mary—gone.
His chance to break free of Geneva—lost.
Heart-broken and desperate, Alasdair does the unthinkable: He brings Oliver back from the dead.
But putting back together a broken life is more difficult than mending bones and adding clockwork pieces. Oliver returns more monster than man, and Alasdair’s horror further damages the already troubled relationship.
Then comes the publication of Frankenstein and the city intensifies its search for Shadow Boys, aiming to discover the real life doctor and his monster. Alasdair finds refuge with his idol, the brilliant Dr. Geisler, who may offer him a way to escape the dangerous present and his guilt-ridden past, but at a horrible price only Oliver can pay…
Named one of VOYA's Best Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy titles for Young Adults of 2015-2016
Whitney Award finalist, 2015, for Best YA Speculative Fiction and Best Novel by a New Author
Winner of the Pen-New England Susan P. Bloom Children's Book Discovery Award
Shortlisted for the Oklahoma Sequoyah Award
"In Lee's masterful prose, this macabre novel is charged with unmistakable signs of life." -The Horn Book
"[An] accomplished first novel." -Publisher's Weekly
"A solid tale that explores what it means to be human. Part homage to a sci-fi original, part re-imagining, plenty of teen torment and trouble—an absorbing read." -Kirkus Reviews
" Lee skillfully infuses her adaptation...with fantastical details and a steampunk twist...adeptly paced and well-written…a complex cast of characters allows themes such as loyalty, family, revenge, betrayal, and humanity to be tactfully explored." -School Library Journal
"Richly imagined and ingeniously plotted." -BCCB
“A compelling and brave retelling of the original science fiction novel. A secret history, a love story, something both old and new.” -Scott Westerfeld, author of Zeroes, Uglies, and Leviathan
