PRE-PUB REVIEW: Of Monsters and Madness by Jessica Verday

A mystery tale based on the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe has so much promise, which is sadly not fulfilled by this mediocre and somewhat sloppy attempt to emulate the master.  Oh, the names (Annabelle Lee, a scary raven scratching at the window, references to famous Poe stories) are all there, but the setting is off, and the idea that Poe would work as a maniacal doctor’s assistant seems too convenient.  The author did not bother to do the basic research necessary for a historical piece, and I find this disturbing as well.  The story is set in 1826 and she refers to the protagonist’s father as a doctor practicing without a license—something supposedly illegal, when in reality, Pennsylvania did not regulate the practice of medicine until well after 1850. If there were licenses granted at all it would have been by medical associations, not legal entities, so that is a total red herring.  Then, there is the whole Jekyll and Hyde split personality thing, and well, it’s all just too much.  It’s a shame, really, because middle school students often read Poe and enjoy him in English class, and it would have been nice to have a well written modern piece to give them once they’ve read through Poe’s own tales.   This short novel would only work for grades 7-9, and they would have to be desperate.   Try giving them something more subtle and nuanced, like Nathaniel Hawthorne or Poe himself.  There are always the Schwartz books (Scary Stories, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, etc.)  

Of Monsters and Madness will be available on September 9, 2014.

June’s Rating System:  Language—G; Nudity—G;  Sexual Content—PG;  GLBT Content—G;  Violence—R, there is  serial killer skulking about;  Substance Abuse—PG