A review by Clare Elaine
Monster High by Lisi Harrison is the story of what seems to be a typical American high school, but actually hides some monster secrets. The story is primarily told from the point of view of two girls who are new to the school and who are looking for ways to fit in. The characters of the story are a mix of regular high school kids, and the descendants of classic monsters such as Frankenstein and Dracula.
Filled with not-so-subtle puns and a string of references to brand name items I have never heard of, it is a little difficult to follow, but that is probably because I am not a 14 year old girl in high school anymore. For the intended readers of the book there is a great deal of things that they will be able to relate to and enjoy. Underneath the monsters and the rampant consumerism the story is about the difficulty of finding acceptance and a place in the world, which is all any of us is really looking for.
While Monster High is not suited to me, it has been so popular with the younger girls that there are already dolls, clothing and a movie in the works for what will become a series of books based on classic monsters for a new generation. I do like the idea of bringing the classic monsters to the new generation, and I hope that this book, and the ones to follow in the series, will help to bring more girls into the sci-fi fandom.
This article was previously published in Dark Matter issue 3, April 2011, and predated on this website to reflect the original publication date.
