School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-Griffin's richly descriptive writing exquisitely evokes a dark, dank dystopian world destroyed by humans' obsession with computers. Sixteen-year-old Nell lives with her mad scientist father, Julian, who is widely respected for his fantastical prosthetic creations. When Nell was young, Julian implanted a ticking heart in her, but he couldn't save Nell's mother. Nell's incessant ticking, coupled with the expectation that she live up to the reputations of her parents, both renowned scientists, causes her to feel like an outsider. Enter Io: Nell creates a robot of sorts, using spare and found parts, such as a ladder (for the spine), a mannequin hand, and a teakettle (for the head). An illicit, stolen computer provides the brain. Not quite sci-fi, not quite fantasy, this quirky nod to Frankenstein will delight some readers and confuse others. Io kindly acts as a caretaker for Nell. Initially, Nell's revolutionary project alienates her friends. But in a hurried ending, she discovers the truth about her parents and her friends rally their support as Nell verges on the cusp of greatness. Griffin's strength lies in her ability to perfectly convey the mood and tone of her Burton-esque world. Unfortunately, absurd moments (Nell kissing a teakettle), a slowly evolving story, and the awkward use of shifting narrative perspectives conflict with her skillful writing. VERDICT This work may have a niche audience, but readers who are fond of rich, descriptive writing and can bypass certain preposterous situations will find a treasure in this Frankenstein-inspired tale.-Laura Falli, McNeil High School, Austin, TX © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
"Could you make a soul out of spare and found parts?" It's been more than 100 years since an event known as the Turn, and people now live without the computers and technology that brought about destruction and sickness. Nell Crane lives with her father, Dr. Julian Crane, in the Pale, home to those born without limbs and other body parts. Julian creates wondrous mechanical limbs for those who need them, and Nell, self-conscious about her mechanical heart, is under pressure to present a creation of her own to the Youth Council. She longs to build something more impressive than the tiny bots she assembles, and out of this longing an idea is born: Nell will build a boy, someone who will see past her scar. Irish author Griffin's lovely U.S. debut is a quietly effective cautionary tale about a world still reeling from past mistakes. The steady ticking of Nell's heart provides a drumbeat for her aching loneliness, her grief over the death of her mother, and her quest-despite catastrophic betrayal-to understand what it means to be alive. Ages 14-up. Agent: Simon Trewin, William Morris Endeavor. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
In an indistinct future, computers are no more in fact, they're outlawed after bringing about an epidemic that has resulted in surviving generations being born missing body parts. For teenage Nell, whose father is a renowned inventor of biomechanical limbs, this manifests differently than it does for everyone else: it's her heart that is missing. Her loudly ticking mechanical replacement sets her apart from everyone else. Lonely, desperate to live up to her father's reputation, and struggling to make a necessary contribution to her community, Nell comes up with a radical plan to build a boy and bring him to life using long-forbidden computer parts. This Frankensteinian debut from Ireland raises a number of tense, lingering questions, although it loses some momentum as the plot progresses and some aspects of this future are left maddeningly vague. Still, the prose is lovely, and readers looking for a Frankenstein update that upholds the spirit of the original will be pleased.--Reagan, Maggie Copyright 2016 Booklist