Frankenstein Se Lleva El Pastel (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
Self-aware from the opening endpages to its closing endpages, Rex’s second volume of Frankensteinian verse is simultaneously the gift and the curse--a paean to the horror fiction of the past two centuries as well as a lyrical skewering of it. Because of the rather broad body of work to which it alludes, younger readers may enjoy and understand the poetry only superficially, while an older audience with exposure to Godzilla, King Kong, the Wizard of Oz, vampires, werewolves, E.T., Alfred Hitchcock, and Edgar Allen Poe will have a much richer experience. While the overarching narrative is that of preparations for the nuptials of the creation and his made-to-order bride, in the tradition of Monty Python’s Flying Circus many digressions are made, some of which are returned to repeatedly. Each segment, no matter its initial appearance, is a poem. These verses come disguised as a letter, sequential art, blog posts, a post card, and even as an advertisement with its associated fine print. Rex’s attention to detail and his zany wit are the very heart of this monstrous creation. He turns verse on its ghoulish head not only revelling in wordplay and the musicality of language but also extending the text with illustrations of the quotidian un-life of monsterhood and thereby proving that these creatures that go bump in the night are “just like you and me (Well, sort of).” In short, Frankenstein Takes The Cake could cajole even the most recalcitrant male reader into admitting that poetry isn’t just for girls. The entire title is: Frankenstein Takes the Cake: which is full of funny stuff like rolling heads and giant gorillas and zombies dressed as little girls and Edgar Allan Poe. The book, we mean - not the cake.I'm almost tempted to give this one five stars! My ten year old loved this book. It's zany (even though I hate that word) and strange and hilarious and novel. There is just something fresh and new about the way the book is written and illustrated. The only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five is that I think the book is hard to market. It's being marketed towards kids, but I think most of the greatness of the book would be over most chidlrens' heads. My ten year old is pretty savvy and witty and artsy, but even she didn't fully appreciate the humor in it. She did, however, appreciate the illustrations. She said it's inspired her in her own art. So kudos, Mr. Adam Rex! Well done!
What do You think about Frankenstein Se Lleva El Pastel (2012)?
Who couldn't use a little more Adam Rex in their lives? A quick and clever read.
—gothicwolfgirl3
Clever and funny, kids will love the humor and rhyming.
—Scallison
Lots of silly poems, my favorite is E.T.-Mail
—Katty
