Stitch by Padraig Kenny

What worked:

Stitch and Henry are loveable, unassuming characters, and Stitch’s goodness is the most special part of the book. People living outside the castle might consider them monsters, but that’s only because of their appearances. Stitch always follows Professor Hardacre’s orders, and one of them is to not let Henry out of his cage. Henry is clumsy and breaks things. The Professor also said he’s to not be disturbed under any circumstances, so Stitch has not disturbed his sleep for 327 days. Stitch tends to take things literally, so there’s confusion when he hears figures of speech. His response to a simple, “How do you do?” is, “How do I do what?” Henry views himself as highly "intellitude” and is gifted with “handsomeness”, and young readers will enjoy his playful vocabulary.

In contrast, the professor’s nephew, Professor Giles Hardacre, is a man of science and sees Henry and Stitch as specimens and materials to be studied. After meeting Henry for the first time, Giles is sure he can fix the Professor’s first creation. This causes Henry to flee the castle, with Stitch and Alice, Giles’ assistant, following later to find him. They find unexpected dangers from The Hooded Man and frightened villagers. Stitch’s kindness and positive outlook guide his choices and change prejudiced minds.

The concept of death confuses Stitch when he learns the Professor will be gone forever, and the concept is discussed throughout the story. The meaning of the word “person” also puzzles Stitch, since he was created from the parts of dead bodies. Is he a person when he wasn’t really born? Friendship and forgiveness are other thoughts readers will encounter through Stitch’s interactions with others. His openness and goodness make everyone a potential friend, and he treats adversaries with respect and understanding. Readers will be surprised when Stitch turns volatile situations into reflective moments of transformation.

What didn’t work as well:

Some more able middle-grade readers may pass on reading this book because it seems too simple. However, the story explores real-life thoughts and emotions with fun and a feel-good story.

The final verdict:

This is a charming story for young readers with several positive messages. I recommend you give it a shot!