Made for Each Other: Book 2

Written by Paul D. Storrie

Narrated by Book Buddy Digital Media

Tom Stone stepped into Seward High and into Maria McBride's life like a bolt of lightning. He's the perfect guy for Maria—nice, smart, and well-built. There's just one problem: his family. Tom's father is the town's new funeral director, and business is booming. The bodies are piling up thick and fast in Persephone Falls, Alaska, so Dr. Stone keeps Tom up late at night working in the funeral home. And it's clear that Dr. Stone and his creepy assistant, Graves, don't want Maria around. Maria knows Tom was made for her. She's determined to find out what Dr. Stone has against her. When Tom refuses to stand up to his father, Maria begins to stitch together the clues...and finds out that the Stones are into recycling in ways she never could have imagined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lerner
• Release date: Jan 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512442090

Paul D. Storrie

Paul D. Storrie was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and despite time spent in Grand Rapids, Chicago, and Los Angeles, has returned to Metro-Detroit time and again. He attended Grand Valley State University and received a B.A. in English Language and Literature, knowing that he wanted to tell stories for a living. His first published work was the comic book series Robyn of Sherwood in 1998. Since then he has written for numerous publishers, including a story for Marvel’s Captain America: Red, White & Blue anthology, the mini-series Gotham Girls for DC Comics, Star Trek Alien Spotlight: Andorians for IDW, and several tales for Graphic Universe, including Junior Library Guild selection Hercules: The Twelve Labors with artist Steve Kurth and Children’s Choice Book Awards finalist Beowulf: Monster Slayer with artist Ron Randall.

Reviews for Made for Each Other

[roses7184_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you follow my reviews, you might have noticed that I already reviewed (and fell in love with) the first in this series. Made for Each Other is the second book in the "My Boyfriend is a Monster" series. As a fan of graphic novels, I'm always raring to pick up a new set! So I dove into the second one with as much fervor as the first.

I think it should be mentioned that I didn't realize until after I started reading that each novel in this series has a different story line, along with different characters. This particular installment follows Maria McBride as she delves into the mysteriousness that surrounds the new boy, Tom Stone. He's unlike any other boy in her high school class. Dark, brooding, and downright handsome. Maria makes it her goal to find out why he's being so distant.

First, as always, let's talk illustrations. One of my favorite parts about these is that they are in black and white. It's not that I don't love color illustrations, I do. There's just something about the black and white that speaks volumes to me. The ability to tell such a vivid story without color is astounding. That being said, the illustrations in Made for Each Other are rather simple, but lovely. They fit the story perfectly and each panel is filled with detail. Right down to the wrinkles on Maria's mother's face, they are beautifully done.

In terms of story, that's where this one lost a star for me. Again, each graphic novel in the series has different characters, and is also (I found out) written by a different author. Although I liked Maria and Tom, I just couldn't fall in love with them as much as I would have liked to. Without spoiling anything I can definitely tell you that this is a different kind of story. What Tom is, well, it definitely adds a story element that keeps things fresh. However, as I said, I just didn't fall in love with it as much as the last installment. Maybe I'm just predisposed to love zombies. Who knows.

I'll quit rambling here. I am honestly still in love with this series, and look forward to the next installment! I can't wait to see what "My Boyfriend is a Monster" has in store for us. If you are a lover of graphic novels, give these a shot. If you haven't yet taken the big plunge into graphic novels, these are a great way to start!

[lvstrongpuff · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a great book. I love the idea behind Frankenstein's monster becoming Frankenstein. The ending was sad and kind of short. It was like the story just ended.

[theyodamom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

High school can be tough for anyone, but if you are in band it can be even harder. Maria McBride’s life is about to change.Tom Stone is the new kid in class and his father is the new town undertaker. Poor Tom he is a hunk but his life was put together in pieces, literally. He’s a Frankenboy, a hunky one. He was built by an historical character, interesting story there. Remember that jealous psycho chick ? Well, wait till you meet this one.
I loved the art work and the way the story flowed. I look forward to more of these.

[rosa.mill · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Tom Stone is a new student at Maria's high school. They start to fall for each other but Tom's family is very against the relationship. Maria can't figure it out until she learns Tom's secret.

This book was adorable. I loved Tom and Maria although I could have done w/ a little more background info on Maria. I loved the take on the Frankenstien lore, I thought it was very clever although it did skirt the whole issue of whether or not it's right to rebuild people issue.

[akmargie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm really liking these little GNs. The characters are fun, the horror tales reimagined are fun and they're just campy enough to be, well, fun. I would rate it higher except the art is fairly standard and the story depth is quite shallow and the appeal veers more female but what a fun book to hand to a reluctant reader.

[girlsonfire · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a new twist on the Frankenstein Monster. Quick read, enjoyable.

[christina4703 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When we say a couple was "made for each other," we usually mean that some abstract higher power has created two halves of a whole person and placed them in different bodies so that they complete each other. However, Tom Stone and Maria McBride mean it a little more literally. At first, Maria only knows that Tom is attractive and that he seems genuinely impressed by her mad violin skills, which are usually overlooked or mocked by her classmates. But as she gets to know him better, she appreciates more than the way he fills out his black tee-shirts. Tom is kind and loyal, even going so far as to defend Maria and her friends from bullies at school. He seems perfect. The only downside is his super strict and somewhat creepy family.Dr. Franklin Stone, Tom's dad, is the new town mortician and he definitely does not like Maria. In fact, he makes sure that Tom is so busy at the funeral parlor that he doesn't have time to see Maria much. Finally, when she is completely fed up with being pushed aside, Maria goes to Tom's house to confront him and his family. That, of course, is when she discovers just how unconventional the family is. See, Tom's dad is Frankenstein's original monster and he's made himself a little family, including Tom, his assistant, Graves, and a new sister for Tom, Heddy.Heddy's not so happy about Tom falling for a normal girl, though, and it becomes clear that Heddy has a different plan altogether for Tom, one that doesn't involve too many sisterly feelings. So Tom and Maria set out with the Maria's friends (orchestra dorks to a man, armed with stringed instruments and a blowtorch) to save any innocent bystanders from getting involved in Heddy's scheme. Even Frankenstein--excuse me, Franklin Stone--gets in on the action.This was a nice follow-up to I Love Him to Pieces and the pacing was much better. Tom reveals himself to be a Modern Prometheus by about page 32, leaving us with 90-some-odd pages to enjoy the gory story. Made for Each Other also added some delightfully cheesy humor into the mix. For example, when Tom is ripping his shirt off to reveal his autopsy-scarred-though-still-magnificent chest, one of his flying buttons hits Maria in the eye. His name is also Tom Bartholomew Stone. That's right, Tom B. Stone.The characters didn't jump off the page for me, though. They're both scarred--Tom physically and Maria emotionally. Maria lost both of her parents in a terrible car accident but the fact almost never comes up. She doesn't seem any more angsty than your typical fifteen-year-old girl, which I was disappointed by. There was potential for some real depth there but only about a dozen panels are dedicated to her orphan status. Tom, too, fell flat for me. He seems to be a pretty upstanding guy, all things considered, but he has no qualms about "recycling" body parts from members of the local community after a string of mysterious accidents. And Maria has no problem with his harvests, citing that both of her parents were organ donors. So. Not. The. Same.All in all, a funny read, especially for those familiar with the horror genre who will appreciate reference to the original story, but not as compelling as it could have been.

[smmorris_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Tom Stone is the new student at Seward High School and is turning all the girl’s eyes, but it’s Maria McBride who catches his. They have fun together, when they can, but Tom’s father keeps him too busy for much of anything outside of work. Maria tries to visit Tom at home but the creepy assistant Mr. Graves makes it clear to Maria she is not wanted. Not around the funeral home and not around Tom. Tom won’t help Maria; he refuses to stand up to his father. Maria knows she and Tom are meant for each other, and becomes determined to find out why Dr. Stone, who now runs the local funeral home, does not want her around. Dr Stone keeps his son busy in the funeral home’s basement, late at night. Meanwhile, people in Persephone Falls, Alaska are dying in quick succession, keeping Dr. Stone’s funeral home exceptionally busy for a small Alaskan town. Soon, Maria puts the clues she has gathered together. What she finds is a family who are busy recycling . . . in a way Maria has never before seen.This is the second graphic novel in the My Boyfriend is a Monster series. Once again the story is told in a way that will keep you wondering for most of the tale. . The illustrations, in black and white, are excellent, rendering the characters in a way the shows their personalities. Tom, a sophomore, has the build of Hulk and a stature that nearly matches Michael Jordon (though I doubt Tom knows who either of these guys are). When Tom defends Maria and her three friends, the bullies backs away from Tom, reverting to their true characters: cowards. Maria is rather strong for a young girl who recently lost her parents in a car accident and then three friends in the same manner, prior to the start of school. She accepts Tom without question, even after he tells her his version of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This is one of the best scenes of the book and the illustrations enhance Tom’s tale beautifully.The writing is well paced and authentic, just as the first novel was, and can easily be read in one sitting. When Dr. Stone threatens Maria and her aunt, the action becomes the kids versus . . . well, I’ll let the reader find out on his or her own. I just hate spoilers. Made for Each Other will please graphic novel loving teens as well as the first, I Love Him to Pieces, surely did. Any parent wanting to introduce their youngster to graphic novels, this series is a perfect venue. Strong writing, odd stories with twists unexpected and fine illustrations that will have you looking as well as reading are beginning to be the hallmarks of the My Boyfriend is a Monster series. Made for Each Other and its series are highly recommended.note: received from netgalley, courtesy of the publisher