In particular, Kelly Hurley explores a key scenario that haunts the genre: the loss of a unified and stable human identity, and the emergence of a chaotic and transformative abhuman identity in its place. Gothic is revealed as a highly productive and speculative genre, strongly indebted to nineteenth-century scientific, medical and social theories, including evolutionism, criminal anthropology and degeneration theory.

    Jack Howl can't wait to teach his son, Axel, to howl like him.  Wanda plans to show her daughter, Thistle, how to fly just the way she does.  But the kids have other ideas in this lighthearted jab at gender stereotypes that will make young readers howl.