Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur Summary, Characters and Themes
Adrienne Brodeur’s Little Monsters (2023) is a literary fiction novel set against the scenic backdrop of Cape Cod, focusing on the complex dynamics of a dysfunctional family.
The story centers on aging marine biologist Adam Gardner, who battles bipolar disorder while his children—Ken, an ambitious businessman, and Abby, a creative artist—grapple with unresolved trauma, family secrets, and their strained relationships. As tensions mount, the narrative explores themes of ambition, sibling rivalry, and the corrosive effects of hidden truths, offering a contemporary take on the biblical Cain and Abel, all while paralleling the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Summary
Adam Gardner, a nearly retired marine biologist, is at a crossroads in life as he approaches his 70th birthday.
Abandoning his medication for bipolar disorder, he believes his unchecked mania will lead him to groundbreaking insights into whale communication. His delusions of grandeur contrast sharply with the unraveling lives of his two adult children, Ken and Abby, whose relationships with their father and each other are burdened by years of secrets and trauma.
Set during 2016, the narrative unfolds month by month, beginning in April. Adam is focused on his ambitious scientific dreams, dismissing his declining health and familial responsibilities.
His eldest son, Ken, a wealthy and ambitious businessman with political aspirations, struggles with both his self-worth and desire for approval from his distant father. Ken’s competitive nature brings friction with his sister, Abby, a talented yet emotionally scarred artist, who bears the weight of their tumultuous past.
Abby’s work as an artist is deeply influenced by childhood trauma, including the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of Ken, a dark truth that she begins to confront as the story progresses.
Her creative pursuits, however, remain her outlet, and her recent paintings draw critical acclaim.
At the same time, Ken, whose success stems largely from his wealthy in-laws, closes a major business deal that he hopes will cement his standing, both financially and in his father’s eyes.
An unexpected twist comes with the introduction of Steph, a Boston police officer who uncovers that Adam is her biological father, the result of a fleeting encounter with her mother years earlier.
Steph’s discovery of her true paternity complicates her relationship with her own family and stirs deeper tensions within the Gardner clan. As she gets to know her half-siblings and their troubled father, she is drawn into the Gardner family’s secrets.
As summer approaches, Adam’s mental state deteriorates further. Abby, deeply concerned for her father, tries to navigate her growing anxieties. She also reveals her pregnancy, the result of an affair with a married man, complicating matters further.
Ken’s control over the family estate, particularly the Arcadia, a cherished studio, becomes a battleground between him and Abby. Their sibling rivalry intensifies, echoing the biblical story of Cain and Abel.
The story reaches its climax at Adam’s birthday party, where decades of suppressed emotions come to the surface. Ken, in a fit of rage and jealousy, attempts to destroy Abby’s prized painting, symbolizing his deep resentment.
Adam, still lost in his delusions, fails to understand the fractures in his family, but the consequences of his neglect become clear.
In the end, Abby finds solace in her newfound relationship with Steph, while Ken must confront the reality of his actions and the unraveling of his marriage.
In the closing months, as Abby prepares to give birth, the once fractured family begins to realign, with Abby and Steph forging a new bond. Ken, filled with regret, distances himself, but leaves the Arcadia in trust for Abby’s child, symbolizing a fragile peace in the aftermath of familial destruction.
Characters
Abby Gardner
Abby Gardner, a somewhat quirky and quiet woman with an artistic soul, plays the central role in the story. She works as both a high school art teacher and a visual artist, her creativity shaped by her childhood memories spent alone on the beach.
While her brothers, Adam and Ken, bonded over sailing, Abby explored the shoreline, collecting various materials like seaweed, shells, and driftwood, which she used to create her own little worlds. Her art, deeply connected to these experiences, becomes her outlet for expression and a key to her independence as an adult.
Over time, her solitude and beach wanderings help her develop both personally and professionally, influencing her decision to resist traditional life paths like marriage, despite a romantic relationship with David, a childhood friend who eventually marries someone else.
Although Abby achieved some artistic recognition in the past, her success is still just within reach as the story progresses. Her painting Little Monster serves as a poignant reflection of her childhood trauma, particularly the abuse she endured from Ken—abuse her father Adam ignored.
Unlike her brothers, who shy away from vulnerability, Abby uses her art to confront her painful past. During an interview with Art Observer, she admits Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein inspired her work, especially the themes of creation and loss.
Abby, too, never knew her mother and continues to be haunted by her absence. Abby’s journey throughout the novel involves breaking free from her family’s dysfunctional dynamics by embracing her artistic vision and stepping into the public eye.
Her growth from a quiet, beach-combing child into a bold artist is central to the story’s arc.
Adam Gardner
Adam Gardner, Abby’s elder brother, is one of the novel’s antagonistic figures, embodying toxic masculinity and intellectual arrogance. A gifted marine biologist specializing in whale communication, Adam’s obsession with understanding cetacean language drives him to neglect his mental health, particularly his struggle with bipolar disorder.
Like Captain Ahab in Moby Dick, Adam is fixated on his research, convinced that prolonging his manic state will lead to a major scientific breakthrough. His desire for intellectual dominance pushes him further into mental instability, blurring the lines between genius and self-destruction.
Adam’s relationships are marked by sexism and condescension. He sees women primarily as objects of physical attraction and expresses disdain for changing societal expectations around gender dynamics.
Despite his dismissive behavior, he does recognize Abby’s talent, feeling more of a kinship with her than with Ken, whose values are centered around material success. Adam also enjoys exerting his power over his siblings, often reminiscing about the control he had over them as children.
His obsession with preserving the Gardner family legacy, particularly through male heirs, reveals his deep-seated misogyny and ego. Although he has two granddaughters, he laments the potential end of the family line, reflecting his outdated and patriarchal views on family and legacy.
Ken Gardner
Ken Gardner, the eldest sibling and Abby’s other main antagonist, represents privilege and entitlement. Unlike Abby, who creates art from her trauma, Ken represses his pain through control and materialism.
He becomes a successful real estate developer, working with his wealthy father-in-law to build a luxury retirement community. Ken’s public persona of caring about environmental conservation is a thin veil over his true motivation—profit.
Like his brother Adam, Ken resists societal change, especially when it threatens his status. Ken’s childhood trauma, particularly his strained relationship with his mother and the bullying he endured due to her death, fuels his pursuit of perfection.
His desire for approval, especially from Adam, drives his ruthless behavior. As a child, he lashed out by abusing Abby, a secret that haunts their relationship.
In adulthood, his resentment toward Abby’s artistic success culminates in him physically destroying her painting, Little Monster, which exposes his abusive past. Ken also nurtures political ambitions, planning to run for office as a Republican during the 2018 midterms.
His manipulation of family members, such as his attempts to use Steph and Toni’s relationship to present a tolerant image, further underscores his self-serving nature. Ultimately, Ken’s pursuit of status and approval leads him to betray his own family.
Jenny Lowell
Jenny, Ken’s wife and Abby’s closest friend, presents an outwardly perfect image. She is attractive and polished, with a persona that could belong to a television host—pretty but unremarkable.
Beneath her calm exterior, however, Jenny hides complex feelings about her marriage and her role in Ken’s life. Raised in a wealthy Boston Brahmin family, Jenny rebelled during her college years before settling into her role as a socialite and hostess.
Her transformation after her mother’s death led her to take on the responsibilities expected of her in the Lowell family business and, later, as Ken’s wife. As Ken’s political career develops, Jenny prepares to step into the spotlight alongside him, planning lavish events and serving as the perfect partner.
However, her personal life is far from perfect—her marriage to Ken suffers from infidelity and emotional distance. Jenny’s turning point comes after Ken destroys Abby’s painting.
Recognizing the deeper issues in her own life, Jenny begins to embrace her true self, uniting her rebellious and domestic sides. By the novel’s end, Jenny emerges as a more self-assured character, supporting Abby’s artistic healing and redefining her own identity beyond her marriage.
Steph Murphy
Steph Murphy, a Boston police officer and Abby’s half-sister, is a thoughtful, grounded character who undergoes her own journey of discovery throughout the novel. Adopted as a baby by the Irish Catholic Murphy family, Steph struggles with her identity, especially after being diagnosed with a genetic disorder while pregnant.
Her search for answers about her biological family leads her to the shocking revelation that Adam Gardner is her biological father. Unlike her half-brothers, Steph is nurturing and loyal, forming a strong bond with Abby, whom she sees as a true sister.
While initially intimidated by the Gardners’ wealth and status, Steph grows more confident as she sees through Adam and Ken’s toxicity. Her supportive role in Abby’s life—literally saving her at one point—serves as a foil to the manipulative relationships that define much of the Gardner family dynamic.
Tessa and Frannie Gardner
Tessa and Frannie, Ken and Jenny’s twin daughters, play a subtle yet important role in the novel, symbolizing the next generation that stands in opposition to the misogyny and toxic masculinity of their father and grandfather.
Tessa, in particular, frequently challenges Ken’s sexist attitudes, while both girls remain closer to their mother. They are intelligent, outspoken, and unafraid to push back against the norms that their father upholds.
Their youth and energy signal the changing tides within the family, embodying a more progressive and female-driven future.
David
David, Abby’s longtime friend and lover, represents the complexity of love and relationships within the novel. Though he is married to Rebecca and has a child, he and Abby maintain a close, ongoing affair.
David’s affection for Abby stretches back to their childhood, though Abby, valuing her independence, chose not to marry him. Their bond, while unconventional, endures throughout the novel, and David remains an important figure in Abby’s life, even as she prepares to become a mother.
Toni
Toni, Steph’s wife, offers an eccentric contrast to the other characters. A third-grade teacher by day and a passionate astrologer and Tarot reader by night, Toni’s character adds warmth and levity to the novel.
She is intuitive and supportive, acting as Steph’s grounding force as they navigate family complexities. Though she and Steph have differing views on how to raise their son, Toni’s love and devotion to her family remain steadfast.
George Kunar
George Kunar, Ken’s therapist, serves as a counterpoint to the toxic masculinity embodied by Adam and Ken. Described as warm and non-threatening, George represents an alternative form of masculinity, one that embraces vulnerability and emotional healing.
Though Ken initially dismisses George as weak, George’s patient and understanding nature helps Ken begin to confront his trauma, offering a glimpse of hope for his redemption.
Themes
The Fragility of Familial Legacy and the Burden of Patriarchal Expectations in the Context of Artistic and Scientific Ambition
In Little Monsters, Adrienne Brodeur delves into the frailty of familial legacy as it intertwines with the weight of patriarchal expectations. Adam Gardner, a marine biologist approaching his twilight years, epitomizes the patriarchal figure who seeks to control his family’s future even as he wrestles with the loss of relevance due to age and retirement.
His refusal to medicate his bipolar disorder symbolizes his rebellion against the physical and psychological constraints of aging, as he clings to the hope of a scientific breakthrough in whale communication. This search for discovery mirrors his desire to immortalize his legacy beyond the tangible accomplishments of his career.
Adam’s relationship with his children, particularly Abby, reflects the generational burden of fulfilling a patriarch’s ambitions. Abby, as his creative heir apparent, carries the weight of her father’s approval, her own artistic success being inextricably linked to her father’s unspoken validation.
The novel suggests that this burden, passed from parent to child, fractures family ties as each individual struggles under the oppressive weight of expectations to uphold the family’s intellectual and creative prowess.
The Destructive Power of Repressed Trauma and Incestuous Abuse in Shaping Sibling Dynamics and Identity Formation
The narrative’s exploration of trauma, particularly the abuse Abby suffered at the hands of her brother Ken, weaves a chilling portrait of the long-lasting psychological scars that shape sibling relationships. The dynamic between Abby and Ken is not just strained due to competitiveness or familial pressures but rooted in the incestuous abuse that Abby has repressed for years.
Her eventual decision to unveil this trauma through her art serves as a moment of catharsis but also brings the family’s fragile unity to a breaking point. Ken’s pursuit of political and business success is both an attempt to distance himself from his past and an unspoken endeavor to obscure his guilt beneath a veneer of achievement.
His aggression, particularly in sabotaging Abby’s painting, is a manifestation of his internalized shame and the fear of exposure. Meanwhile, Abby’s attempt to confront this past through her creative work underscores the theme of art as both a medium of self-expression and a confrontation with buried traumas.
The novel ultimately demonstrates how repressed familial abuse shapes personal identity, influences family power dynamics, and determines how the abused and abuser navigate their futures.
The Intersection of Mental Illness and Genius as a Lens for Understanding the Allure of Mania and the Perils of Self-Destruction
Adam Gardner’s decision to abandon his medication and embrace his manic episodes in pursuit of scientific revelation sheds light on the often romanticized connection between mental illness and genius. Brodeur’s portrayal of Adam’s manic episodes reflects the seductive nature of mental illness for those who believe it fuels their creativity and intellectual endeavors.
Adam’s belief that mania unlocks a higher plane of thought taps into a well-worn cultural trope of the “mad genius,” where mental illness is viewed as a source of insight rather than a disorder that requires management. However, the novel subtly critiques this notion by illustrating the devastating personal consequences of Adam’s decision—his declining mental state isolates him from his children, disrupts his relationships, and ultimately impairs his ability to function within the family unit.
This theme of self-destruction, masked as self-discovery, threads through the novel as Adam’s pursuit of brilliance leads to his alienation. Through Adam’s experience, Brodeur invites readers to question society’s fascination with the idea that mental illness is necessary for genius and instead focus on the human cost of such a pursuit.
The Toxicity of Wealth, Class, and Privilege in Shaping Moral Decay and Perceptions of Ownership
Wealth and privilege serve as corrosive forces throughout Little Monsters, influencing the Gardners’ moral compass and skewing their relationships with one another. Ken, as a successful businessman with political ambitions, is portrayed as someone who leverages his wealth to cement his social standing and control over his family.
His inheritance of the Arcadia, the symbolic heart of the family’s creative and emotional legacy, becomes a tool for him to assert dominance over Abby, whom he denies ownership of the property. The novel uses Ken’s sense of entitlement and ownership—both of the Arcadia and of Abby’s silence regarding her abuse—to explore how wealth enables individuals to exploit familial bonds for personal gain.
Furthermore, Ken’s treatment of the land he owns, evidenced by his interaction with the family picnicking on the beach, reflects his belief in the right to control spaces that are historically significant to others, particularly Indigenous peoples. This confrontation exposes the arrogance and moral rot that often accompany unchecked privilege, a theme that Brodeur explores as a central critique of class dynamics within families.
The novel suggests that wealth, rather than shielding characters from emotional turmoil, exacerbates their moral failings and undermines their humanity.
The Complexities of Reproductive Choices and Female Autonomy in a Male-Dominated Family Structure
Little Monsters also grapples with the theme of reproductive choices and female autonomy within a family dominated by male perspectives. Abby’s pregnancy, revealed at the climactic moment of the novel, is a declaration of independence not only from her father’s expectations but also from her brother’s psychological hold on her.
Her choice to continue with the pregnancy, despite the social complexities involved with David’s infidelity and Ken’s reaction, becomes a defining moment of her personal agency. Similarly, Steph’s storyline, which revolves around her discovery of her true paternity and her decision to reject Adam as a father, reinforces the theme of autonomy.
Steph’s refusal to allow her biological father to define her, even after uncovering the truth of her origins, underscores the idea that women in the novel reclaim their lives through reproductive decisions, distancing themselves from patriarchal control. Both Abby and Steph’s narratives are imbued with a sense of reclaiming the future for themselves and their children, away from the damaging influence of the Gardner patriarch.
The theme of female autonomy, in this context, is complexly woven into family loyalty and the struggle to overcome deep-seated patterns of control.
The Disintegration of the American Political and Social Landscape as Reflected Through Familial Discord
Set against the backdrop of the contentious 2016 U.S. presidential election, Little Monsters positions the Gardners’ familial discord within the broader sociopolitical context of a fractured America. The parallels between the personal and political are striking—Adam’s dismissive misogyny toward Hillary Clinton mirrors his disdain for Abby’s attempts to forge her own path, suggesting that personal and political beliefs are interwoven in destructive ways.
The novel uses Ken’s Republican aspirations and his attempts to build a legacy in line with his political ideals to comment on the American political divide, with Ken’s ambition serving as a microcosm of the broader ideological chasm between family members and society at large. The Gardners’ unraveling echoes the national disunity, with characters clashing over moral, ethical, and personal values just as the country struggles with its own identity.
Brodeur’s portrayal of the Gardners thus becomes an allegory for a disintegrating social fabric, where old power structures (represented by Adam) clash with emerging voices of dissent (embodied by Abby and Steph), further reflecting the tensions at the heart of the 2016 election.