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Available
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Publication
Dutton Juvenile (2010), Hardcover, 192 pages
Description
Follows Hansel and Gretel as they walk out of their own story and into eight more tales, encountering such wicked creatures as witches, along with kindly strangers and other helpful folk. Based in part on the Grimms' fairy tales Faithful Johannes, Hansel and Gretel, The seven ravens, Brother and sister, The robber bridegroom, and The devil and his three golden hairs.
User reviews
LibraryThing member foggidawn
This book is great -- funny, gory, and full of lesser-known Grimm tales. Gidwitz ties all of the stories together by making some alterations to the story of Hansel and Gretel, in order to let the two of them be the hero and heroine of each of the other tales they travel through, and the book as a
This book reminded me of the musical Into the Woods in all the best ways -- highly recommended to anyone who enjoys fractured fairy tales. Plus, there's a fun little "insider" nod to Narnia that I thought was really cute!
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whole.This book reminded me of the musical Into the Woods in all the best ways -- highly recommended to anyone who enjoys fractured fairy tales. Plus, there's a fun little "insider" nod to Narnia that I thought was really cute!
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz is a clever re-working of several of the Grimm Brothers fairytales. Using Hansel and Gretel as his main characters, he has them wander through their own story and then on into several other Grimm inspired tales. Along the way the reader encounters not only an
The author hasn’t forgotten the moralistic tone of most fairy tales and as Hansel and Gretel search far and wide for examples of good parents, there are lesson to be learnt. The author writes with wit, humor and adds a good smattering of gore to keep things interesting. But like all fairytales, you can look forward to a “happy ever after“ ending.
I thought this was a very interesting take on today’s sanitized fairy tales as the author harkens back to the days when these stories were told not as bedtime stories to help children sleep, but as life lessons meant to scare children into good behavior. A fun, imaginative read.
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edible house and a nasty flesh eating witch, but also talking ravens, evil warlocks, and of course, a fierce dragon. The author hasn’t forgotten the moralistic tone of most fairy tales and as Hansel and Gretel search far and wide for examples of good parents, there are lesson to be learnt. The author writes with wit, humor and adds a good smattering of gore to keep things interesting. But like all fairytales, you can look forward to a “happy ever after“ ending.
I thought this was a very interesting take on today’s sanitized fairy tales as the author harkens back to the days when these stories were told not as bedtime stories to help children sleep, but as life lessons meant to scare children into good behavior. A fun, imaginative read.
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LibraryThing member MickyFine
Everyone knows that fairy tales are boring. Anything that starts with "Once upon a time..." is definitely going to put you to sleep. But that's just because you've been reading the cleaned up versions of the stories. This book tells the real story of Hansel and Gretel and their adventures in the
Gidwitz's novel is a fun reimagining of several of Grimm's fairy tales, which he ties together with the thread of Hansel and Gretel wandering through each tale. Never shying away from the darkness of the original tales and often reveling in it, the novel also explores the tensions of family relationships and the power of children. With interjections from the narrator that often made me crack up (my favourite being: "Because the best way to kill a warlock is to cook him with poisonous snakes in a cauldron of boiling oil. Obviously."), the book will appeal both to the children it's aimed at and adults as well. Just make sure there's no little kids hiding under the bed because this book definitely isn't for them.
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land of Grimm after they run away from home with all of its awesome blood and gore intact. Make sure you send the little kids off with the baby-sitter because the psychological scarring they'd get from these stories will never heal.Gidwitz's novel is a fun reimagining of several of Grimm's fairy tales, which he ties together with the thread of Hansel and Gretel wandering through each tale. Never shying away from the darkness of the original tales and often reveling in it, the novel also explores the tensions of family relationships and the power of children. With interjections from the narrator that often made me crack up (my favourite being: "Because the best way to kill a warlock is to cook him with poisonous snakes in a cauldron of boiling oil. Obviously."), the book will appeal both to the children it's aimed at and adults as well. Just make sure there's no little kids hiding under the bed because this book definitely isn't for them.
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LibraryThing member jaimefabey
In A Tale Dark and Grimm, Adam Gidwitz takes the popular original Grimm stories and retells them with a twist. While many have retold these stories, watered down with the dark and gory parts removed, Gidwitz emphasizes the greatness of Grimm. Gidwitz links the Grimm stories to make one long
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continual story where Hanzel and Gretel leave the witches castle and run into the story of the 7 sparrows. The stories are linked and morbid and bloody and Gidwitz talks to the reader, guiding them and teasing them throughout the tale. Show Less
LibraryThing member jfoster_sf
This was definitely interesting, but it's not something that everyone is going to like. For one, its bloody-very bloody, and plenty scary-complete with beheadings, chopping of your own fingers, watching a girl get chopped to pieces, etc. I think I will only be recommending this to people who ask
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specifically for a scary/bloody book. Other than the boodiness, it definitely made me want to reread the original grimm stories. I also like books in which the narrator talks to the reader, and I thought it was done well in this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member resugo
This tale is pretty dark and grimm, but also humorous with lots of adventure.
Hansel and Gretel are twins who run away from home when their father cuts off their heads to save a loyal servant. Hansel and Gretel get their heads back, or course, but it makes them leary of their parents so they go in
There is violence and horrible things happen, but it isn't described. A wicked man steals souls and cuts up the bodies to cook them in a pot, but the reader doesn't read about how it smelled or looked or felt, we're just told it happened. Which makes it not so horrible. You know? And the wonderful author that Gidwitz is, he gives plenty of interruptions in the narrative to warn us off from continuing. And his interjections add a lot of the humor that I enjoyed so much about this book.
I think kids, especially boys, will love this book.
Hansel and Gretel are twins who run away from home when their father cuts off their heads to save a loyal servant. Hansel and Gretel get their heads back, or course, but it makes them leary of their parents so they go in
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search of new ones. For several years they wander through different fairy tales, looking for decent parents or at least a home. Some of the Grimms' fairy tales in the story are Faithful Johannes, The seven ravens, Brother and sister, The robber bridegroom, and The devil and his three golden hairs. Like the orginal Grimm, Gidwitz doesn't dumb it down. There is violence and horrible things happen, but it isn't described. A wicked man steals souls and cuts up the bodies to cook them in a pot, but the reader doesn't read about how it smelled or looked or felt, we're just told it happened. Which makes it not so horrible. You know? And the wonderful author that Gidwitz is, he gives plenty of interruptions in the narrative to warn us off from continuing. And his interjections add a lot of the humor that I enjoyed so much about this book.
I think kids, especially boys, will love this book.
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LibraryThing member phh333
I liked it, but it was not wonderful. The book is a grizzly telling of Hansel and Gretel from the original Brother's Grimm version. In this book Hansel and Gretel are prince and princess. Their father cuts their heads off then re-attaches them. The siblings runaway to find better parents and their
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adventures take them through darker and darker tales. Show Less
LibraryThing member beckylynn
This book is like mixing Red Riding Hood with Jason Voorhees. Don't let the cover or reading level (4th grade) fool you, this book is not appropriate for most children, and I say that not because I like to jump on the 'banned book' wagon, but because as a teacher I know that there would be some
With that out of the way, I throughly enjoyed this book. Gidwitz has an amazing writing style and I absolutely LOVE the 'narrators' voice mixed in with the actual story. I found certain parts of this where I was literally laughing aloud at his antics.
Instead of being split up into chapters, the book is broken down into different small stories that are all in chronological order. Gidwitz has essentially taken the Grimm Brother's stories and complied them all into one big book with the leading characters as the ever popular, always endearing, Hansel and Gretel.
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kind of lashing out of parents if I let my student read this book without some kind of warning first. With that out of the way, I throughly enjoyed this book. Gidwitz has an amazing writing style and I absolutely LOVE the 'narrators' voice mixed in with the actual story. I found certain parts of this where I was literally laughing aloud at his antics.
Instead of being split up into chapters, the book is broken down into different small stories that are all in chronological order. Gidwitz has essentially taken the Grimm Brother's stories and complied them all into one big book with the leading characters as the ever popular, always endearing, Hansel and Gretel.
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LibraryThing member mannperkins
I give this a solid 4 stars. I love how the narrator puts in his thoughts. It was decently written with a twist of the Grimm Fairy Tales.
LibraryThing member SEToon
The concept won me over right away, give the kids what they want by out grimming the Brothers Grimm. Teacher/author Gidwitz weaves several of the classic tales with magical thread using Hansel & Gretel as our tour guides through the classics tale's guts and gore. He proves himself a scholar on the
The tales are interspersed with author asides making for great fun (many times he alerts the reader as if the story is being read aloud to have the younger folk leave the room.) Another humorous device he uses liberally he lifted right from Grimm's Fairy tales. Its the classic joke telling structure; the rule of threes. (3 men walk into a bar...)
This is suggested for Independent Readers (9-12, don'cha worry, they can take it) but will equally entertain young adults and adults alike. Can't wait to read this to a group of victims, I mean children.
THINK: The movie Hoodwinked with a screenplay by William Steig (Shrek), directed by Terry Gilliam
1st LINE: Once upon a time, fairy tales were awesome.
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subject and doesn't have to stray too far from the originals to pump up the gross outs. In fact, when the story's played out, he gives us warm all over feeling (and that's not because we are covered in blood, which, by the end, you may feel like.)The tales are interspersed with author asides making for great fun (many times he alerts the reader as if the story is being read aloud to have the younger folk leave the room.) Another humorous device he uses liberally he lifted right from Grimm's Fairy tales. Its the classic joke telling structure; the rule of threes. (3 men walk into a bar...)
This is suggested for Independent Readers (9-12, don'cha worry, they can take it) but will equally entertain young adults and adults alike. Can't wait to read this to a group of victims, I mean children.
THINK: The movie Hoodwinked with a screenplay by William Steig (Shrek), directed by Terry Gilliam
1st LINE: Once upon a time, fairy tales were awesome.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
I saw this on one of the book blogs that I follow and it just sounded like an absolutely awesome read. I am so happy I picked it up at the library and will be buying a keeper copy for my personal library. It was an excellent book; hilarious, yet does a wonderful job of taking the reader through a
Hansel and Gretel didn't have a great start to life...you see their father chopped their heads off. Well, of course, they did come back to life but they weren't really all that comfortable with their dad after that. So, they decided to find new parents. There search takes them through a number of darkly traditional fairy tales and in the end they find out...well...there are worse things out there than a parent that chops off your head. The stories have interjections from the author throughout that are absolutely hilarious.
This book may be a bit dark for younger kids who don't understand dark humor; heads are chopped off as are fingers...but the author does warn you about all that. The author's asides throughout the book are absolutely hilarious. The matter of fact way the tales are told and the way more modern slang and langauge is used throughout make these tales hilarious and accessible.
I seriously laughed out loud for a good portion of this book. Not only is it funny but it is very clever too. Hansel and Gretel are cleverly worked into a number of fairy tales you will recognize when you read them. There are some gruesome things in here, but each time you are warned ahead of time by the author. Definitely lots of gallows humor.
I read the whole book though in one sitting, it is very engaging and interesting and did I mention funny? Just a very creative book that does an excellent job with fairy tales and presenting the darker versions of them in a humorous and accessible way.
Overall just a fantastic book. It was surprising, hilarious, and very well done. Fans of the traditional dark fairy tales and humor will love this book. I will definitely keeping and eye out for any more books by Adam Gidwitz.
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number of dark and traditional fairy tales. Hansel and Gretel didn't have a great start to life...you see their father chopped their heads off. Well, of course, they did come back to life but they weren't really all that comfortable with their dad after that. So, they decided to find new parents. There search takes them through a number of darkly traditional fairy tales and in the end they find out...well...there are worse things out there than a parent that chops off your head. The stories have interjections from the author throughout that are absolutely hilarious.
This book may be a bit dark for younger kids who don't understand dark humor; heads are chopped off as are fingers...but the author does warn you about all that. The author's asides throughout the book are absolutely hilarious. The matter of fact way the tales are told and the way more modern slang and langauge is used throughout make these tales hilarious and accessible.
I seriously laughed out loud for a good portion of this book. Not only is it funny but it is very clever too. Hansel and Gretel are cleverly worked into a number of fairy tales you will recognize when you read them. There are some gruesome things in here, but each time you are warned ahead of time by the author. Definitely lots of gallows humor.
I read the whole book though in one sitting, it is very engaging and interesting and did I mention funny? Just a very creative book that does an excellent job with fairy tales and presenting the darker versions of them in a humorous and accessible way.
Overall just a fantastic book. It was surprising, hilarious, and very well done. Fans of the traditional dark fairy tales and humor will love this book. I will definitely keeping and eye out for any more books by Adam Gidwitz.
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LibraryThing member oapostrophe
Such a lot of horrible bloody fun!. Reading this has sent me rushing to read more of the actual fairy tales. A book that will satisfy the young reader who wants a little horror and may send them rushing to Grimm's as well! Hansel and Gretel have never seemed so real in a fantastic way.
I'm not a big
I'm not a big
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fan of the narrator and on next read will skip. Show Less
LibraryThing member LoniMc
I enjoyed reading this book and I think that I would be a good book for maybe 5-8 graders. A fun take on Grimm's Fary Tails.
LibraryThing member soulesister
I truly enjoyed reading this book, which is a somewhat sick and gory retelling of various Grimm's fairy tales. It takes the abuse of children to the next degree, but mingles it with humorous narration by the author. The stories may be a bit too descriptive and scary for the more delicate reader,
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but any students who like to read Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories may enjoy it. And it may lead to further investigation of Grimm's original tales. I know it made me want to read them again! Warning: Some readers/parents may be alarmed by Hansel's visit to hell, and the repeated use of the word. Just sayin'.... Show Less
LibraryThing member RefPenny
In A Tale Dark and Grimm, Adam Gidwitz has taken a number of Grimm's tales, complete with their original gore, and joined them together to make the story of Hansel and Gretel into a saga. The style is similar to the Lemony Snickett books in that the reader is continually warned about how gruesome
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the next bit of the story will be but what happens in this story is way worse than anything in Lemony's books. The narrator's interjections are humourous but there is a lot of gore - sensitive souls beware. Suitable for ages 10 and up. Show Less
LibraryThing member HippieLunatic
This was a fantastic book for any fan of fairy tales, especially in their original gory versions. Hansel and Gretel are characters moving from story to story, creating a story arch that is complete and fulfilling to readers.
The use of a narrator in the mix of the story is rewarding. My experiences
As I was describing this book to my husband and two boys (ages 7 and 4) there was a fight over which one of them would get to read it next. (No, the 4 year old can't read, but the idea of the book was so exciting to him, that he wanted in on the action.)
I adored this book and will continue to keep Gidwitz on my watch list for some time.
The use of a narrator in the mix of the story is rewarding. My experiences
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made me think of the _Princess Bride,_ forewarning the child of a scary moment. As I was describing this book to my husband and two boys (ages 7 and 4) there was a fight over which one of them would get to read it next. (No, the 4 year old can't read, but the idea of the book was so exciting to him, that he wanted in on the action.)
I adored this book and will continue to keep Gidwitz on my watch list for some time.
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LibraryThing member missbrandysue
This is the grim story of Hansel and Gretel and their childhood journey when they leave their parents, who cut their heads off. The tale twists and turns but never quite meet their death. From murderous bakers, strangers who chop girls up into pieces and deathly dragons, the children struggle to
This book has such a eerie plot. It starts off with introducing Hansel and Gretel, so you think there may be some innocense to it. But, no, on page 2 the author prepares you for their heads to be cut off. Then it ends with cutting their father's head off and chopping a dragon that emerges from his head into small pieces. I think it's best for young adults because it's a bit much for upper elementary... But, I have to admit it was very engaging and entertaining. I loved the characters and the wit of the narrator.
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find their places in the world. Told by a witty narrator that cuts into the story throughout but does so in a fun way.This book has such a eerie plot. It starts off with introducing Hansel and Gretel, so you think there may be some innocense to it. But, no, on page 2 the author prepares you for their heads to be cut off. Then it ends with cutting their father's head off and chopping a dragon that emerges from his head into small pieces. I think it's best for young adults because it's a bit much for upper elementary... But, I have to admit it was very engaging and entertaining. I loved the characters and the wit of the narrator.
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LibraryThing member Ms.Elkins
The traditional tale of Hansel & Gretel told with all the scary details and a dose of humor. Reader on audio book version is excellent.
LibraryThing member TFS93
A deliciously, twisted, can't stop reading, tale. LOVE LOVE LOVE
the narrator, who adds an unexpected something to every tale!! These are not the fairytales you knew as a child, but they are NOT so bloody, gross-out, heart-wrenching, that your kiddos won't enjoy them. This would make a great read
the narrator, who adds an unexpected something to every tale!! These are not the fairytales you knew as a child, but they are NOT so bloody, gross-out, heart-wrenching, that your kiddos won't enjoy them. This would make a great read
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aloud. I would buy it for my 10 and 13 year olds. Show Less
LibraryThing member Scoshie
Darkly fresh retelling of the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale. Not for really young kids but an excellent story for 12 and older. Witty, Funny, and several other adjectives that can't even begin to describe this fabulous book. IT was an EXCELLENT way to spend an afternoon in the sun. GREAT JOB!!!!
LibraryThing member kayceel
This was a lot of fun! With a chatty narrator who talks to the reader, we experience several Grimms' tales in full gore, complete with the chopping off of heads and fingers.
Gidwitz ties eight Grimms' fairy tales together by placing Hansel and Gretel together or separate into the stories, and does
Highly recommended for middle grade readers.
Gidwitz ties eight Grimms' fairy tales together by placing Hansel and Gretel together or separate into the stories, and does
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a fantastic job of incorporating humor, terrible parents, lots of blood, and plenty of adventure. This is sure to delight fans of The Series of Unfortunate Events or Roald Dahl's The Witches.Highly recommended for middle grade readers.
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LibraryThing member allureofbooks
So why are all the versions of the stories you’ve heard so mind-numbingly boring? You know how it is with stories. Someone tells a story. Then somebody repeats it and it changes. Someone else repeats it, and it changes again. Then someone’s telling it to their kid and taking out all the . . .
The real Grimm stories are not like that.
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz has got to be one of the most disturbingly charming books in existence. I was in love from the first page – I’m glad the book is fairly short because once I started I couldn’t stop.
This is a children’s book. Sorta. It captures the true spirit of the original Grimm fairy tales – decapitations, mutilations and all. There are also incredibly witty asides at every turn, conversing with older readers and cautioning the younger ones to stop reading. Very entertaining, I couldn’t get enough of any of it.
Oh, and while I’m thinking about it, you should go ahead and rehire that babysitter that came by for the previous story. Make her take the little ones out to a movie this time. A G-rated movie. Or an R-rated movie, for that matter. Whatever it is, it probably won’t be as bad as what you’re about to read. I know, you don’t believe me. “How much worse could things get?” you ask. Believe me. Much worse.
I don’t want you to take my word – or the brief quotes I’m giving you – for it though. You can read the first chapter of A Tale Dark and Grimm online, and I demand you do so at once! It will charm the pants off you, I promise.
I was in awe of the way the book managed to be incredibly creepy and disturbing and still be charming and witty as well. Adam Gidwitz manages to keep a lot of balls successfully juggling in the air, and I was suitably impressed.
I don’t know what else to say without going into more detail – which I absolutely refuse to do! This is a book meant to entertain, the less you know before starting the better.
Pick it up and fall into a fantastically original world! Whether you’re an adult that wants to be entertained or a child that wants to be frightened – this is definitely a book for everyone.
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well, the awesome parts…and the next thing you know the story’s about an adorable little girl in a red cap, skipping through the forest to take cookies to her granny. And you’re so bored you’ve passed out on the floor.The real Grimm stories are not like that.
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz has got to be one of the most disturbingly charming books in existence. I was in love from the first page – I’m glad the book is fairly short because once I started I couldn’t stop.
This is a children’s book. Sorta. It captures the true spirit of the original Grimm fairy tales – decapitations, mutilations and all. There are also incredibly witty asides at every turn, conversing with older readers and cautioning the younger ones to stop reading. Very entertaining, I couldn’t get enough of any of it.
Oh, and while I’m thinking about it, you should go ahead and rehire that babysitter that came by for the previous story. Make her take the little ones out to a movie this time. A G-rated movie. Or an R-rated movie, for that matter. Whatever it is, it probably won’t be as bad as what you’re about to read. I know, you don’t believe me. “How much worse could things get?” you ask. Believe me. Much worse.
I don’t want you to take my word – or the brief quotes I’m giving you – for it though. You can read the first chapter of A Tale Dark and Grimm online, and I demand you do so at once! It will charm the pants off you, I promise.
I was in awe of the way the book managed to be incredibly creepy and disturbing and still be charming and witty as well. Adam Gidwitz manages to keep a lot of balls successfully juggling in the air, and I was suitably impressed.
I don’t know what else to say without going into more detail – which I absolutely refuse to do! This is a book meant to entertain, the less you know before starting the better.
Pick it up and fall into a fantastically original world! Whether you’re an adult that wants to be entertained or a child that wants to be frightened – this is definitely a book for everyone.
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LibraryThing member horomnizon
Gidwitz takes several of the stories from the Brothers Grimm and intertwines them with the tale of Hansel and Gretel. While I hadn't read all the Grimm's original tales that were used here - with quite a bit of liberty, although sticking more to the grim realities of the original tales.
The
I think, in particular, that young boys who fall into the 'reluctant readers' category may get quite a kick out of this book. Not that girls won't like it - Gretel is quite a smart young girl and courageous...there are worse role models all around! And, as all fairy tales go, they do end up happily ever after - once the blood is spilled and the dragon kills a few people.
I would say it's appropriate for ages 10 and up, although if you're reading it together, some kids that are younger may still be able to understand and handle it.
Quite a good concept and Gidwitz puts the stories together in an enjoyable way. Recommended for all lovers of Grimm tales - no matter their age!
The
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narrator interjects some warnings and such throughout - often noting that small children should not be listening to what is about to happen. It adds a bit of humor to the sometimes gruesomeness of what is happening in the stories. I think, in particular, that young boys who fall into the 'reluctant readers' category may get quite a kick out of this book. Not that girls won't like it - Gretel is quite a smart young girl and courageous...there are worse role models all around! And, as all fairy tales go, they do end up happily ever after - once the blood is spilled and the dragon kills a few people.
I would say it's appropriate for ages 10 and up, although if you're reading it together, some kids that are younger may still be able to understand and handle it.
Quite a good concept and Gidwitz puts the stories together in an enjoyable way. Recommended for all lovers of Grimm tales - no matter their age!
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LibraryThing member ewyatt
The "real" story of Hansel and Gretel's adventures. The narrator in this one is quite present, warning of the gore and twists and turns ahead in the story a la The Name of This Book is Secret and Series of Unfortunate Events. An engaging story that will certainly appeal to middle school students.
LibraryThing member rmboland
I have a tendency to place more on my reading plate than I can actually handle, so naturally, I placed this little tale on hold at the library, and had to consume it once it was FINALLY available (all whilst reading a BAJILLION other books I have for review).
I took interest in this after reading a
This book is essentially the fairytale of Hansel and Gretal, but then goes on to incorporate the two characters into other well-known Grimm tales, and I must say, the result was rather entertaining and humorous-aside from being completely disturbing at times (there are some pretty graphic scenes, which, being 26 years old, even I couldn't really handle lol). I loved the aspect of Hansel and Gretal getting a chance to expand and grow from the young and naive children they are in their own tale, into courageous and practical young warriors. By the end of the book, I was rooting with all of my might for their victory, and felt like I was reading a completely different book-so wonderous was their growth.
This book received 3 stars because I grew tired very quickly of the author interjecting the story with his own thoughts and backstories- it seemed clever and witty at first, but by the middle of the book, I just wanted to read the tales. I will definitely, however, be picking up the next book in this series. Hopefully we read less from the author, and more from his characters.
I took interest in this after reading a
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review for it by Karen on Goodreads (who is an AMAZING reviewer, and you must check her out, the amount of titles she's read is staggering). I have mixed feelings about this book, it started off a tad corny, and, I would say for perhaps a good 25-30 pages, it stayed that way. But I really started getting into it as it progressed from there. Side Note: I've never read any of Grimm's fairytales, so that most likely played a huge role in how much I enjoyed this book vs. how much I could have loved it (or perhaps it would have only made me dislike it more, who knows).This book is essentially the fairytale of Hansel and Gretal, but then goes on to incorporate the two characters into other well-known Grimm tales, and I must say, the result was rather entertaining and humorous-aside from being completely disturbing at times (there are some pretty graphic scenes, which, being 26 years old, even I couldn't really handle lol). I loved the aspect of Hansel and Gretal getting a chance to expand and grow from the young and naive children they are in their own tale, into courageous and practical young warriors. By the end of the book, I was rooting with all of my might for their victory, and felt like I was reading a completely different book-so wonderous was their growth.
This book received 3 stars because I grew tired very quickly of the author interjecting the story with his own thoughts and backstories- it seemed clever and witty at first, but by the middle of the book, I just wanted to read the tales. I will definitely, however, be picking up the next book in this series. Hopefully we read less from the author, and more from his characters.
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Awards
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Middle Grade — 2013)
Audie Award (Finalist — 2012)
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (Nominee — 2014)
Georgia Children's Book Award (Finalist — Grades 4-8 — 2014)
Great Stone Face Book Award (Nominee — 2012)
Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2012)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2012)
William Allen White Children's Book Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2012-2013)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2013)
Oregon Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2013)
Charlotte Award (Winner — 2012)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — Grades 6-9 — 2013)
E.B. White Read-Aloud Award (Honor Book — 2011)
Read Aloud Indiana Book Award (Middle School — 2012)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — 2012)
The Best Children's Books of the Year (Nine to Twelve — 2011)
Notable Children's Book (2011)
Texas Lone Star Reading List (2012)
Language
Original publication date
2010
Physical description
192 p.; 8.1 inches
ISBN
0525423346 / 9780525423348
Local notes
Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm-inspired tales. As readers follow the siblings through a forest brimming with menacing foes, they learn the true story behind (and beyond) the bread crumbs, edible houses, and outwitted witches.
A delightful story - true to the original Grimm tales, and the author's asides are very funny.
A delightful story - true to the original Grimm tales, and the author's asides are very funny.
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