A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
 Buy on Amazon | A Tale Dark and GrimmBy: Adam Gidwitz Published by: Puffin ISBN: 0142419672 Genre: Childrens – Middle Grade Author’s Website: Author’s Twitter: Author on Facebook: Recommendable for people who: enjoy fairytale retellings, children’s books, the Brothers Grimm. |
Synopsis (from Amazon):
Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm (and Grimm-inspired) fairy tales. An irreverent, witty narrator leads us through encounters with witches, warlocks, dragons, and the devil himself. As the siblings roam a forest brimming with menacing foes, they learn the true story behind the famous tales, as well as how to take charge of their destinies and create their own happily ever after. Because once upon a time, fairy tales were awesome."Unlike any children’s book I’ve ever read. [It] holds up to multiple rereadings, like the classic I think it will turn out to be." – New York Times Book Review"An audacious debut that’s wicked smart and wicked funny." – Publishers Weekly, starred review"Addictively compelling." – School Library Journal, starred review"Charming and inventive . . . the perfect haunted book." – The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"One of the year’s best children’s books." – The Virginian-Pilot
My Thoughts:
I will say upfront – I loved this book. There, end of review.
HAHA, I’m just kidding. I did love it though. I had borrowed a copy from a friend and then was sad I had to give it back before I could get to it. Luckily, I ended up reading it as my first OFFICIAL read on my kindle. (read my GoodReads status updates) I liked it so much, I fully intend on picking up a hardback copy for my home library. I think it will fit in lovely next to my copy of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. =D
Story wise this book is different and cute. We follow Hansel and Gretel as they adventure through (and become part of) several of the Grimm’s other fairytales. The adventures are dark, as Grimm’s tales should be, but definitely written with children in mind.
Writing wise this author has a very Gaiman feel to his work. This book had an excellent pace, great arc, and witty witty rhetoric. (that means the narrator made me L-O-L).
I could see reading this one aloud to wide eyed audiences of tweens. The way the narrator interjects and interrupts the story with “warnings” of what is to come was so entertaining. Even to me, as a grown up.
I imagine if Lemony Snicket and Neil Gaiman – wrote a book together… It would come out about like this one right here.
“Once upon a time, fairy tales were AWESOME!”
– Adam Gidwitz, A Tale Dark and Grimm
Indeed! It would seem they are becoming so, again! =D
I don’t normally give a star rating, but if I were to on this one – I would give it 4/5. (Come on, I can’t 5 it, it’s not the Bible.)
Favorite quote from this book:
“You see, Hansel and Gretel don’t just show up at the end of this story.
They show up.
And then they get their heads cut off.
Just thought you’d like to know.”
– Adam Gidwitz, A Tale Dark and Grimm
*Moms note: this book is considered “gory” by childrens books standards. I did not find it gory at all – but I read horror and slasher books, often. I am a little de-sensitized in that area. You may want to give it a flip through before handing it off to your little ones. There is nothing GRAPHIC, just gory actions (like a beheading etc. not described much in detail but the action itself is in the book.) I have no issues letting my children read this book.