A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz [Review]

  4 out of 5 Robots!

   

A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Series: A Tale Dark and Grimm#1

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Release: October 28, 2010

Hardcover: 252 Pages

Publisher: Button Juvenile

My Copy: Purchased

Reviewer: Shannon

Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:

In this mischievous and utterly original debut, 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.
Fairy tales have never been more irreverent or subversive as Hansel and Gretel learn to take charge of their destinies and become the clever architects of their own happily ever after.

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

 
Shannon's Thoughts:

A Tale Dark & Grimm is a really fun Middle Grade book based on Grimm fairytales.  At the center of the book is Hansel and Gretel who become the main characters in other tales.  Gidwitz stays true to the original tales - gruesome endings and all.  He only adjusts the tales to fit in Hansel and Gretel and adds a narrator who adds funny little asides about the impending gruesome-ness.  I really liked how Gidwitz interweaves the fairytales together into one cohesive story arc.  It was a neat trick.  I appreciated that Gidwitz didn't try to sanitize the stories either.  I think older kids will appreciate that fact.  And I really liked the little trick at the very end that brings everything full circle.

I listened to this book on audio CD and was very impressed with Johnny Heller's narration.  He has a friendly and unique voice.  He has a great delivery, especially when speaking as the narrator.  I would really recommend listening to the audio version of this book!

Books in the series in the order they should be read:
1. A Tale Dark & Grimm
2. In A Glass Grimmly
3. The Grimm Conclusion (expected publication October 2013)