Review: A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Hardcover: 192 pages

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (October 28, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0525423346
ISBN-13: 978-0525423348

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

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.

My Thoughts

Insanely funny, awesomely written, incredibly entertaining. I read it in less then a day. It's rare that I read a book that isn't terribly short and finish it that quickly. Which means that it was one of the best books that I've read in a while.

Now, this wasn't the cleanest book in the world, violence wise. This violence includes a cannibal baker who tries to eat Hansel and Gretel, a father who chops the heads from Hansel and Gretel and the Devil who tries to torture Hansel and Gretel for all of eternity. So, there might be a few parents who want to protect their ickle kiddykins from the frightful things in this book, although, I'm sure they will survive. It is a fairy tale, if a younger tween reads Harry Potter, they will be able to handle this book with ease.

I recommend this book to most everybody (unless your an ickle kiddykin) and you will probably like it. Anyone who has ever read Grimm fairy tales or just heard of Hansel and Gretel.This is where fairy tales get awesome. And I don't just go handing out "awesome" titles to books.

A great 5 crown rating. Congrats, Mr Gidwitz.

Hey all you people who read for fun. U R COOL.

-Austin