A Tale Dark & Grimm

        Being the fairy tale fan that I am, I was excited to start this book.  I have always been excited by retellings of fairy tales, and when a professor read a passage of this book during a children’s literature class, I knew I needed to read it.

This book follows Hansel and Gretel through their own story, then out into other tales in the world of Grimm.  Adam Gidwitz adds new storyline whenever it is called for, while still keeping well-known stories similar enough to be recognizable.

The narrator in this book is very vocal and will actually stop you to interject a point or a warning.  I found that this keeps the story interesting and moving along quickly.  The narrator feels like he’s always on the side of the reader, rooting for them or warning them when something “frightening” is about to happen.  I mostly liked this, but found that sometimes it gave some of the suspense away.

Although the narrator warns you about “scary” occurrences in this book, I doubt that children would have a problem reading it.  In my experience, I have found that children find things scary that you don’t expect, and usually find scary or gross things cool.

I loved this book because it had recognizable stories from beloved fairytales, but also told a story all its own.  Hansel and Gretel’s characters were well developed, and I found myself rooting for them and hurting for them.

I loved this book and would highly recommend it.

John Green talks about Looking For Alaska

When You Reach Me- Rebecca Stead

            When You Reach Me follows sixth grade Miranda.  She navigates school and has the normal problems that sixth graders often do.  One day, she received a strange note asking her to write down upcoming events.  As time goes on, she gets more notes with strange requests and predictions no one could know about.  Can Miranda figure out the meaning behind these notes and help, as the notes say, the writer and herself?

              This book was not my favorite.  It got a little confusing because it had an element of science fiction, time travel, but that felt out of place since it was the only science fiction element.  Although time travel is woven into the story, it’s not set in the future; it is set in the late 1970’s.  Instead of fighting foreign technology or alien beings, our main character fights problems that a normal 12-year-old faces.

            Having grown up on shows like Doctor Who and movies like Back to the Future, I found the fact that Miranda struggled throughout the entire book to understand the time travel tedious and a bit boring.  I think, all in all, the time travel element of the book didn’t impress me.

            However, the book has very realistic portrayals of friendships in sixth grade.  Miranda struggles with her friend Sal refusing to talk to her, and very believably begins new friendships. I think the elements of friendships in this book are its strongest qualities.

            It was an okay read, but not for the sci-fi lovers.