Review - A Tale Dark and Grim by Adam Gidwitz (5/5 stars)

Reading level: Middle Grade

Genre: Fantasy
Size: 192 pages
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: October 28, 2010
ISBN-13:  978-0525423348
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 5/5 stars

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 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.  

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:

- 100+ Reading Challenge
- Fantasy Reading Challenge