Review - In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz (5/5 stars)

Reading Level: Middle Grade
Genre: Fantasy
Size: 192 pages
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: September 27, 2012
ISBN: 978-0525425816
Stand Alone or Series: Sequel to a Tale Dark and Grimm
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 5/5 stars

This is the sequel to a Tale Dark and Grimm. I loved a Tale Dark and Grimm, it was hilarious and very well done. In a Glass Grimmly is written in very much the same style as A Tale Dark and Grimm. If you enjoyed the first book, you will love this book. I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to see what Gidwitz writes next. This book can be read as a stand alone, but A Tale Dark and Grimm was an excellent read too....so why not go and read that book first!?

Jack and Jill go on a quest to recover a magic Mirror. The quest takes them through many different fairy tales and many dangers. There are interludes by the narrator that are hilarious and really make this book something different and special.

Jill is living with a mother who is obsessed with her beauty. When Jill’s mother forces her to wear a dress made out of the finest silk (silk so fine it’s invisible to Jill) she ends up humiliated and flees the castle. Jill is a smart and practical young girl and flees to her cousin’s house, Jack.

Jack is pretty much a loser. He tries to redeem himself to his father by selling the last asset of the family, the family cow, for some magic beans. Well the beans aren’t quite magic. That is until Jill and Jack make a promise to an old woman that they will recover a magic mirror for her if she grants their dreams.

Jill and Jack offset each other nicely. Jill is cautious and thinks things through. Jack acts before he thinks and is constantly trying to prove himself. Together they go through a number of adventures woven in and out of a variety of fairy tales.

The narrator intercedes throughout, warning of horrible scenes that are coming your way...occasionally also pouting about how the reader doesn’t really need him for this description or that. It is very funny and adds a lot to the story.

These stories are based off of the original Grimm tales so the things that happen in here aren’t pretty or pleasant. In fact they are pretty gross and at times disturbing. Because of this I would recommend only for Middle Grade and older readers. I really want to read this with my 6 year old son...he would think parts of it are hilarious...but I’m going to wait a few years so I don’t scare the stuffing out of him with this book.

Overall an absolutely wonderful and hilarious read. The story is funny without being silly, it’s heartfelt at times too. This book is just a super fun read. Highly recommended for fans of fairy tales and fantasy adventure stories.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
- YA/MG Fantasy Reading Challenge
- 150+ Reading Challenge
- Young Adult Reading Challenge

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