by Adam Gidwitz
Ages 9 - 12
The supposed true story of Hansel and Gretel that is mischevious and loads of fun. This is the authors debut novel and finds Hansel and Gretel walking out of their own fairy tale into eight other classic-inspired Grimm fairy tales.
The author takes the classic tale of Hansel and Gretel and weaves something new out of it. You start with their Grandfather and then their parents marriage and then their own trials and tribulations as they seek a safe place but are constantly met by evil forces that wish them harm.
Gidwitz uses the current popular technique of adding a narrator to the mix which adds a humorous effect to the book though it gets old after the first hundred pages. To his credit though, he knows his fairy tales and many familiar tropes can be found amongst these pages. Within the overall story there are smaller tales which play on a more classic tale. The original tale of Hansel and Gretel is included with a slight variation. What really drives the story is the level maturity he gives to them both. There is an underlining of morality with each tale and as the two face each evil tribulation they grow up a little more each time while never losing sight that there are just kids. The main and very clear theme the author is expressing is that the world is unsafe but kids may not be as helpless and innocent as the world want to believe Not all actions are logical though, but the story moves so fast that you won't care if you even notice.
