Ivy's Review
A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz follows siblings Hansel and Gretel as they search search for parents. Hansel and Gretel dad falls in love a maiden cursed to kill all her suitors. Luring the golden princess with gold, he steals her from her tower. On the boat ride back to the kingdom, the king's, the king's father, and the king's father's father servant, Faithful Johannes, overhears ravens talking about what will happen when the king and the golden princess when they reach shore. After hearing the awful deaths his master and soon-to-be queen will experience, Johannes takes it upon himself to prevent them. After succeeding, Johannes is turned to stone as he explains whey he did what he did. Years later, Hansel and Gretel are born. Johannes, though still stone, speaks to the king, saying he will become flesh and blood again, but only under a horrible condition. After the king does the act, Johannes undos it, but the damage is done. Hansel and Gretel, after hearing what their father did to them and seeing how their mother reacted, decided to run away. They journey though eight other frightening fairy tales trying to find the perfect parents. This book combines many fairytales with humor and horror and...blood. Lots and lots of blood.
This book got a 5 out of 5 because I really liked it. I initially picked it up because the author, Adam Gidwitz, was coming to our school. I was reluctant to read it, but once I started, I could not put it down. This story is definitely for older children as their are some dark parts, but it's not like some horror stories you read or watch.
If you like dark humor and fairytale retellings then this book is for you! I really liked it, but I don't know, it's not for everyone. I will tell you this, because this is what finally convinced me to read this incredible book: A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz is not like Beetlejuice.