A Tale Dark and Grimm / Adam Gidwitz / 256 pages

Do you remember reading the real tales (not the cleansed or Disneyfied versions) from the Brothers Grimm? Adam Gidwitz has taken the Grimm elements and even two Grimm characters (Hansel & Gretel) and created his own tale..dark and grimm. It's grisly; it's bloody, it's violent...all in a fairy tale way. For children who like the Series of Unfortunate events, this book would be right up their alley. The narrator adds warnings and humorous comments along the way. As in all fairy tales, there are child heroes, evil and good, and all's well that ends well. Parents may be worried about warping their children, and children will be lapping it up and saying give me more. Probably best for grades 4 & up.