“A Tale Dark & Grimm” by Adam Gidwitz

I’m a bit of a sick puppy. Laughed out loud at this book, but it’s not really a comedy. A re-telling of the Hansel and Gretel tale of old, Gidwitz returns to the bloody, gory, dark fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. There are beheadings (of children, no less), vivisections (also children), dismemberment (children) … okay, a lot of children are carved up in a variety of ways in this book. So, why is it funny? An omnipresent author “comments” on each disgusting part, warning you beforehand and telling you “I told you so” afterwards. The tone is snarky, over-the-top, and so silly it makes it hard to take seriously. Keeping to the style of fairytales, this one requires about as much willing-suspense-of-disbelief as you can possibly muster – but that is the nature of these things, isn’t it? This isn’t reality, it’s a bildungsroman, a moral, a metaphor draped in symbolism. Somewhere in the midst of the magic and the myth, we see the frailty of parents, the innocence of childhood, and the incredible pain that is part of growing up. Gidwitz is somewhat brilliant here as he weaves humor and horror with the subtleties of real life. A fast read (he places many “the ends” throughout the book, followed by blank pages, with the single line “not really” or “not yet” scribbled on them), I thoroughly enjoyed this twisted take on a classic story. Teachers, too, will find valuable discussion questions at the very end (Adam Gidwitz is a teacher. He really couldn’t write a book like this without suggesting educational use, could he?) While the book is clearly too much for more sensitive readers, the faithful rendition of these kinds of tales will appeal to many a teen. More than you might expect. This book would also make for a great read-aloud.  Have fun. But don’t read it in the dark ;--}