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.

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I read this book in one sitting, attesting to both its addictive nature and the ease of reading. (Of course, I'm an English teacher and this book was written for upper elementary or middle school students.)

Gidwitz is an elementary school teacher who has taken some of those Grimm stories that we have deemed "too scary for children" in modern times, and twists them together into a series of related stories all featuring Hansel and Gretel.

Hansel and Gretel become real characters, starting out as the victims, but becoming heroes by the end of the book, saving not just themselves but their entire kingdom. The gore factor isn't too bad, although pretty disturbing in places. Adults fare pretty poorly, but that tends to be standard in a lot of children's fiction.

The continuing adventures of Hansel and Gretel are interspersed with smart, witty commentaries from the author. He gives enough foreshadowing to build interest, helps young readers connect the stories to their own lives, and gives the book a more modern feel.

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