Scan barcode
ticklemouse's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
gretaslittlelibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A classic that I haven’t read since middle school, this version was illustrated which was fun! Read as a pallet cleanser and enjoyed it as such, overall it was a bit repetitive in its telling which is why I dropped it under a 4. I do recommend though.
txjpjenny's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful retelling of Beowulf. Read this with my teens to prepare for actual Beowulf.
dayface's review against another edition
3.0
Morpurgo's novelisation of Beowulf removes many of the nuances that I adore - Unferth, swimming, poetry, scop, Beow, Scyld's funeral, etc - and plays the interpretation explicitly safe. Even to the point of including illustrations which rid the reader of their own relative ideation of the characters, striving to paint an accurate and dogmatic image of every aspect of the text. The prose is fantastic, though, and aims to adapt the narrative style and flow of the poem in a way universally understandable. It's trope-laden (even moreso than the defining source material), and removes many of the graces of the original, but is perhaps the best novelisation I've experienced so far.
This was a quick summarisation of my thoughts, as I'm researching Beowulf for my upcoming trilogy of grimdark fantasy epic poems: KING MONSTER.
This was a quick summarisation of my thoughts, as I'm researching Beowulf for my upcoming trilogy of grimdark fantasy epic poems: KING MONSTER.
jecoats's review against another edition
5.0
While I was at the library looking for sci-fi and fantasy titles, I saw this picturebook adaptation of Beowulf on the shelf. I love the original text and wanted to see how the adaptation fared. It is surprisingly faithful to the source material, although retold in modern English so it can be understood by younger readers. It follows the adventures of Beowulf as he first helps King Heorot to defeat Grendel, a monster that has been terrorizing Heorot’s kingdom. Upon slaying Grendel, Beowulf then seeks out and destroys Grendel's fearsome mother. Finally, after becoming a king himself, Beowulf hunts down a dragon that has stolen riches from Beowulf’s burial mound. Accompanied by his nephew Wiglaf, they engage and kill the dragon, (SPOILERS!) but Beowulf also dies, succumbing to his wounds.
The picturebook is a marvel of fantasy storytelling and illustration. I think this book would be best suited for 5th/6th graders and up. I think even adults would get a lot out of this picturebook as the original epic is quite dense, demanding a close reading to unpack the story and its meaning. The retelling of the epic is handled masterfully, capturing all the action - as well as the historical significance - of the original.
The artwork is what really drew me in. Although published in 2006, the illustrations by Michael Foreman were reminiscent of 70s and 80s styles of fantasy artists such as Frank Franzetta, Joe Jusko, and Joe Kubert. The art style fits text, depicting heroes and creatures from an ancient era. The art and text also work well to create a unified, concise narrative which helps the reader visualize the characters and action.
For teachers planning to use the original Beowulf in their classes, this short picturebook could be a great prereading text or companion piece to scaffold the epic poem. It could even be used with younger readers as a way to introduce them to classic literature. As mentioned above, even adults could get a lot out of this book as it is a faithful retelling of the source material, but told in a way that is easier to comprehend without having to perform a close reading.
The picturebook is a marvel of fantasy storytelling and illustration. I think this book would be best suited for 5th/6th graders and up. I think even adults would get a lot out of this picturebook as the original epic is quite dense, demanding a close reading to unpack the story and its meaning. The retelling of the epic is handled masterfully, capturing all the action - as well as the historical significance - of the original.
The artwork is what really drew me in. Although published in 2006, the illustrations by Michael Foreman were reminiscent of 70s and 80s styles of fantasy artists such as Frank Franzetta, Joe Jusko, and Joe Kubert. The art style fits text, depicting heroes and creatures from an ancient era. The art and text also work well to create a unified, concise narrative which helps the reader visualize the characters and action.
For teachers planning to use the original Beowulf in their classes, this short picturebook could be a great prereading text or companion piece to scaffold the epic poem. It could even be used with younger readers as a way to introduce them to classic literature. As mentioned above, even adults could get a lot out of this book as it is a faithful retelling of the source material, but told in a way that is easier to comprehend without having to perform a close reading.
jamessmith82's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
hopecrawley's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
brownmartian's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0