donaldjoh 's review for:

In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz

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I just finished Adam Gidwitz’s second book based on the Grimm fairy tales (and others, including Hans Christian Anderson and Mother Goose). It is a retelling of the story of Jack and Jill, weaving a continuous story through several tales and fairy tales. As in the first book, A Tale Dark and Grimm, the stories are not for very young children or sensitive individuals, as there is violence, blood, and torture galore. The original source material from which the Brothers Grimm got their tales were not gentle stories, but stories meant to instruct and teach life lessons. Villains were often punished in gruesome ways and life isn’t usually fair. In the end the heroes usually win, but it is never easy nor pleasant. More of this book originates from Gidwitz’s imagination than the first book, but I enjoyed it just as much. Though written for younger readers it is well-written, with a good mix of horror and humor.