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sngick's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful companion novel to A Tale Dark & Grimm. I especially loved the author's notes at the end where he clarifies the sources of the stories he's modified and added his personal twist to. These days, not everyone has a daddy like mine who read fairy tales to me nightly from his Book of Grimm, so it is an excellent way to link the stories for students!
Readers will love the twists on old favorites and will delight in new to them stories.
Readers will love the twists on old favorites and will delight in new to them stories.
kristi_starr35's review against another edition
4.0
Like A Tale Dark and Grimm, it's a mashup of fairy tales and Lemony Snicket. The story seemed to move faster than ATD&G, and the lesson learned (that's the whole point of Märchen, right?) seems more obvious and less forced than in the first. Also like the original Märchen - dark humor and wonderful German (both a plus). Perhaps fewer asides by the narrator in IAGG. A quick read, plenty of gross-out scenes for middle-grade readers, and a trip through several well-known (and other not-so-well-known) Kindermärchen. Would also make a great read-aloud. And you'll never think of salamanders in the same way again.
marbooks88's review against another edition
5.0
Fairy tales that are less Disney and more Grimm with the added bonus of a wise & humorous narrator.
jameyanne's review against another edition
4.0
This book was super fun. Unlike A Tale Dark and Grimm, a lot of the tales are original, but there were still retellings of many fairytales and homages to all the rhymes involving Jack and Jill. Part of me would have liked the sequel to A Tale Dark and Grimm to continue Hansel and Gretel's story, but I really enjoyed Jack and Jill's story too. They had great character arcs, the stories were fun and horrifying in equal measure, all the pieces came together so nicely, and the writing spoke poignant truths with graceful simplicity. If you like retold fairytales, this is a good read.
withthebanned's review
4.0
It’s no question that I loved A Tale Dark and Grimm, it was one of my favorite reads of 2011 and I recommend it every possible chance that I get. So imagine my surprise as I am stalking the Penguin booth at BEA and I see a HUGE poster showcasing the cover with artwork that looked suspiciously like that on the cover of A Tale Dark and Grimm. I stop in my tracks and my mouth hits the ground “HEIDI!” I scream, “DID YOU KNOW THERE IS A NEW GIDWITZ BOOK?!” People stared, I was nicely pushed along in the crowd and Heidi was all “Duh they are giving away ARCS on Thursday.” (Except a lot sweeter and more Heidi-like) so we did our best and FAILED to obtain one in the end. However, my awesome boss knows that I am slightly obsessed so when she obtained a copy for summer reading prizes she pressed it into my hands lovingly and said, “Go forth, and read to your heart’s desire.” And I did.
Like A Tale Dark and Grimm, this story focuses on two children who leave their homes due to humility and lack of positive parenting. They are joined by a frog, who has a story of his own to tell, and they all set out on some pretty interesting adventures. Through these adventures the story of Jack (and Jill) and the beanstalk are told, as well as Jack Jill the Giant Killer and we learn just how Jack broke his crown after tumbling (very far) down. There is also a pretty sinister mermaid story, which I utterly adored, some rather hungry goblins and an absolutely loveable yet terrifying salamander named Eidechse von Feuer, der Menschenfleischfressende, or Eddie, for short.
The hilarious narrator was back again to help sooth us through those tough moments and more importantly, to help explain what goblins really look like and not just what we think they look like due to the desensitization of video games. This brought a sense of humor to the already interesting and somewhat dark storylines that I really loved.
For those of you who enjoyed A Tale Dark and Grimm, In a Glass Grimmly does not disappoint. For those of you wondering if this is the book for you I urge you to give it a try, it was interesting, witty and all around fun. It was a joy to read and I thoroughly hope Adam Gidwitz continues writing these twisted tales as he really does a phenomenal job.
Like A Tale Dark and Grimm, this story focuses on two children who leave their homes due to humility and lack of positive parenting. They are joined by a frog, who has a story of his own to tell, and they all set out on some pretty interesting adventures. Through these adventures the story of Jack (and Jill) and the beanstalk are told, as well as Jack Jill the Giant Killer and we learn just how Jack broke his crown after tumbling (very far) down. There is also a pretty sinister mermaid story, which I utterly adored, some rather hungry goblins and an absolutely loveable yet terrifying salamander named Eidechse von Feuer, der Menschenfleischfressende, or Eddie, for short.
The hilarious narrator was back again to help sooth us through those tough moments and more importantly, to help explain what goblins really look like and not just what we think they look like due to the desensitization of video games. This brought a sense of humor to the already interesting and somewhat dark storylines that I really loved.
For those of you who enjoyed A Tale Dark and Grimm, In a Glass Grimmly does not disappoint. For those of you wondering if this is the book for you I urge you to give it a try, it was interesting, witty and all around fun. It was a joy to read and I thoroughly hope Adam Gidwitz continues writing these twisted tales as he really does a phenomenal job.
everthereader's review
5.0
Loved it! It was just as awesome as the first. To be honest, the frog was my favorite character. Jack and Jill should listen to him more.
menniemenace's review
4.0
It would've been amazing if this were a long series, three books are nowhere near enough.
Jack and Jill are the new main characters in this book, and like Hansel and Gretel they're brave and lonely and resourceful. I really liked them.
Jack and Jill are the new main characters in this book, and like Hansel and Gretel they're brave and lonely and resourceful. I really liked them.
sandraagee's review
4.0
You do not need to have read [b:A Tale Dark and Grimm|11974615|A Tale Dark and Grimm|Adam Gidwitz|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1310058046s/11974615.jpg|10874302] to enjoy this book. But if you loved Gidwitz's first book, you'll like this one too! Both books do a great job of celebrating the dark, unpleasant aspects of fairy tales and turning them into a cohesive story.
More so than in A Tale Dark and Grimm, Gidwitz has a clear lesson inserted into this tale, though it never feels unpleasantly didactic. There's enough blood, vomit, and fire-burping giant salamanders to keep it from being preachy.
It was also interesting to see Gidwitz draw from non-Grimm sources, including John Jacobs, Hans Christen Anderson, and even Christina Rossetti. Some of these references will be a bit more obscure to the average child reader, but Gidwitz cites each and every one of his sources at the end.
More so than in A Tale Dark and Grimm, Gidwitz has a clear lesson inserted into this tale, though it never feels unpleasantly didactic. There's enough blood, vomit, and fire-burping giant salamanders to keep it from being preachy.
It was also interesting to see Gidwitz draw from non-Grimm sources, including John Jacobs, Hans Christen Anderson, and even Christina Rossetti. Some of these references will be a bit more obscure to the average child reader, but Gidwitz cites each and every one of his sources at the end.
sapphiremarie's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75