The Grimm Legacy

Name of Book: The Grimm Legacy

Author: Polly Shulman

Illustrator: None

Publisher: Puffin Books, 2011 (Reprint edition)

ISBN: 9780142419045

Audience: ages 10+

Summary:  Elizabeth Rew’s life has all the elements of a good fairy tale.  Her mother has died; her father has remarried so that she now has a stepmother and two college-age stepsisters.  While the stepmother and stepsisters are not evil, they do take advantage of Elizabeth.  She has had to transfer to a new high school where she has no friends.  A research paper she does on Grimm’s fairy tales for her history teacher leads to an after-school job as a page at a very unusual library.  The New York Circulating Material Repository is a lending library of objects rather than books—objects both contemporary and historical (such as Marie Antoinette’s wig), common and obscure.  She learns that the basement houses several secret collections including the Grimm Collection, a room full of magical items mentioned in Grimm’s fairy tales.  She is intrigued by the seven-league boots, a mermaid’s comb, the magic mirror belonging to Snow White’s stepmother, and other items.  But some of the items are disappearing and others are losing their magical qualities.  Elizabeth and her fellow pages are suspects.  Even though the pages don’t completely trust each other, they set off on a dangerous and exciting quest to find the real culprit.

Literary Elements at work in the story: Even though The Grimm Legacy is fantasy, it remains grounded in reality.  Problems are not solved through the use of magic.  In fact, some of the magical items cause more problems than they solve.  Missteps while wearing the seven-league boots can cause the wearer to crash into walls or ended up far from their intended destination.  The magic mirror must tell the truth but can be snide and catty in its responses (saying that Elizabeth is brave and true, but not pretty, for example).  The four teen-age protagonists have problems with which the reader can identify:  being an outsider at a new school, being jealous or envious of others, having a pesky younger sibling, family problems, etc.

Perspective on gender/race/culture/economic/ability:  The four teen-age main characters are of different ethnicities.  But their ethnicity is merely a factor that describes appearance, much in the same way that someone would be described as having brown eyes or curly hair.  The ethnicity does not describe abilities or character traits.  The girls and the boys are equally brave and compassionate.  The girls have initiative and are willing to risk safety to rescue others who are in danger.  Marc, the high school basketball star, takes care of his three-year-old brother with caring and without embarrassment or resentment.

Scripture:  Philippians 1:27-28; Philippians 2:1-4; Exodus 20:12; Matthew 19:19; Hebrews 6:19

Theology:  Living in community; resisting evil; moral bravery; hope; honor parents; kindness (love)

Faith Talk Questions:

1.  Elizabeth’s father does not seem to pay much attention to her.  Why?  What would you say to him?  What could you say in his defense?
2.  How do Elizabeth, Marc, Aaron, and Anjali honor and respect their parents?
3.  If you could borrow an item from the Grimm Collection, what would you want?  Why?  What would you leave as a deposit?  How would this affect your daily life?
4.  What is your favorite fairy tale? (NOTE:  You may wish to reread some Grimm’s fairy tales or other fairy tale collections.  Avoid the Disney and other animated versions; they take extreme liberties with the stories and often do not stay true to the original version.)
5.  Because the main characters do not know whom to trust, they find it difficult to work together to find the thief.  Why do we sometimes find it difficult to work together?  What are some advantages of working together?
6.  Elizabeth has strong memories of her mother and their shared love of fairy tales.  What memories do you have of an activity shared with a parent or grandparent?
7.  Where is God at work in this book?

This review is written by Union Presbyterian Seminary graduate Mary Anne Welch.

The Magic Circle

Name of Book: The Magic Circle

Author: Donna Jo Napoli

Illustrator: unknown

Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books

ISBN:  0525451277

Audience: Ages 10 and up

Summary:   Author Donna Jo Napoli provides different voices and perspectives in her re-fashioning of well known fairy tales such as The Frog Prince and Hansel and Gretel.   The Magic Circle is a dark yet uplifting retelling of the Brothers Grimm story of Hansel and Gretel from the witch’s point of view.  The reader learns the ugly and evil witch was once a kind and well respected midwife.  Through the corrupt influences of a neighbor, the midwife is drawn into demonic powers so that she might increase her ability as a healer.  The price she must pay is a wicked and insatiable appetite for human flesh.  The “witch” is desperate to avoid this evil.  The Magic Circle is a story of the witch’s struggle to overcome evil and, through the innocent children Hansel and Gretel, find redemption and release.

Literary elements at work in the story:    Donna Jo Napoli artfully weaves a tale that engages the curious. The reader anxiously reads to uncover the “other side of the story” of Hansel and Gretel.  The setting is gritty – one can almost feel the dirt under foot of the midwife’s small home, smell the smoke of the cook-fire, hear the shrill voice of her vicious neighbor as she taunts, “Ugly One.”  This is a story of how a well-meaning healer spirals down into her own magic circle.  It is a story of her struggle living alone in an enchanted forest, slowly creating a cottage made of candy and other sweets.   Napoli keeps the suspense taut up to the inevitable ending, an ending that brings both release and redemption.

(How) does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story?  The premise of this story is perspective.  Western culture is familiar with the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale and if not, the theme of the wicked stepmother is certainly familiar.  Cultures throughout the world have stories that are rooted in the pervasive evils that surround innocent children.  In The Magic Circle, the author extracts an element of evil, the witch, and reveals the struggles she endures with her demons.  In doing so, Napoli exposes that we are all subject to struggle with our own demons.

Theological conversation partners:  The longer one walks around within this story the more intriguing it becomes.  Both The Magic Circle and many of the well-known Brothers’ Grimm fairy tales are rife with menacing and constant evil.   Using this re-telling of a fairy tale would be a fun way to explore two themes that run throughout the scriptures – sin and redemption.

Faith Talk Questions:  The following is a suggestion for a two session study with tweens that uses this story in addition to Bible study:

• Session 1:  The Creepy and Crawly Things in the Old Testament.  Designed to be for information gathering and brief discussion.  The students look up various passages that relate to the following themes:
  • Magic in the Old Testament (Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Judges, Daniel, 1 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel). Witch of Endor, Sorcerers / sorceress, Baal, Bel / Marduk, Asherah, Dagon, Pharaoh’s magicians
  • Cannibalism and other gross things in the OT  (Deuteronomy, Leviticus, Jeremiah, Ezekiel)

1.Did you there so many creepy crawly stories in the Bible?

2.Many of these stories relate how the Israelites became involved with witches or pagan gods.  Why do you suppose these are included?

3.After reading of the struggles of these ancient people, God’s Chosen People, how do you feel about your own struggles?

4.Can you identify when the midwife The Magic Circle became a witch?  After reading this book, do you view her as evil or as a person struggling to overcome personal demons?

• Session 2:  It All Works out in the end… Redemption in the Bible
  • Redemption in the OT (Children of Israel redeemed from the house of slavery; redeemed from sin – Yom Kippur, atonement, burnt offering.)
  • Redemption in the NT  - Christ redeemed us from under the Law

1.How can evil be redeemed by good?

2.How can one recognize evil in oneself?

3.In The Magic Circle, how is the witch redeemed?  Explore the relationship between Gretel and the witch.

4.Open discussion about sin and redemption

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Cheryl Couch-Thomas.

Hanne’s Quest

Name of Book: Hanne’s Quest

Author: Olivier Dunrea

Publisher: Philomel

ISBN: 978-0399242168

Audience: Ages 7 to 10

Summary:  Mem lives on a farm with her beloved speckled hens. When she receives a bill for back taxes, she confides to the animals that she will lose the farm. The hens secretly confer and learn, to their astonishment that one of their number, young Hanne, will be able to lay golden eggs if she has the courage to complete an ancient rhyme. Hanne does not know if she is up to the task, but she sets out to try as it is the only way to save the farm and her friends.

Literary elements at work in the story:  The magical elements and the quest provide a good structure for children moving from folklore to fantasy tales. Beautifully composed and often darkly atmospheric, the paintings add to the wonder of the story.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story: Hanne is a good female hero role model showing compassion and courage.  The concern for the animals and their home is something many can, unfortunately, relate to making this a timely choice.

Scripture: James 1:12

Theology: Hanne knows what this passage says, that trials are part of life. Our trials may not as dramatic as Hanne’s but they are ones that will nonetheless test us. Hanne did not have to face her trials alone. She had magical help. Thanks be to God that we do not need magic or self help books or otherworldly help. We have something so much better. We have God’s promise to always be there to help us through our trials. Love God, feel and look for God’s help and you will never be alone when trials come.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. How did Hanne overcome her trials?
2. Would you have gone on Hanne’s quest?
3. Have you ever faced a hard time?
4. How did you overcome it?
5. How could you help someone who is having a hard time?
6. God has promised that God will always be there for us.  Is it hard to “see” and “feel” God when we are having a hard time?
7. How can we get better at trusting in God’s promise?

Review prepared by guest blogger Janet Lloyd