A TALE DARK AND GRIMM by Adam Gidwitz

A.R. Book Level: 4.6
A.R. Points: 6.0
Pages: 256

Fans of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline and The Graveyard Book are really going to love this.  Before Disney movies came along and told us not-too-scary fairy tales filled with singing birds and adorable talking animals, we had the versions of the stories written by the brothers Grimm.  This book tips its hat to those scary and violent Grimm tales.  Hansel and Gretel are a prince and princess who unfortunately have their heads cut off by their father (but live!).  When they leave the castle to try to find better parents, they stumble into a handful of adventures inspired by original Grimm tales.  This book is not for the faint of heart—it may be the only one in the library where a main character cuts off her own finger!—but if you can handle all the gory details, it’s a really fun book to read. Don’t worry: there IS a happy ending.