Title: a tale dark & Grimm Hansel and Gretels Green World Adventure / Greens dark fairy tales
Difficulty: lexile lance reading index 690l
By Adam gidwitz
Publisher Name: Dutton books for young readers
Publication time: 2010
Language: English
ISBN：9780525423348
Item size: 14.6 x 2.4 x 21.7 cm
Package: Hardback
Pages: 272
A Tale Dark & GrimmHansel and Gretels Green World Adventure (also known as Greens dark Fairy Tales)It is a childrens novel written by American writer Adam gidwitz. It is the first book in the trilogy series. It tells the story of two brothers and sisters who hope to escape from the dark fairy tale world and find happiness again. Hansel and Gretel went out of their own world and entered eight dark fairy tales, all of which came from the classic Grimm fairy tales. Along the way, they will encounter obstacles such as wizards, magicians, dragons and so on. After the brothers and sisters roamed the forest and dealt with countless powerful opponents, they also gradually learned the true story behind the famous legend and how to take responsibility for their own destiny and create their own happiness.
Hollywood ghost animation director Henry Selick, who directed "Christmas Eve thriller" and "ghost mother", adapted the novel into a live action film, which is expected to appear in 2018.In an interview, he expressed his preference for this book. Although this book is about boys and girls going to the forest together for adventure, they try to get along well with wild animals and witches.The theme of the story is about growth and understanding. When children grow up, in the process of getting along with others, they understand their parents hardships and understand how to be considerate of their parents and family. In addition, only when children leave their parents care can they grow up by themselves and learn to live independently.
Reasons for recommendation:
1. New York Times bestseller, E.B. White Reading Award winning works, and books recommended by the American Library Association;
2. Derived from classic fairy tales, the story is humorous and interesting, with a positive theme, especially suitable for primary and secondary school students;
3. English chapters and novels, recommended reading materials for improving English reading in primary and secondary schools;
4. It can also be used as English classroom reading materials and give electronic teaching plans.
In this mischievous and utterly original debut, Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm-inspired tales. As readers follow the siblings through a forest brimming with menacing foes, they learn the true story behind (and beyond) the bread crumbs, edible houses, and outwitted witches.
Fairy tales have never been more irreverent or subversive as Hansel and Gretel learn to take charge of their destinies and become the clever architects of their own happily ever after.
Review
Accolades for A Tale Dark & Grimm:
• New York Times bestseller
• Selection on the Today Show’s Al’s Book Club for Kids
• NCTE Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Selection
• An E. B. White Read Aloud Honor Book
• New York Times Editors’ Choice pick
• Publishers Weekly Flying Start
• School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
• ALA Notable Book
“Unlike any children’s book I’ve ever read... [it] holds up to multiple re-readings, like the classic I think it will turn out to be.”—New York Times Book Review
“A marvelous reworking of old stories that manages to be fresh, frightening, funny, and humane.”—Wall Street Journal
Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm (and Grimm-inspired) fairy tales. An irreverent, witty narrator leads us through encounters with witches, warlocks, dragons, and the devil himself. As the siblings roam a forest brimming with menacing foes, they learn the true story behind the famous tales, as well as how to take charge of their destinies and create their own happily ever after. Because once upon a time, fairy tales were awesome.
Adam Gidwitz taught in Brooklyn for eight years. Now, he writes full time—which means he writes a couple of hours a day, and lies on his couch staring at the ceiling the rest of the time. As is the case with all of his books, everything in them not only happened in the real fairy tales... it all also happened to him. Really. Learn more at www.adamgidwitz. com, on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter: @AdamGidwitz
FAITHFUL JOHANNES
Once upon a time, in a kingdom called Grimm, an old king lay on his deathbed. He was Hansel and Gretel’s grandfather—but he didn’t know that, for neither Hansel nor Gretel had been born yet.
Now hold on a minute.
I know what you’re thinking.
I am well aware that nobody wants to hear a story that happens before the main characters show up. Stories like that are boring, because they all end exactly the same way. With the main characters showing up.
But don’t worry. This story is like no story you’ve ever heard.
You see, Hansel and Gretel don’t just show up at the end of this story.
They show up.
And then they get their heads cut off.
Just thought you’d like to know.
The old king knew he was soon to pass from this world, and so he called for his oldest and most faithful servant. The servant’s name was Johannes; but he had served the king’s father, and his father’s father, and his father’s father’s father so loyally that all called him Faithful Johannes.
Johannes tottered in on bowed legs, heaving his crooked back step by step and leering with his one good eye. His long nose sniffed at the air. His mouth puckered around two rotten teeth. But, despite his grotesque appearance, when he came within view, the old king smiled and said, “Ah, Johannes!” and drew him near.
The king’s voice was weak as he said, “I am soon to die. But before I go, you must promise me two things. First, promise that you will be as faithful to my young son as you have been to me.”
Without hesitation, Johannes promised.
The old king went on. “Second, promise that you will show him his entire inheritance—the castle, the treasures, all this fine land—except for one room. Do not show him the room with the portrait of the golden princess. For if he sees the portrait he will fall madly in love with her. And I fear it will cost him his life.”
The king gripped Johannes’s hand. “Promise me.”
Again Johannes promised. Then the wrinkles of worry left the king’s brow, and he closed his eyes and breathed his last.
Soon the prince was crowned as the new king. He was celebrated with parades and toasts and feasts all throughout the kingdom. But, when the revelry finally abated, Johannes sat him down for a talk.
First, Johannes described to him all of the responsibilities of the throne. The young king tried not to fall asleep.
Then he explained that the old king had asked him to show the young king his entire inheritance—the castle, the treasures, all this fine land. At the word treasures the young king’s face lit up. Not that he was greedy. It was just that he found the idea of treasures exciting.
Finally, Johannes tried to explain his own role to the young king. “I have served your father, and your father’s father, and your father’s father’s father before that,” Johannes said. The young king started calculating on his fingers how that was even possible, but before he could get very far, Johannes had moved on. “They call me Faithful Johannes because I have devoted my life to the Kings of Grimm. To helping them. To advising them. To under-standing them.”
“Understanding them?” the young king asked.
“No. Under-standing them. In the ancient sense of the word. Standing beneath them. Supporting them. Bearing their troubles and their pains on my shoulders.”
The young king thought about this. “So you will under-stand me, too?” he asked.
“I will.”
“No matter what?”
“Under any circumstances. That is what being faithful means.”
“Well, under-stand that I am tired of this, and would like to see the treasures now.” And the young king stood up.
Faithful Johannes shook his head and sighed.
They began by exploring every inch of the castle—the treasure crypts, the towers, and every single room. Every single room, that is, save one. One room remained locked, no matter how many times they passed it.
Well, the young king was no fool. He noticed this. And so he asked, “Why is it, Johannes, that you show me every room in the palace, but never this room?”
Johannes squinted his one good eye and curled up his puckered, two-toothed mouth. Then he said, “Your father asked me not to show you that room, Your Highness. He feared it might cost you your life.”
I’m sorry, I need to stop for a moment. I don’t know what you’re thinking right now, but when I first heard this part of the story, I thought, “What, is he crazy?”
Maybe you know something about young people, and maybe you don’t. I, having been one myself once upon a time, know a few things about them. One thing I know is that if you don’t want one to do something—for example, go into a room where there’s a portrait of an unbearably beautiful princess—saying “It might cost you your life” is about the worst thing you could possibly say. Because then that’s all that young person will want to do.
I mean, why didn’t Johannes say something else? Like, “It’s a broom closet. Why? You want to see a broom closet?” Or, “It’s a fake door, silly. For decoration.” Or even, “It’s the ladies’ bathroom, Your Majesty. Best not go poking your head in there.”
Any of those would have been perfectly sufficient, as far as I can tell.
But he didn’t say any of those things. If he had, none of the horrible, bloody events to follow would ever have happened.
(Well, in that case, I guess I’m glad he told the truth.)
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