Book Review: The Grimm Legacy

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

Publication Date: 8 July 2010

I purchased this book.


Description
Elizabeth has a new job at an unusual library— a lending library of objects, not books. In a secret room in the basement lies the Grimm Collection. That’s where the librarians lock away powerful items straight out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales: seven-league boots, a table that produces a feast at the blink of an eye, Snow White’s stepmother’s sinister mirror that talks in riddles.

When the magical objects start to disappear, Elizabeth embarks on a dangerous quest to catch the thief before she can be accused of the crime—or captured by the thief.

Polly Shulman has created a contemporary fantasy with a fascinating setting and premise, starring an ordinary girl whose after-school job is far from ordinary— and leads to a world of excitement, romance and magical intrigue.


My Review
The Grimm Legacy is a great book for readers who love fairy tales.  Author Polly Shulman uses the Grimm Brothers stories to craft a funny and imaginative novel about a young girl who, while working at a materials repository, discovers that magic is real.

I like how Shulman is able to create distinctive voices for each of her main characters.  While the story is told from Elizabeth's point of view, readers get a glimpse into the other characters through their dialogue and actions.  I would have liked to learn more about Marc though.  He is the only character that readers don't really see in a personal light outside of his relationship with Anjali and the repository.  Elizabeth meets both Anjali's and Aaron's mothers and in the case of Anjali, her sister Jaya, plays a pivotal role in the conclusion of the story.  But, while Marc's brother Andre is introduced, I couldn't really form a personal connection with Marc because his life outside of the repository remained a mystery.

Other than that, The Grimm Legacy is a fast and easy read.  The story moved quickly and had enough conflict to keep me glued to the pages, wondering what would happen next.  It also renewed my interest in the Grimm Brothers stories.  I'm definitely going to be checking out some of the less known tales that Shulman mentioned in the book.


My Rating: 3.5 stars

Description and picture courtesy of Goodreads.


The Grimm Legacy Book Trailer