Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Ratings ExplanationLanguage: There are many derogatory phrases and insults in this book.  For example:   loser, dirty little hooligan, incompetent boob, snot, goon, scum, mental patient, and you lumpy bag of foolishness.

Violence: Sabrina and Daphne are pinched by their case worker.  The girls are bitten by pixies and they bleed.  Three thugs block Grandma and the girls and threaten them with a metal pipe.  Grandma hits one thug with her purse while one of the girls kick him.  Mr. Canis holds two thugs up by the necks and then throws them to the ground.  A giant kidnaps Grandma and Mr. Canis.  Jack fires arrows at the Giant and Charming.  Jack cuts the dog and leaves him bleeding.   Mirror is beat up and bruised.  Mr. Canis fights with Jack and bites him.

Synopsis

Sabrina and Daphne Grimm find themselves in and out of foster care homes after their parents disappear, but then they are sent to live with someone who claims to be their grandmother.  The girls have always believed their grandmother to be dead, so they are quite shocked to find her not only alive, but full of information about a family history they never knew about.  Sabrina and Daphne are descendants of the famous Brothers Grimm, and they learn that the fairy-tales they wrote about are actually history.  The girls now find themselves in the middle of a fairy-tale mystery with a giant trying to destroy their home and new found family.   When grandma is taken by the giant, Sabrina and Daphne become the detectives, because that’s what Grimms are made for.

I loved the pictures throughout this book as well as the silhouettes at the beginning of each chapter.  That is one of the pleasures of reading childrens books.  I also really liked how the author uses the younger sister as a reason to explain and define larger words in the book that younger readers might not understand.  It’s like having a vocabulary lesson without even knowing it!  I could have done without the name calling in the book and the frequent insults.  There always seemed to be someone sticking out their tongue.  Overall though, a fun read.  I’m thinking this would be a fun series to read aloud with my 8 year old this summer.   I found this book to be pretty on par with the recommended age group.  My quote from this book is, “Fear can make people do terrible things.”