Igraine the Brave

Written and illustrated by Cornelia Funke
Translated from German by Anthea Bell
Originally published in 1998
Chicken House, 2007
Ages 8-12
4/5


Twelve-year old Igraine would like nothing more than to be a noble knight. However, not only is she small for her age, Igraine's wizarding family is uninterested in mighty steeds and shining armour. But when her parents accidentally turn themselves into pigs and can't stop the dastardly Greedy Osmund from laying seige to their castle in oder to steal the family's singing magic books, Igraine is determined that her size won't hold her back from protecting her home.

The strength of this quirky novel is its interesting characters, which are introduced in an illustrated "Who's Who" at the beginning of the book. Surprisingly it wasn't Igraine who grabbed my attention, but the secondary characters of the singing books, the Sorrowful Knight, and even Pimpernel Castle itself. That being said, Igraine, despite being both stubborn and impatient, is a great role model for young girls: although she is afraid of Greedy Osmund and the Iron Hedgehog, she takes action to ensure her family remains safe.

Like most fairy tales, in this book it is very obvious who is good and who is bad. Bad characters are justly punished, and good characters are justly rewarded. However, this does not take away from the charm of Funke's cheerful, whimsical story.

The Spiderwick Chronicles

The Field Guide
Written by Holly Black
Illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003
Ages 8-12
4/5










The Seeing Stone
Written by Holly Black
Illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003
Ages 8-12
4/5










Lucinda's Secret
Written by Holly Black
Illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003
Ages 8-12
3.5/5










The Ironwood Tree
Written by Holly Black
Illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003
Ages 8-12
3.5/5









The Wrath of Mulgrath
Written by Holly Black
Illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003
Ages 8-12
3.5/5









The Spiderwick Chronicles is a series of five books about the Grace children, who discover Arthur Spiderwick's Guide to the Fantastical World Around You in the attic of their new home. This Guide contains information about all kinds of magical creatures, both friendly and not-so-friendly. Twins Jared (often in trouble for fighting at school) and Simon (an animal-lover), along with their big sister, Mallory (an expert fencer), discover that the ogre, Mulgarath, wants the Guide and will do anything to get it. Together with the help of Thimbletack, a house brownie, and Hogsqueal, a hobgoblin, the Graces must find out what happened to Arthur Spiderwick, rescue their mother from the clutches of Mulgarath, and save the book from being used for evil.

It's easy to see why the Spiderwick Chronicles are so popular. They are extremely attractive books, with beautifully detailed and labelled black and white drawings and richly coloured covers. The chapter titles in the table of contents, the map of the Spiderwick Estate, and list of pictures in each book feel delightfully old-fashioned, making it seem as though the books are a special secret for readers. This is helped along by the "letters" from the author and illustrator, as well as the Grace children, included at the beginning of every story.

The writing itself is mediocre. Much of the dialogue feels stilted and many of the chapters end with unnecessary cliffhangers. However, the short chapters are well-suited to a less experienced reader and the vocabulary is not too complicated either. Jared's anger at the absence of his father and his slow realization that he must accept the way things have changed is the strongest depiction of character in the novels, although Hogsqueal is also entertaining. Some parents may be unhappy with the use of the word "crappy" at several points during the books.

While these books are not of the highest calibre, they are still entertaining and will be thoroughly enjoyed by those with an interest in fantasy. Perhaps a good suggestion for kids who are not yet confident enough to tackle the longer Harry Potter books?