Not a children;s story at all...
921357
When you first start reading, you think it is some sort of fairy tale, but about a third of the way through, revelations inform you that it's much, much more. It was charming, and moving, and I didn't want it to end.
3206766
I really enjoyed this book !  Engaging characters, interesting plot, evocative locale.  However, I wouldn't classify this as a book for children, as much of the story involves prostitution, murder, poor parenting and theft.  Maybe I'm old fashioned, but the subject matter is definitely for adults.
4879839
Not for younger kids.  I liked the story and character development (although some regression, like any human).  Arrived quickly!
4750750
This book, like its characters, has an identity crisis. It's trying to be a children's book, but I think it's really for grown ups. Mr. Gantos has done a superb job of exposing the workings of the mind of a troubled and confused youngster and the impact of the actions of the sometimes feckless, sometimes neglectful, sometimes abusive adults in his life. This dead-on true-to-life story careens non-stop through the misadventures of this hyperactive kid who gets only bad examples and confusing demands from the people who should be guiding him towards discovery of his best self.  As a pediatrician and as a teacher, I have known children like Joey-aka-Freddy, lost in families like this. So I really appreciate how Mr. Gantos has laid bare the real difficulties of special-needs kids who get just what they don't need from their parents. But who is this book for? It is decked out in a cover which bespeaks zany humor and suggests that it is appropriate for ages 10 and up. I don't think so. Child abuse and neglect just aren't funny. Like Mark Haddon's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Curious-Incident-of-the-Dog-in-the-Night-Time/dp/1400032717/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time</a>&nbsp;this story will be of great interest to educators and people preparing for careers in which they will work with troubled children and dysfunctional families. I can envision it being extremely useful in a support group for parents of hyperactive kids or in a parenting class for fathers who want to do better by their kids. But it's not for preteens. Kids who are just beginning to be able to think about thinking need more reality-processing in their literature. Kids who, like Joey, get no good models from adults at home are probably better served by stories that model a constructive inner dialog and appropriately supportive family relationships. This story is a masterpiece, but it's too raw for preteens.
2780441
This is not a children's ONLY book.  The story transcends that.  You may think you have read/heard this story before, but it is a journey worth taking again.  I recommend you read this with - or to - your children/partner/parents/friends/grandparents.  For those people far from you, send it as a gift for the spirit.
3483301
i shyed away from reading this because i have what i think of as a nondenominational relationship with God. and there seems to be a lot of religious hysteria surrounding it.  this is not a book about religion.... it is a story about humanity.  it is a beautiful story and i will cherish it for years to come.

crying on the plane while i read it was a little weird for my seat mate... but who cares....
3871816
My 11-year-old son picked this up (even though it's about a girl) and read it in two days. I read it too and we discussed it, both practically speechless. This is a story about loss and hope and family, with a mystery-twist, too. Both of us, so moved. I will give this to kids and adults; it is such great storytelling without any fantasy or magic. Just real life. Which makes the best stories of all.
3772159
I know this is intended as a children's book, but it's one where the intended reader is not talked down to. It's not just for children, but for adults, too. If you want a book to read to your kid that won't bore you, this and the sequels are great for that!

The premise of the book is that it's possible for someone who reads really well, and who reads aloud extremely well to read out loud SO well that the story they're reading not only feels like it comes alive, but that the story and the whole universe actually DOES come alive, and the universe in the book touches this one, and the characters in the book can move into our universe, and people from here can move into the books.

In the story, Mo is one of these excellent readers, and one night, while reading an adventure story to his wife and baby daughter, he accidently brings some characters out of the book. Only later does he realize that his wife has disappeared!

Even worse, adventure stories may be exciting to read about, but would be very unpleasant to live through, and the characters he lets into this universe are not all ones you'd like to be friends with.

The story is told from the viewpoint of the baby, about 11 years after her mom's disappearance, and develops into a fantastical adventure story of her own, along with Mo, her aunt, and some friends.

Cornelia Funke writes a story that comes alive and seems to dance off the pages of the book and into your heart.

Don't miss Inkspell and Inkdeath, too!
2118291
What I enjoyed most about this book was that it's written in the perspective of a child; innocence, ignorance, and child-like confusion are laced within the words, which allows the reader to envision what living during this time was like, for someone living "outside of the fence" which is very different. This story is un-biased. It could have been, with the main character, Bruno, having his father being a commandant for the cause that we all despise, but then he met someone on the other side, whom he befriended and began to care for, which caused him to pose the question that I find my self asking when speaking of this horrible genocide: how are the people living outside or inside of the fence any different at all?
3312957
I have never read the lives of others, told through an individual, as the conduit for each characters retelling of their life. And this is not an author telling a story, this is an author tapping into the energy of the universe to share the stories of lives already lived. That concept grabbed my attention. The book itself allowed the reader to move through the story lines in a non-linear style. When asked how the story is narrated, you could say it is in third person if the interviewer is simply interviewing oneself, or it could be in second person, if the story is narrated through the eyes of an individual. Nonetheless, I have never read a book like this one.
1450366
As usual I received this book for free in exchange for a review.  This time it was directly from the author and despite that kind consideration I give my candid opinions below.

Firstly, I should note that I'm reviewing this as a children's book.  None of the listings I have found are specific on that fact but I'm judging based on the content and the previous reviews of the title.  If you are looking at this book for an adult audience, please note that the themes and writing are very much for that of a young audience.

When looking at a children's book I look at three basic questions.  The first is whether or not the book has anything which would be inappropriate for children.  Sadly, more and more one has to be on the lookout for such things in books marketed to younger readers.  Luckily, this book is free from all negative influences with no references to sex, drugs or violence.  So no worries in that category.

The second question is the inverse of the first asking whether children will learn anything positive from the book.  In this case, I think they will.  Without giving too much away, an alien creature has come to Earth and is forced to fit in with human culture.  The uniqueness of this book is that it views the Human race from a distinctly different viewpoint and gives kids a new twist on how their culture and society might be viewed from the outside.  That's a nicely circumspect viewpoint to convey to a child.

The last question is whether young readers will be entertained by the book.  I'd say that's highly probable as well.  The plot is quirky and fun and would likely engage readers in the question of what will happen next to this odd visitor from another world.  The only down side I see is that the text is completely unadorned by pictures of any kind.  Any child loves an illustration or two and in this case especially it might help their ability to engage with the story if they saw a drawing of this strange visitor.  Adding that aspect to the story would improve it significantly.

In summary, I think Krish's story for young people would be a great choice for any young reader.  It should be noted that especially sophisticated readers may poo-poo the idea but the 8-12 age range should be thoroughly engaged.

---

As always I endeavor to make my reviews as helpful as possible. If I've accomplished that goal then I'm very glad! If I haven't or if there's something else you think I should be telling you then don't hesitate to leave me a comment so I can do better with the next review.
2318267
I knew the story.  I'd seen the cartoon.  But nothing prepared me for the beauty of the prose.  Touching and gentle.  For once, a story that anthropomorphizes people, instead of the animals.  Hard to believe this was written for children.
3959682
Because this was a story that's written for all ages to read, I was thinking for the most part I'd give it four stars. But the fact is, I read through this in a matter of 8 or so hours. Even though it's on the short side, it still probably qualifies as a novel as far as word count goes. Well, when you blast through a book in a matter of hours--especially considering I only planned to start this and pick up something "bigger" to read--and enjoy every single page of it, that's a five-star book. Also, when an adult (and it's obvious I'm far from alone in this) can enjoy a book as much as they would if they were twelve years old, then you know Barker really accomplished something.

This book did something that so far I've only experienced in Something Wicked This Way Comes. It's intended for all ages, and believe me, it works. Being thirty-five or thirteen, there is a great story to enjoy, a lot of imagination to be fascinated by, and even a few typical Barker-ish moments, where something happens that causes the reader to say "What the . . . " while being amazed at the same time.

In my personal opinion, this story is a tad bit too much for a nine or ten year old to read, but anyone from the age twelve on up who opens this book will find themselves plummeted into a journey that is every bit as entertaining as it is magical. I can't wait until my niece grows up a few more years, as I will eagerly pass this book on to her.
From someone who's used to and expects Clive Barker to stretch the imagination as far as possible, this toned-down tale contains the same power as his complex adult novels, and for that, I applaud him.
1450773
It appears, from the looks of things, to be a children's book, but clearly, there is a modicum of blood and/or violence in some of the stories....not for feint-of-heart...
4112911
I really enjoyed this book; although, I would not recommend it to the faint of heart. William Golding's Lord of the Flies is the story of a group of school boys that crash land on an island and are stranded with no adult supervision. This story that begins so innocently soon takes a turn for the worst. At first glance this novel is a story of children gone bad but with careful thought it becomes a concept much bigger than the children themselves.
 Many say this is about the psychology of children when no one is around to supervise them but I feel this explains, through a story about children gone wrong, the necessity for a central government. I think the story, that seems very crude, is actually our society and history in a nutshell. A group of people do like there government, so they break away. This in my opinion is a fairly simple concept but put into a story people think of it as some horrific thing. However, it is a fairly natural reaction. Whether or not this is how William Golding intended it to be understood, I think this is not supposed to be a story of children that go stir crazy on an island but a depiction of society.
 I definitely think this should be taught in schools. Firstly, it is an idea that most children have thought about, and it is an interesting story that captures the minds of the readers. Secondly, it gives you a different perspective of our society as a whole; something that seemed so normal but put into a story is actually a scary thought. This is a very valuable lesson to be taught and I believe all people should be exposed to different perspectives.
3992669
Don't be fooled by the title, this book has nothing to do with the bible! The book is an imaginary tale about a young and beautiful dark skinned woman. Creating her own space in a world that doesn't fully acknowledges her. Creating her own rules about love, men and life. Powerful and unique story, very poetic. I didn't like the beginning of the book but I hang on got hooked.
my favorites quotes:

"I realized that even when black people endeavor to rise up Africa and restore it to paradise, there remains this thirst to debase its mother- which is what keeps Africa from rising".

"I loved all my men with all my heart... I was forced to take what I could get, which is usually  how a woman ends up with more than one man in the first place."

"But they stomped and trampled and beat him- for lifting a mirror to their inferiority, for judging them, for loving them, for standing in their way, for being right, for telling the truth, for being racist against whiteness - they killed him".
4036093
a very well structured novel, a whole new (magical) world to explore on the bridge between reality and that "another place which is as real as here", themes that are more "adult" than you would expect given that its a kids' book (well, the definition of a book that is "for kids" is foolishness in itself....) This is not a book for children, it is a book for everybody, and that's a very good point to read it! I'm not entering the story for I don't want to give out spoilers, but if you love a good "fantastic" story (it's not exactly "fantasy") with great themes as "changing", "love", "hatred" and many others, this is the book for you!
The only thing you could worry about is that it's going to be a series... so, even if the story reaches an end, you have to keep in mind that it is not THE end and be patient...
hope mrs. Funke won't take long...