Customer Reviews

The Grimm Legacy

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Elizabeth Rew figures the library job will give her a little spending money and a chance to finally make some friends. Ever since her Dad remarried, Elizabeth has been feeling like an outsider. That's true at home, where her father barely notices her anymore and her stepmother sees her as some sort of chore machine, and at school, where the students are not interested in becoming friends with `the new girl.' So when her social studies teacher recommends Elizabeth for a job as a Page at The New-York Circulating Materials Repository, she figures `Why not?'

When Elizabeth starts work, she discovers that the Circulating Materials Repository is unlike any library she's ever seen. Instead of books, the vast building is stuffed full of things. Objects like Marie Antoinette's wig, Shakespearean-era doublets, tea sets, carpets and every other material possession imaginable are housed in the Repository's nine floors of stacks.

Even more amazing are the `special' collections. The Repository is home to a number of secret and magical objects, including those in the Grimm Collection. It seems that when the Brothers Grimm gathered folk tales and legends in their travels, they also acquired many of the magical items associated with the tales they made famous - things like dancing slippers, mermaid combs, and even the Seven League Boots.

Before long, Elizabeth feels a strong connection with both the Repository and her coworkers. She truly fits in and she enjoys easy bonds of friendship with most of her fellow Pages. But all is not well at the Repository. Someone is stealing magical objects from the Grimm Collection and until the thief is caught, everyone is a suspect, including the Pages. On top of that, one of the Pages has already disappeared and Elizabeth's friend Anjali is being stalked by a large creepy bird, of all things. It's obvious the Pages will have to take matters into their own hands if they want these mysteries solved, the Repository returned to normal, and their jobs secured.

Although Elizabeth begins the book unhappy with her new family arrangement and her father's neglect, her attitude isn't overly whiney or self-pitying. In fact, her character is a true to life representation of a teen struggling to find her way in a new family. The idea of the Repository and its special collections is fabulously presented and the story is a fun and breezy adventure with just a hint of romance. There's enough going on here, both with the plot and with the world of the Repository itself, to keep you interested from beginning to end. The Grimm Legacy is well worth reading!

The New York Circulating Material Repository is an amazing place. It's a library that circulates things instead of books. Subscribing patrons can check out 14th century clothing, Abraham Lincoln's hat, or even Marie Antoinette's wig. H G Wells time machine is in residence, as well as artifacts from Lovecraft and Gibson. For any fan of science fiction and fantasy, this place is a dream! Perhaps the most mysterious room is the one that houses the Grimm collection, where Elizabeth finds out that the magic described in her favorite fairy tales is real, and all the objects that appear in those stories are now at her disposal.

The author has created a fascinating story here, and a great character in Elizabeth. She's a lonely teen who takes the job at the library in hopes of meeting new friends and ends up on the adventure of her life. This book is brilliantly plotted and the author does a great job of weaving in the fantasy elements with the modern day aspects of her story. The pacing is fast and readers will be glued to the page as Elizabeth encounters flying shoes, gets shrunk by a shrink ray, and is attacked by an evil art dealer, all the while trying to save her friend who has been turned into a doll. I don't think I'll ever look at a doll collection in quite the same way.

In amongst all the fantasy and magic is actually a really good mystery. Elizabeth and her fellow pages at the library must find out who is stealing items from the Grimm collection and it's this quest that keeps the story moving along. All the magic sometimes works together for some convenient coincidences on a couple of occasions, but that's okay since the story flows so beautifully. The magic described in the story is very imaginative and I loved how it all tied in with classic stories and with the library. I've always known that libraries are magical places!

There's a bit of romance here that adds to the charm, and some unrequited love. Our group of heroes spend some time mooning over and fighting with each other, and the author does a great job with their dialogue. She has an authentic voice for all of her characters. This book will be a great read for any lover of fantasy, classic stories, or libraries. There are no language issues, just some kissing and talk of "hotness". This is a smart action adventure for anyone grade 7 and up. Adults will appreciate the many references to classic tales, and kids will revel in all the action. A big recommend.

Gold Star Award Winner!

Elizabeth, the new girl in school, doesn't have any friends. When her social studies teacher, Mr. Mauskopf, recommends her for a job at a special library, things start looking up.

During the job interview, she's given a box of buttons and asked to sort them. Elizabeth doesn't know quite what to make it of, but apparently she passes with flying colors. Then she discovers that the library doesn't hold many books, but it circulates a variety of items - including hot chocolate pots.

At first, she's confused, but soon she learns that the library circulates old items, valuable items, and some magic items. The magic items are from the Grimm Collection - as in objects from the fairy tales. However, the items from the Grimm Collection seem to be losing their magic.

Could someone be stealing the magic, and with all the security, could it actually be an inside job?

I love the idea of fairy tale items being available for circulation. While the fantastical elements made the story surprising and enjoyable, the mystery behind the magic moves the story. I simply devoured this book, and I dearly hope this is the start of a new series.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

I have purchased numerous copies of this book for teen-age friends. It is extremely well written, and they often become quite interested in the "Grimm" background after reading it. It should be a much better known work.

This was a fun book to read. The story grabs you with the first words. The title might make you think its a rewritten fairy tale but it isn't. Very clever story and I hope this author writes many more books in the future.

Have you ever wondered what happened to all the magical items in fairy tales? Well, when Elizabeth starts her new job at the New York circulating material repository she learns that most of the items found in The Brothers Grimm fairy tales are stored there, along with many other items from an everyday spoon to a garden of seasons. Elizabeth and the other pages that work at the repository are forced to set their differences aside and come together to catch the thief stealing magical items from the Grimm Collection. With the help of her new friends, and a few magical items from the collections, they put their heads together to capture the thief before the thief captures them.


I enjoyed how Polly Shulman created this story of betrayal, magic, friendship and love. I have always wondered where all the fairy tale items would wind up in our current century. A repository just seems the best place for them along with many other special items. Shulman has laid out an exciting story full of adventure and unexpected twists and turns. I can't wait to get my hands on more books from her!
Thanks Aimee for this great review.

As a mum who screens everything her 11-year-old daughter reads, I usually hesitate in letting her read material where there is romance in a book. Some books I have found to be totally unobjectionable, because the message that comes across is personal responsibility and accountability needs to come with "adult" behaviour. Many of Wendy Mass' books (not all of them), for example, many of Jacqueline Wilson's (those British authors!!!) and Wendelin Van Draanen's "Flipped" - I have enjoyed and felt secure sharing with said daughter. "The Grimm Legacy" by Polly Shulman is a *totally* delightful find, then, in terms of what it offers: magic, literature, social situations, age-appropriate romance (the protagonists are high-schoolers working, in the library, no less - said daughter also volunteers in a library!).

As far as language, humour and pacing, "The Grimm Legacy" reminded me of Delia Sherman's "Changeling" and its sequel "The Magic Mirror of the Mermaid Queen" - but I feel the true value of the book lies in how subtly but powerfully the value of honesty comes through: in the magic, in the adventures, in the challenges, for example, a perceived parental-disapproved romance - it wasn't until I closed the book (read it in one sitting and absolutely will be re-reading) that this very undervalued theme of truth vs. lying and prejudice hit me. In a time where so many students seem to think it's okay to cheat in exams or get something for nothing, it's nice to follow along on the adventures of Elizabeth and her friends as they, in turn, choose the path of honesty. I was particularly touched by how Elizabeth's step-sister was "mean" not so much in the conventional way, but in offering to let Elizabeth use her pre-corrected answer to a class assignment - and impressed by how Elizabeth chose to do her own work instead. Brilliant! But enough from me; here's how said daughter found the book:

"The book, 'The Grimm Legacy' by Polly Shulman is my new all-time favorite book. It was a little adult in some parts so I wouldn't recommend it to a fourth grader. However, I think that six graders such as myself would love this book.

"Lonely at her new high school, Elizabeth takes on a job at the New-York Circulating Material Repository, hoping to make new friends as well as some cash. However, she soon realizes that the repository is no ordinary library. It lends out objects rather than books -everything from spoons to Marie Antoinette's everyday wig. It is also the place where Grimm fairytale objects are stored, from seven-league boots to Snow White's stepmother's smirking mirror that talks in riddles and has a will of its own. However, when someone starts stealing all the magical objects, can Elizabeth and her new friends - the beautiful Indian 'princess' Anjali, super-cute basketball star Marc, and Aaron, the cute and funny, if snobby page - find out who it is?

"My favorite part has got to be when Elizabeth (shrunken by a shrink ray) falls to the ground right next to a huge rat and, to protect herself, she throws her iPod at it and totally missed. Then, she said, 'What a waste of an iPod.' I laughed my socks off!

"I would definitely give this book five big huge solid gold stars: two for the characters, two for the humor and one for the romance."

(Actual Rating: 2.5 stars)

After reading this book, I fear that I am becoming a bit of a reading snob. You see, two or three years ago, I might really have enjoyed The Grimm Legacy, whatever issues I may have had while reading it. I like to think myself fair when I spot flaws in a book. Some flaws I can shrug off and forget; others I can't. Unfortunately, The Grimm Legacy's flaws fall into the latter. This isn't a horrible book by any means, but it really felt to me as though it could have been so much more than it was.

In The Grimm Legacy, Elizabeth Rew receives a school assignment to do a research paper for her history class, and her topic of choice is to write about the historical details to be found about the Brothers Grimm and their fairy tales, which she loved as a child. Her efforts earn her a good grade and a special offer from her history teacher: a potential job at a repository which deals in lending out more than just books but objects as well. What kind of objects? Ones of practical, historical, and sometimes even magical importance.

Sounds intriguing, right? Yes, well...as much as I love the idea of a "place to borrow objects of magic," I don't think the full potential of the idea was reached. The word magic alone brings to mind so much possibility that you, as a reader, know that you're practically guaranteed a treat when it's used in a story. But The Grimm Legacy took all that potential and wasted it, squandered it, threw it to the wind. I couldn't help but feel that the magic here was paltry and insignificant, two adjectives I would never normally use when describing magic. Could description have helped in such instances, to breathe magic back into the magic-centric scenes and make them feel less mundane? Yes. And I think that was my problem overall with this book: I felt an overabundance of telling and a definite lack of showing.

The telling/showing issue didn't only affect the aspects of magic in the plot: it affected all the characters too. I was told enough about them (mostly about their beauty or handsomeness, especially in regards to the characters of Anjali and Marc respectively), but I never felt as if I knew them. At best, I had a vague idea about them and what they wanted and what they feared, but did I see or, even better, feel any of it? Not really.

The greatest weakness of the story, however, was undoubtedly the simple plot which held the idea of a climax and resolution but never really delivered much on drawing me into it. I couldn't help but feel that I'd read something half-baked, taken out of the writing oven before it had a proper chance to rise and become a delectable tale. And that's a shame since the story held good ideas but didn't contain the execution it deserved.

I can't recommend The Grimm Legacy, but I do recommend that people read the original Grimm Brothers' fairy tales. Some are rife with horror, intriguing concepts, double meanings, underlying themes, and other things to ensnare the imagination. That's all I ask from any book, really: to ensnare my imagination and never let it go. That's the kind of story I wish The Grimm Legacy had offered me but, alas, it was not meant to be.

The entire concept of The Grimm Legacy is just perfect, and really fun. As a big fan of the original Grimm fairy tales and fairy tale re-tellings (especially of the somewhat darker and gritter hue), you just couldn't go wrong with something like this. Let me just start out with review by saying: if you enjoy any of the above types of books, then you should read Grimm Legacy it completely delivers.

Elizabeth has a new job at a strange library, complete with an exclusive collection of very special artifacts. Not just any artifacts, but special items (real ones) from various Grimm's fairy tales, including the wicked queen's mirror from Snow White, puss in boots' actual boots, and a number of other items believed to only exist in fairy tales. And it's Elizabeth's job to protect the items, until they are stolen.

The perfect blend of magic, romance and twisty plot development, Grimm Legacy is a well-written and fun book that had me involved from beginning to end. As a big library patron, I particularly enjoyed the library aspect of the book, and had a great time with the magical overtones and sweet, fairy tale-like romance.

A great book, I'd recommend Grimm Legacy to legions of fairy tale fans everywhere.

I loved this book. It was a fun, original read from start to finish with a cute romance and delightful characters. Elizabeth is a strong, clever girl with a great attitude towards magic. I love how ready she is to believe in its existence and respects the dangers of meddling with such power even as she wants to try everything out.
The secondary characters were great. There is Marc, the handsome school jock who loves his little brother. There is the lovely Anjali who's little sister drives absolutely nuts. And then there is Aaron, who has an unrequited crush on Anjali, or does he? As for the siblings mentioned above, Polly Shulman portrays how irritating and lovable one's brothers and sisters can be.

I love the idea of the Repository. To think that tucked away in some corner of a vast library are things like the mirror from Snow White and the Time Machine as written by H.G. Wells is fantastic! I am a teenager starting to think about a first job, and after reading this I really want to work in the Repository.

The plot was good if a little confusing at times with twists and turns but nothing truly surprising, but mostly it was the characters and setting that made the book so much fun. I have handed this book off to both of my sisters and I am sure they will enjoy it as much as I did.