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Into the Woods
by
Lyn Gardner,
Mini Grey
Storm, Aurora, and Anything Eden live in a decaying mansion on the edge of the wilds with their erstwhile father and indolent mother. When an accident leaves them orphaned and at the mercy of the sinister Dr. DeWilde, these three courageous and eccentric sisters are forced to flee into the woods, where they encounter kidnappers, sweet-filled orphanages, mountains of ice, d...more
ebook, 488 pages
Published
December 24th 2008
by David Fickling Books
(first published August 31st 2006)
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Another reviewer described this book as slightly manic and I would have to agree with that assessment of the pacing. Once it gets going they are facing death over and over and over with no breathing room, lots of terror and tears and it is a bit exhausting. The plot conflicts are aided by the main character's sharp perception or unbelievable obtuseness. The difficulties and plot progressions were too easy and too hard to overcome at the same time and it just didn't work for me. And then after th...more
Wild! This is a fractured fairy tale -- it's actually several fairy tales fractured and pieced together. Sounds a bit like Frankenstein, doesn't it? The Eden sisters, Aurora, Storm and Any, live on a run-down estate at the edge of their village, which is in the middle of a rat infestation. The mysterious and scary Dr. DeWilde appears, surrounded by drooling and snapping wolves, and promisese to handle the rat problem -- but the town MUST pay wht he asks. What does he want? Children! He also wan...more
Gardner effectively creates a gothic, fairy tale like world full of familiar, yet re-imagined, characters. Dr. DeWilde is the Pied Piper, hired by the townsfolk to rid the village of rats. He seeks a magic pipe that will give him the power to do more evil in the world. Aurora, Storm, and Any are three sisters forced to run from their home. The three are chased into the forest by Dr. DeWilde and his wolves. Aurora, the eldest, likes to keep things in order. The middle sister, Storm, is a reckless...more
Found this at the library withdraw stand for .50c. Book in great condition and started reading on the bus on Friday. Finished it this morning. Awesome. It was classified as a junior kids read but could easily been a Teens section book.
Take a family in a fairy tale world where many of the classic fairy tale stories all collide together. You have the family: Mum who was stuck in a tower and got rescued by Dad, and their 2 children. Eldest daughter, Aurora, has been fortold will prick her finger wh...more
Take a family in a fairy tale world where many of the classic fairy tale stories all collide together. You have the family: Mum who was stuck in a tower and got rescued by Dad, and their 2 children. Eldest daughter, Aurora, has been fortold will prick her finger wh...more
Apr 25, 2010
Laura
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mg-and-ya-modern-folk-tales-fairy-t
A little bit of Rapunzel, a pinch of Sleeping Beauty, hints of the Snow Queen, and a chapter or two of Hansel and Gretel are wrapped up in the Pied Piper of Hamlin to create this original tale of three sisters: Aurora, Storm, and Anything Eden. When their mother dies and their father abandons them, they must fend for themselves. This is no easy feat when the creepy exterminator, Dr. DeWilde, and his wolves are after them and the old tin pipe that their mother left them. The black and white illus...more
May 30, 2012
Natalie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Hardcore fairytale enthusiasts, fans of sisterly novels that aren't about pants
Into the Woods is a fairytale mashup of mainly a feminist take on The Pied Piper, but with also The Snow Queen, Hansel and Gretel and Red Riding Hood.
I originally wrote a very long and winding review about this, then realized I was putting way too much analyzation into a simple children's book.
Or maybe not: much of the action and goriness (thankfully mainly unDisneyfied and mainly true to Anderson/Grimm work) seems too graphic or just inappropriate for younger children. Topics like cannibalism,...more
I originally wrote a very long and winding review about this, then realized I was putting way too much analyzation into a simple children's book.
Or maybe not: much of the action and goriness (thankfully mainly unDisneyfied and mainly true to Anderson/Grimm work) seems too graphic or just inappropriate for younger children. Topics like cannibalism,...more
It's not a perfect book, but for someone who's soaked in fairy tales like I've become it's a fun read and an entertaining adventure. My wife, our 5-year-old daughter and I read the whole thing aloud, and they couldn't get enough of it. I was not quite so entranced, but didn't mind it at all. Gardner's writing isn't quite as lyrical as she seems to try to make it, and is at its best when more straight-forward. The illustrations by Mini Grey are minimal and appropriate, hearkening to Brett Helquis...more
I enjoy reading "juvenile" books and this is probably one of those books that I loved more because the plot stuck to being "for kids". Imagine a story created with twists from Grimm's fairy tales. I had fun guessing from which fairy tale this character or this scene came from. The main character even reminded me of Neil Gaiman's Nobody (from "The Graveyard Book") and Coraline. I can also picture myself reading it to children who have a penchant for scary stories with moral lessons in the end. It...more
I enjoyed this one as a light read. I consider this book for the 12-year-old set and as such I look forward to reading it to/with my son and the enjoyment *he* will probably get out piecing together the "real" fairy tales with the re-workings of them in the story.
I will say I thought the re-workings were well done. This wasn't a case of fairy tale "name dropping" a la The Woodcutter but an actual "re-write" of some classic characters (giving them different motivations, backgrounds, etc.).
I would...more
I will say I thought the re-workings were well done. This wasn't a case of fairy tale "name dropping" a la The Woodcutter but an actual "re-write" of some classic characters (giving them different motivations, backgrounds, etc.).
I would...more
An incredible twist on quite a few well-known fairy tales, this book is one of my personal favorites. After their mother dies and their father refuses to do much but weep in his room, the three sisters Aurora, Storm, and Anything must fend for themselves. Little do they know that soon they will have to defend themselves against wolves, an orphanage that's too sweet to be true, an ogress with a taste for games, and the so called exterminator Dr. DeWilde, who can't wait to get his hands on the thr...more
I was drawn to this book by the title...I saw it in the YA section of the library and wondered if it was the same as the broadway play which I've always thought of seeing. It has nothing to do with the play that I could see aside from the fact that they're both mixtures of several fairy tales. I thought this book and the sequel (Out of the Woods) wer very clever the way so many fairy tales were woven into a seamless story. It was also hard to put down, but that may be because it's been a while s...more
As a kids book, it was funny. I thought as a writer, Lyn Gardner may do better as the theater critic she once was. It was a little choppy, and way too long. The characters could have been developed a little better. I'm sure my 10 year old daghter will enjoy it- we're going to read it together.
I thought it was the book the Broadway play was based on, but it wasn't. Lyn Gardner reviewed the play however. Did she steal the the title? When I read that, it bothered me a little. But that didn't stop...more
I thought it was the book the Broadway play was based on, but it wasn't. Lyn Gardner reviewed the play however. Did she steal the the title? When I read that, it bothered me a little. But that didn't stop...more
I have read Into the Woods I don't know how many times. If you are wondering what type of things I like in a book, read this one, it has it all!
The characters were realistic, and when they weren't, it was to be funny. The Main Characters were:
-Storm, the wildly reckless sister. If she wasn't there, the entire family would be safe, but then there would be no plot, which would have made it slightly boring but Lyn Gardner would have pulled it off.
-Aurora, arguably the most superlative sister in th...more
The characters were realistic, and when they weren't, it was to be funny. The Main Characters were:
-Storm, the wildly reckless sister. If she wasn't there, the entire family would be safe, but then there would be no plot, which would have made it slightly boring but Lyn Gardner would have pulled it off.
-Aurora, arguably the most superlative sister in th...more
Delightful and whimsical and fun. This story is like A Series of Unfortunate Events rolled into the Flavia De Luce books with a dash of the Grimms and Andersen. I laughed out loud several times, and continually found myself wondering what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the contrast between the two sisters, and especially liked sweet-but-wicked Mrs. Bumble (who owes something to Delores Umbridge but is still pleasantly horrifying in her own right).
Lyn Gardner understands that children have b...more
Lyn Gardner understands that children have b...more
dimensional plot. Really interesting twists making it suitable for slightly older readers. It was so much fun to put all the pieces together and guess the fairytale being depicted. Especially to guess which character is from which tale. To fully appreciate the nuances of the plot I think you need a good knowledge of traditional fairy-tales.
Vivid descriptions with the use of many adjectives in order to create a full picture (plus adding to the vocabulary). Rich and interesting characterisation sh...more
Vivid descriptions with the use of many adjectives in order to create a full picture (plus adding to the vocabulary). Rich and interesting characterisation sh...more
This was a pretty good book. I just don't understand why it has huge font, with tons of space. Those 2 things made it over 400 pages. If they're trying to force it into being a junior book, then the book length alone would be a huge deterrent for a young reader. I think they should have just had normal sized font and regular spacing, and had it be a YA book. The reading level is young adult and not junior anyway.
Sisters Storm and Aurora could not be more different. Aurora loves reorganizing the...more
Sisters Storm and Aurora could not be more different. Aurora loves reorganizing the...more
Sep 21, 2007
Susan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fairy tale fans, anyone who likes a good story
Shelves:
booktalkers
This book is so much fun! I loved figuring out the references to well-known fairy tales: Rapunzel, the Snow Queen, Hansel and Gretel, the Wild Swans--it is a good test of anyone's fairytale knowledge. It's the story of the Pied Piper that is featured most prominently. Storm Eden and her family: beautiful, industrious, elder sister Aurora, her charming but extremely laid-back (lazy) mother Zella, and her distracted father, Reggie, live in a big old house as eccentric as they are. Aurora is the ho...more
I read this book last year in the library and recently got it as a present from a friend. It is a good read. Filled with magic and things of fairytale. You can see the characters of this story evolve as the book goes on, the losses they experience and the adventure they take on. It's a wonderful book that I recommend to anyone. I would've given it 5 stars but because I felt the beginning dragged on a little I gave it 4 stars. Otherwise, a great read! I definitely recommend this book to read.
Into the Woods combines so many fun literary elements into one pie. Lively language, a fabulous protagonist, and an imaginative setting. Storm, our heroine, is an adventurous middle daughter who saves her part of the world from the pied piper's tune of leading children off to work in the mines. She's easy to like, being quite round and human, like most of the other characters... I especially love the gusto of the author, who was willing to portray Storm's sister as a girly-girl who finds pleasur...more
First, this is not the book based on the musical. I picked it up off the shelf at the library, because it had an interesting back cover. You never know what you'll get with random library picks, but I actually really liked this book. It did end up blending several fairy tales into one complicated story. It was smart, funny, and clever. Not exactly a quick read, at over 400 pages, but very entertaining. I recommend it the next time you need a lighthearted book.
I read this atleast four years ago, and I remember being intruiged by the idea of the boy with the one blue eye and the other green. Also the Piped Piper and the evil witch from the Gingerbread house must have been in there somewhere. I remember it was a semi-gothic take on many a common fairy tale. And I also rember I rather liked it. But I was pretty sure the cover was red...
This book was OK. I finished it mostly out of curiosity. I thought it had a strong start but then it just seemed slightly manic after that. I found the characters to stay too firmly in their roles, and not deviate from "who they were". I liked the fairytale references, but it just didn't work well for me. It was too long and too undeveloped. I thought this was a book for children but much of the content was too severe for a child. NOT my favorite.
Feb 08, 2011
Donquierafaber
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childrens-lit
This has nothing to do with the musical by Stephen Sondheim, which I mistook it for when I took it all the shelves, but it is an enjoyable story with a scrappy heroine that weaves elements of fairy tales into, but is for the most part much more realistic than most traditional fairy tales and does not rely heavily on them at all.
Delightful! Actually 4.5 stars from me. I especially love the wonderfully human sister relationships with a sprinkle of magic in this melding of various fairy tales. Also, this is a "girl power" book I can endorse. There is no perceptible agenda, just a simple recognition of different, equally strong ways of being feminine.
Jun 04, 2010
Kiirsi Hellewell
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Kiirsi by:
Found it on the library shelf
This book is a lot of fun. It's the story of Storm and her sisters Aurora and Anything and their strange journey through danger and fairy tales to rescue their sister Any and the townspeople from the mysterious and evil Piper. There's danger, excitement, and unexpected twists and turns...a fun read.
This is a great 8-12 year old girl read. It's the story of three sisters, the daughters of Rapunzel and Reggie, and their adventures after the death of their mother and the disappearance of their father. Several different fairy tales are woven into the story, most notably the Pied Piper, Hansel and Gretel and Sleeping Beauty (one of the sisters is named Aurora). Even though it is over 400 pages, it is not a difficult read at all and moves quite quickly. Illustrations thrown in here and there kee...more
A Fun fractured fairy tale where not everything is perfect but the sisters Love and protect each other no matter how much the people around them fail their expectations.
A story of 3 sisters Aurora, Storm and Any daughters of Rapunzel. Their adventures with the evil Dr. DeWilde (the pied piper).
A story of 3 sisters Aurora, Storm and Any daughters of Rapunzel. Their adventures with the evil Dr. DeWilde (the pied piper).
It didn't conclude the story at the expected spot, but it might have been trying to make a point: in an attempt to make the book "realistic," the author may have admitted the improbability of tidy endings.
Other than the slight pacing bump there, it's a good book.
Other than the slight pacing bump there, it's a good book.
Apr 19, 2012
Heather Kirkpatrick
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s
Very fun and creative! I thoroughly enjoyed this, and ignored chores to finish reading it! I want lewyn to read it, I think he would like it. It is a take on the pied piper story, with a little bit of sleeping beauty in it as well. Great young girl heroine!
If you have a soft spot for fairy tales, you will love this book. Aurora, Storm, and Any are three clever sisters on an adventure that takes them through a few very familiar fairy tale landscapes.
FYI, Into the Woods would make a great read aloud:)
FYI, Into the Woods would make a great read aloud:)
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Lyn Gardner was born in London. A theater critic for The Guardian, she goes to the theater five or six nights a week, which should leave no time for writing books at all. She and her two daughters have one venerable goldfish (there were two, but one came to a tragic end) and a horse—who is the most demanding, temperamental, and expensive member of the family.
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“There are few things more pleasurable than a cracking version of Hansel and Gretel and a good scab.”
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4 people liked it
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Sep 22, 2007 09:43am