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The Gnawer of Rocks
While everyone is busy preparing for the coming winter, two girls wander away from their camp, following a path of strange, beautiful stones. Each stone is lovelier than the last, and the trail leads them farther and farther away from camp. But what starts out as a peaceful afternoon on the land, quickly turns dangerous when the girls find themselves trapped in the cave of Mangittatuarjuk - the Gnawer of Rocks! Based on a traditional Inuit legend, this graphic novel introduces readers to a dark and twisted creature that haunts the Northern landscape and preys on unsuspecting children...
53 pages, Hardcover
Published October 16, 2017
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 4, 2018
This is more like a picture book than a graphic novel, and while it might be a bit scary for some middle schoolers, it's incredibly short. However, I'm not sure if we'd keep it for the middle schoolers--I read it in less than ten minutes and felt like the book was lacking substance. I like that it's based off of an actual Inuit story, and has some background and word pronunciation. The illustrations are also well done, and I particularly enjoyed how Mangittatuarjuk was drawn.
Two girls and wandering along the beach, each with a baby in tow, find numerous pretty rocks and continue collecting them until they find themselves at the entrance to a cave. Inside, the cave entrance closes and they are trapped. Wandering toward the light, they find the heads of many children who have disappeared. The children, in various states of decay, warn the girls to dig through the cave to escape. The Gnawer of Rocks appears from the shadows, and the girls trick her before escaping back to their village. Once there, they warn the men who come back with a plan to rid themselves of the child-thieving ogress.
Junior Library Guild pick for 2018
Two girls and wandering along the beach, each with a baby in tow, find numerous pretty rocks and continue collecting them until they find themselves at the entrance to a cave. Inside, the cave entrance closes and they are trapped. Wandering toward the light, they find the heads of many children who have disappeared. The children, in various states of decay, warn the girls to dig through the cave to escape. The Gnawer of Rocks appears from the shadows, and the girls trick her before escaping back to their village. Once there, they warn the men who come back with a plan to rid themselves of the child-thieving ogress.
Junior Library Guild pick for 2018
December 28, 2018
As winter approaches, the people in a seasonal Inuit hunting camp prepare for the cold, hard season ahead. Two girls, themselves caring for two younger children, wander out of camp one day, following a trail of beautiful rocks. When they enter a dark cave, and find themselves trapped by Mangittatuarjuk - an earth spirit who devours children and keeps their heads as trophies, this fearsome creature's name means "gnawer" in English - the girls must find a way to escape. Once they do, it falls to the hunters in camp to deal with this threat to their children, once and for all...
Like so many of the titles published by Inhabit Media, an Inuit-owned publisher located in Nunavut, The Gnawer of Rocks is a retelling of a traditional Inuit folktale. The story itself is quite frightening, something that seems to be the case with many traditional Inuit tales, from Kiviuq and the Mermaids to The Legend of the Fog (both also published by Inhabit Media). Louise Flaherty, who is apparently a co-founder of Inhabit Media, spins an engrossing tale here, and includes a glossary of Inuktitut words and an exploration of the meaning of the story at the rear of her book. Illustrator Jim Nelson delivers a chilling depiction of Mangittatuarjuk and her cave, matching the tone of the tale perfectly with his dark-toned artwork. Recommended to all young folklore lovers, especially if they enjoy scary stories, or have an interest in Inuit culture.
Like so many of the titles published by Inhabit Media, an Inuit-owned publisher located in Nunavut, The Gnawer of Rocks is a retelling of a traditional Inuit folktale. The story itself is quite frightening, something that seems to be the case with many traditional Inuit tales, from Kiviuq and the Mermaids to The Legend of the Fog (both also published by Inhabit Media). Louise Flaherty, who is apparently a co-founder of Inhabit Media, spins an engrossing tale here, and includes a glossary of Inuktitut words and an exploration of the meaning of the story at the rear of her book. Illustrator Jim Nelson delivers a chilling depiction of Mangittatuarjuk and her cave, matching the tone of the tale perfectly with his dark-toned artwork. Recommended to all young folklore lovers, especially if they enjoy scary stories, or have an interest in Inuit culture.
April 24, 2018
Based on a cautionary Inuit tale, this one features two girls who venture further home and safety than they planned to and find themselves in trouble. While the rest of their family makes winter preparations, they follow a path of stones to a cave. They become trapped inside, and discover the skulls and bones of many children who have been missing from their village. Although some of the heads' spirits try to warn them, they are too late to escape Mangittatuarjuk. One of the girls is a fast thinker and she challenges her to bite down upon a stone, and the girls manage to escape. Several hunters travel to the cave, and trick the old woman. The legend and the accompanying illustrations are pretty scary and likely to prevent most readers or hearers from going too far from home. I'd never heard this story before, and was pleased to have it told in this fashion.
April 25, 2018
Based on an Inuit legend, this illustrated story tells of a wicked magical creature who eats children. Parallels Hansel & Gretel. Gruesome illustrations will fascinate and horrify students in grades 4 and up. It may or may not be a bit much for younger children. One of the illustrations is of disembodied heads of children on a shelf in the Mangittatuarjuk's cave. The heads speak! Oh, boy!
November 7, 2019
There's not a single thing put out by this publishing company that I wouldn't recommend. Inuit tales, told by Inuit tellers, published by an Inuit owned company (illustrated by someone in Chicago, but hey, you can't win 'em all).
This one is English only (I very much enjoy the bilingual editions) but don't count that against it.
This one is English only (I very much enjoy the bilingual editions) but don't count that against it.
April 11, 2018
Graphic novel based on a traditional Inuit story. The illustrations are wonderfully illustrated and painted.
The story is an interesting one about an ancient land ogress who eats children (and rocks?).
I can't help but feel the storytelling here is lacking. Some things would be understood or given if I had the cultural background of the storyteller, but even beyond that, there seems to be something missing. We aren't told why the ogress is compelled to eat rocks, for example. And there are several loose ends--What were the shiny rocks? Did they rescue the remains of the children?
All in all, worth a read, but more could have been done with the storytelling. A note in the back of the book tells us why: the writer is also the owner of the publishing company that published the book, probably her own editor.
The story is an interesting one about an ancient land ogress who eats children (and rocks?).
I can't help but feel the storytelling here is lacking. Some things would be understood or given if I had the cultural background of the storyteller, but even beyond that, there seems to be something missing. We aren't told why the ogress is compelled to eat rocks, for example. And there are several loose ends--What were the shiny rocks? Did they rescue the remains of the children?
All in all, worth a read, but more could have been done with the storytelling. A note in the back of the book tells us why: the writer is also the owner of the publishing company that published the book, probably her own editor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 31, 2018mixed media of picture book and comic book format. Retelling of a traditional Inuit tale. A little dark and gruesome but these tales were intended to teach the young to be beware of dangers in the world.
March 20, 2018
This book is gonna be a weird fit in my library. It looks like a picture book from the cover, layout and size. It tries to be a graphic novel with a few frames and banners sprinkled every few pages...but also not shaped like a GN. It is appropriately gruesome and creepy that some of my readers would find it appealing, but it is shaped like a picture book (adolescent stigma)
It was super short, but it was an interesting retelling of an Inuit legend. I think it has the potential to have some strong boy-appeal...if I can get them to pick it up.
It was super short, but it was an interesting retelling of an Inuit legend. I think it has the potential to have some strong boy-appeal...if I can get them to pick it up.
November 30, 2017
This picture book is meant for an older audience. In graphic format readers are introduced to Mangittatuarjuk, a creature that has been haunting and killing children of the Arctic. When two girls stumble into her cave they must outwit her to survive. Upon returning home they tell their camp what has happened and a group of hunters set out to destroy her.
April 21, 2018
I agree with all those who are calling this Inuit tale a graphic novel/picture book hybrid. However, I disagree with anyone who feels that it doesn’t quite fit in their libraries collection. I guess if you are trying to create a homogeneous collection without diverse points of view or cultural stories then this book is not for you.
The graphic format makes it high interest. It is just scary/creepy enough to keep middle schoolers interested, but wouldn’t give MOST 3rd graders nightmares (considering what their terrible parents are letting them watch and play already). In addition it has the benefit of adding diversity to your folk tale collection, or to any part of the collection you choose to House it in. I felt the art alone earned this book 2-3 stars and the story gathered the rest.
Nice addition to an upper elementary and middle school collection.
The graphic format makes it high interest. It is just scary/creepy enough to keep middle schoolers interested, but wouldn’t give MOST 3rd graders nightmares (considering what their terrible parents are letting them watch and play already). In addition it has the benefit of adding diversity to your folk tale collection, or to any part of the collection you choose to House it in. I felt the art alone earned this book 2-3 stars and the story gathered the rest.
Nice addition to an upper elementary and middle school collection.
July 31, 2018
I read this to 4, 5, 6th graders today. I wanted to show them that pictures books are still for them. They didn't believe me at first, but I sold 'em.
Lots to talk about with this one.
Lots to talk about with this one.
March 17, 2018
Well that was a trip. THE GNAWER OF ROCKS is what would happen if a picture book and a graphic novel had a baby with a dash of R.L. Stine-esque horror thrown in. TGOR is an Inuit folktale retold from the author's memory of when she heard it from a storyteller. The story was eerie: two teen girls carrying babies are lured by this creeptastic creature that eats children. The two girls manage to escape by cleverly tricking the creature and then running back to their village to warn the hunters of this terrifying being. The illustrations were good (too good, I was super creeped out!) and the story was compelling. Also...I have to give props for the illustrator and people who bound this book together—the end papers feature a particularly sad (or menacing detail) detail from the story that readers will, ah, appreciate? recognize? once the story concludes.
Since this is a folktale meant to inspire children to listen to their grown-ups and stay close to home, it's supposedly geared towards younger children. But since the story is a little frightening, it'd probably find a better audience for children ages 10 and up. Your mileage may vary.
Since this is a folktale meant to inspire children to listen to their grown-ups and stay close to home, it's supposedly geared towards younger children. But since the story is a little frightening, it'd probably find a better audience for children ages 10 and up. Your mileage may vary.
March 14, 2018
An Inuit legend in graphic novel form! Two teenaged girls carrying babies on their backs take a walk. They find beautiful round stones, which lead them to an unfamiliar cave. When they enter, the entrance somehow closes behind them. First they find bones, and then find themselves in a room with shelves of skulls. One of the skulls says "Beware!" But before they can leave, before them appears the terrifying ancient land spirit Mangittatuarjuk, " the gnawer of bones." As she approaches, the girls must figure out a way to outwit her. This is a tale of clever kids outwitting a terrifying monster, a theme present in many cultures' folktales. It's great that readers can learn such a tale of the Inuit. The deep blues, browns and black of the palette perfectly suit the mood of the story. An author's note and glossary add interest. The endpapers have a repeating pattern of dead children's skulls - deliciously horrifying!
March 13, 2018
An Own Voices author discussing a story told to her that exemplifies the beauty of the spoken-word. Storytelling passed down by their ancestors and those that came to visit schools and share as they would in their homes from their grandparents and elders in the community, this is the story of an ogre woman who can gnaw rocks and captured little children that strayed too far from their parents. The heads were kept on shelves and anyone who wandered into her cave was captured, so two girls outwitted the woman to escape and then the men in the community rallied to stop the woman for good.
The illustrations are dark and haunting but keep the focus of the story aligned while a foreword and afterword explain the context of the story and storytelling as an art form and cultural preservation.
The illustrations are dark and haunting but keep the focus of the story aligned while a foreword and afterword explain the context of the story and storytelling as an art form and cultural preservation.
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February 15, 2018I'm finding this pretty impossible to rate. Personally, I love it because it is gruesome and creepy and amazing in only the way that longstanding 'warning' myths are. However, I wouldn't exactly recommend it for kids (unless the parent was specifically looking for something for a kid who likes creepy), and I wouldn't exactly bring it to storytime. 5 stars for me personally. I liked the art and was intensely creeped out!
March 20, 2018
Maybe because it's Walking Dead season my gore meter is more tolerant... but I totally dig this. A tough Inuit tale that kind of crosses the Adam Gidwitz line but isn't so appalling that it screams OMG PUT IT IN TEEN. It hangs out in the middle grade area because it's just a little gruesome. A good one to hand to a kid who can handle creepy stuff. There's a particular kid who peruses our juve graphic novels that I hope picks this up.
April 9, 2018
A quick read, this book straddles the line between graphic novel and picture book. Aspects of the story were a bit too scary to share with my 5 year old - but it would be an excellent read for an older child! I especially enjoyed how the book explains that the story is an Inuit legend and how it was passed down orally, and the reasons why it was used as a cautionary tale for Inuit children.
March 27, 2018
Interesting story and great illustrations.
April 8, 2022
As the author warns, this book is pretty gnarly. This isn't surprising to me though, as most fairy/folk tales are quite scary or gory, in order to prevent people (usually children) from doing something dangerous or wrong. This one is probably an admonition against wandering off on your own and going into random caves.
I love how creepy Inuit monsters are (especially the Qallupilluq), and I image they're so scary to me because a) I'm more used to western/European monsters and b) the things that the Inuit people need to warn their children of are just more terrifying to me. Being trapped under the ice sounds really really horrible.
This book definitely puts you in the creepy mood right from the start though - the endpapers are covered with the variously decomposing heads of children who have been kidnapped and decapitated by the Mangittatuarjuk:
I like the details about Mangittatuarjuk's viscera being so strong, and the way she is finally dispatched is pretty great/gory. Good for folks who are into body horror and folk tales!
I love how creepy Inuit monsters are (especially the Qallupilluq), and I image they're so scary to me because a) I'm more used to western/European monsters and b) the things that the Inuit people need to warn their children of are just more terrifying to me. Being trapped under the ice sounds really really horrible.
This book definitely puts you in the creepy mood right from the start though - the endpapers are covered with the variously decomposing heads of children who have been kidnapped and decapitated by the Mangittatuarjuk:
I like the details about Mangittatuarjuk's viscera being so strong, and the way she is finally dispatched is pretty great/gory. Good for folks who are into body horror and folk tales!
February 22, 2022
A traditional Inuit story, told in graphic novel format.
While out picking up smooth, shiny rocks one day, two teen girls are caught in the lair of Mangittatuarjuk, an ancient land spirit who gnawed on the bones of children. They use their wits and knowledge about her to escape.
Very dark and sinister, this is one scary story! It was told to children to ensure they didn't wander far from home (where they might encounter a polar bear or other dangerous animal). Minimal text allows the stunning illustrations to act out much of the danger and potential gore. Although this is the size/shape of a picture book, the use of frames throws it into graphic novels.
An intriguing short story to share with middle graders in a unit on Alaskan and Canadian indigenous peoples.
Recommended for grades 6-8.
While out picking up smooth, shiny rocks one day, two teen girls are caught in the lair of Mangittatuarjuk, an ancient land spirit who gnawed on the bones of children. They use their wits and knowledge about her to escape.
Very dark and sinister, this is one scary story! It was told to children to ensure they didn't wander far from home (where they might encounter a polar bear or other dangerous animal). Minimal text allows the stunning illustrations to act out much of the danger and potential gore. Although this is the size/shape of a picture book, the use of frames throws it into graphic novels.
An intriguing short story to share with middle graders in a unit on Alaskan and Canadian indigenous peoples.
Recommended for grades 6-8.
May 3, 2022
This book was horrifying! As it was meant to be.
A bedtime story for the children of the Inuit, it imparts the wisdom that you shouldn't wander too far afield as there are fates worse than death that may befall you.
If I knew this creature was waiting in the dark crevasses - I think I would have listened to my elders.
The illustrations are wonderful - moody and ethereal at the same time - they perfectly showcase the dark danger that awaits those who don't heed the warnings! The story has a perfectly gruesome ending for the magical entity - which is handled by the adults (0f course) - but it showcases the quick thinking of the two young heroes as they escape a desperate ending and alert their families of danger in their midst.
It's the perfect bedtime story!!!!!!
A bedtime story for the children of the Inuit, it imparts the wisdom that you shouldn't wander too far afield as there are fates worse than death that may befall you.
If I knew this creature was waiting in the dark crevasses - I think I would have listened to my elders.
The illustrations are wonderful - moody and ethereal at the same time - they perfectly showcase the dark danger that awaits those who don't heed the warnings! The story has a perfectly gruesome ending for the magical entity - which is handled by the adults (0f course) - but it showcases the quick thinking of the two young heroes as they escape a desperate ending and alert their families of danger in their midst.
It's the perfect bedtime story!!!!!!
April 2, 2024
A chilling tail with disturbing illustrations. In other words, it was lots of fun.
It seems to be a weird mix of graphic novel and easy reader, which made it a bit difficult as I was reading it to someone else. And the pronunciation guide was in the back when I would have appreciated it in the front.
All that aside, I enjoyed it.
It seems to be a weird mix of graphic novel and easy reader, which made it a bit difficult as I was reading it to someone else. And the pronunciation guide was in the back when I would have appreciated it in the front.
All that aside, I enjoyed it.
March 21, 2018
So happy to have stumbled upon this book that was sent to our school library from JLG. While oral storytelling tradition may we waning in modern communities, books like this help keep stories alive. Includes author's notes and a glossary of terms.
June 20, 2019
This is a graphic novel that retells the Inuit legend of the Gnawer of Rocks. It is a bit gruesome, and made me think of the boogeyman stories. Maybe this one is to keep children from wandering off and meeting this scary creature, which is what happens to the girls in this book.
July 22, 2023
I love this traditional Inuk tale re-told from childhood memory by storyteller Louise Flaherty. I love that this story would have been passed down through generations to encourage children to stay close to camp.
February 7, 2018
I was interested by the Gnawer Of Rocks and as I started to read it I realized I already heard this story. I enjoyed this story but the details were a bit unsettling.
March 26, 2018
Truly gruesome traditional tale. The author originally heard the story from an Inuk storyteller and wrote the book to keep its spirit (and the idea of storytelling) alive.
January 23, 2019
should've done a collection of stories.
August 22, 2020
Pretty intense for a children's story, but I enjoyed it. The illustrations are simple but good. Took all of five minutes to read. I mostly liked the comments of the author.
November 29, 2018
This graphic novel format is a gruesome, yet unique Inuktitut story from Canada.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews