The Grimm Legacy

By: Polly Shulman

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

Elizabeth has just started working as a page at the New York Circulating Material Repository - a lending library of objects, contemporary and historical, common and obscure. And secret, too - for in the repository's basement lies the Grimm Collection, a room of magical items straight from the Grimm Brother's fairy tales. But the magic mirrors and seven-league boots and other items are starting to disappear. And before she knows it, she and her fellow pages - handsome Marc, perfect Anjali, and brooding Aaron - are suddenly caught up in an exciting, and dangerous, magical adventure.

very enjoyable

I liked it. alot. great find. I liked how the birds name was Polly as so is the writers. clever.

Slow start, but worth it

I read lots of YA books. It seemed that this one had a very interesting premise, but that it took a long time to lay the foundation. Once the foundation was laid, it was a great story! I think middle grade readers will really enjoy it.

More suited for the Harry Potter crowd.

This book was okay to listen to while I worked, but I think the younger crowd that enjoys Harry Potter would find this more enjoyable than I.

Grimm's Fairy Tales

Grimm's Fairy Tales are some of my most favorite stories every. I really enjoyed this book. I almost wish I could work in the Depository too. I actually work in a library at school. It's magical, but not in the same way as the Depository. I love working in the stacks the most.

Fairy tale objects are real in modern Manhattan

A fun YA Contemporary Fantasy that incorporates Fairy Tales without being a straight forward retelling.

BOOK DETAILS:
The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman, read by Julia Whelan, published by Random House Audio (2012) / Length: 9 hrs 40 min

SERIES INFO:
This is Book #1 of 3 (so far). All 3 are available on audio.

SUMMARY:
I've read a lot of modern fairy tale retellings, this isn't strictly one of those. Although Elizabeth's life has elements of Cinderella (she even ends up with a single shoe on at one point), this isn't a Cinderella story. Instead it is a book that asks, "What if the magical objects from fairy tales were real and you could borrow them?"

Elizabeth is a genuinely kind person who wants to do what's right but isn't always sure what that is.

I am marking this with a Diversity tag, even though Elizabeth is white, since Mark is African American and Anjali's Indian (the South Asian kind).

Note: Audible has this categorized has a middle grade, which is incorrect; it is YA.

CHARACTERS:
Elizabeth: Her mother is dead and she is caught in a classic Cinderella situation with a neglectful father, less than loving step-mother, and 2 nasty step-sisters. She is also unpopular at school since she stood up for a girl who was being picked on. Fairy tales are important to her because they were something she shared with her mother. She has a bit of a crush on Mark.

The other 3 pages (i.e library interns) are Mark, a high school basketball champion struggling to juggle his own life & heavy family responsibilities; Anjali, who is hiding her relationship with Mark since she is sure her traditional parents would object to her dating a non-Indian; and Aaron, who has a crush on Anjali.

Note: I didn't like Anjali's younger sister Jaya (probably because I have many formerly annoying younger siblings myself) but did really like Mark's baby brother Andre. This actually was predictive of the fact that I didn't like Book #2 which featured Jaya, but did really like #3 with Andre.

WORLDBUILDING:
The book takes place in our world, except that fictional items can be real. The Grimm Legacy isn't the only "special collection" at the Repository. The Wells Bequest of Science Fiction items (which is the focus of the next book) is briefly introduced, as are a couple of others.

I was disturbed by the fact that they are still allowing people to promise things like their first born child. I know that this is fairy tales in modern time, but surely that's going too far.

PLOT:
Starts with the classic fairy tale episode of encountering a strange and needy old woman in the woods, but transposed to NYC.

Although there are more books in this series, there is no cliffhanger despite a few unresolved issues.

HIGHLIGHTS / CAUTIONS:
--Elizabeth meets Mark's mini-me little brother Andre, who adorably pronounces her name "Libbet" (the only nickname she doesn't object to).

--The magic carpet ride to the Cloisters.

I COULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT: The too typical situation where the main characters throw themselves into danger without any consideration, allow themselves to be manipulated by an obviously evil person, and refuse to consult the wise adults in their lives.

NARRATION:
Character voices differentiated = yes, does a really good little kid voice / Opposite sex voices acceptable = yes / Accents good = yes (reels off a bunch of German that sounded good to me) / Phrasing, Pacing & Pronunciation = Good / Emoting = Good / Speed = listened on 1.25, my usual