Genre: Middle Grade
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 400
Published: March 8th, 2022
Rating: 4.5/5
Buy at: Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Add to Goodreads
Summary:
A fantasy about the power of generosity and love, and how a community suffers when they disappear.
Stone-in-the-Glen, once a lovely town, has fallen on hard times. Fires, floods, and other calamities have caused the people to lose their library, their school, their park, and even their neighborliness. The people put their faith in the Mayor, a dazzling fellow who promises he alone can help. After all, he is a famous dragon slayer. (At least, no one has seen a dragon in his presence.) Only the clever children of the Orphan House and the kindly Ogress at the edge of town can see how dire the town’s problems are.
Then one day a child goes missing from the Orphan House. At the Mayor’s suggestion, all eyes turn to the Ogress. The Orphans know this can’t be: the Ogress, along with a flock of excellent crows, secretly delivers gifts to the people of Stone-in-the-Glen.
But how can the Orphans tell the story of the Ogress’s goodness to people who refuse to listen? And how can they make their deluded neighbors see the real villain in their midst?
The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill #BookReview #TheOgressandtheOrphans @kellybarnhill @AlgonquinYR #BohoPonderings Share on X
Review:
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted”. That is the underlying theme of The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill. A charming middle-grade fairy tale from the author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon.
The stunning cover is a precursor to the beautiful story within. More akin to a fairy tale than a fantasy, the book includes everything – an ogress with a heart of gold, a bunch of children who want to set things right, dragons, talking crows, and a blind dog. And more importantly, books (a metaphor for knowledge) that save the day. The importance of stories and how they help build empathy.
Books flew out the melting windows like panicked birds, their wings bright and phosphorescent. They were beautiful for a moment, the town remembers, the way a heart is beautiful in the moment before it breaks.
The writing is lyrical, a rarity in children’s books. At the same time, it is relatively simpler keeping the target readers in mind. The book is narrated by a mysterious and omniscient narrator with a generous peppering of life lessons.
“The more you give, the more you have“. Often when it comes to philosophy and the importance of “being good”, middle-grade books tend to get preachy. This book is none of that. That coupled with the underlying social message is what makes it appeal to all age groups.
The book is so much more than a fairy tale about good versus evil. In a lot many ways, it is a reflection of the current times. The general lack of faith and hope. Cynical now more than ever. Stone-in-the-Glen could very well be our own city. The community our own neighborhood.
You cannot help but compare the mayor to the former US president. In fact, the state of the country at the time was what led the author to write the fairy tale. More as a way to heal herself than a full-fledged book.
This is an important book in this day and age. Although it is a bit too long considering that it is directed at children, it is a beautiful read nonetheless. I highly recommend you pick it up. As a gift for a young reader or for yourself.
The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill #BookReview #TheOgressandtheOrphans @kellybarnhill @AlgonquinYR @CindyAnnDSilva @nooranand @RREStudios @events_showcase #BlogaberryDazzle #BohoPonderings Share on X
About the Author
Kelly Barnhill lives in Minnesota with her husband and three children. She is the author of four novels, including The Girl Who Drank the Moon, winner of the 2017 John Newbery Medal. She is also the winner of the World Fantasy Award and has been a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award, a Nebula Award, and the PEN/USA literary prize.
Visit her online at kellybarnhill.com or on Twitter: @kellybarnhill.
I would like to thank Algonquin Books for providing a digital copy of the book for the blog tour. All opinions are my own.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva andNoor Anand Chawla in collaboration with RRE Studios and ShowCase Events.
March 9, 2022 @ 12:25 pm
Seems interesting, and yes, I agree regarding the length of the novel. 400 pages is a bit too much for many middle-grade readers.
March 9, 2022 @ 10:45 pm
It is definitely worth a read. Thanks for stopping by. 😊
March 10, 2022 @ 10:14 pm
Such a lovely and pertinent theme. My daughter will love this one.
May 16, 2022 @ 10:54 am
I hope she enjoys it Sonia 😊
March 12, 2022 @ 11:31 am
I wish my elder daughter would read this lovely story…even I am tempted and what a nice review uv written. but the # of pages is too much for my non reader kid.
May 16, 2022 @ 10:56 am
Thank you Kaveri 😊. I agree it is a bit too long for kids.
March 12, 2022 @ 12:20 pm
The story and the book sounds like so much fun and much to learn from as well. Getting it for my kids, thanks for the review.
May 16, 2022 @ 10:57 am
Thank you Zenobia. 😊 I hope they enjoy it.
March 12, 2022 @ 3:45 pm
This sounds fun! will get it for my niece
May 16, 2022 @ 10:58 am
Thank you Vidhya 😊
March 12, 2022 @ 4:22 pm
That’s a great cover, and your synopsis tells me that it has a story to match. Going to gift this book to my twin nieces, thankfully both love reading. Would love for them to read it and them we three could discuss it. Thanks for the recco, Ritu.
May 16, 2022 @ 11:01 am
It is such a striking cover, Mayuri. 😊 I hope your nieces enjoy it.
March 12, 2022 @ 9:06 pm
Such a beautiful story with a morale. It is a perfect book for children to learn about kindness. Great review!
May 16, 2022 @ 11:01 am
Thank you Shail 😊
March 13, 2022 @ 12:55 am
I read a lot fantasy fiction for the young though I will soon turn 44 😉
Going by your lovely review Iam sure I will enjoy this. Infact my first book was an Enid Blyton at the age of 6-7 years I think and I still own a few of these books that I go to from time to time.
March 13, 2022 @ 5:01 am
The story reminds me of kids time, definitely sounds interesting
March 13, 2022 @ 12:20 pm
I am not a book reader and 400 pages is too much for me. But i really liked ur review and the main motto that no act of kindness is ever wasted
March 13, 2022 @ 2:57 pm
I am going to pick this book for my daughter. She can read this during her vacation. It’s long but sounds really interesting.
March 13, 2022 @ 3:46 pm
The book’s premise is different and that shows from the lovely cover itself. Why just kids, empathy and kindness and virtues we all need right now. Will get this for my daughter. Thanks for the great review!
March 13, 2022 @ 3:47 pm
This book looks so cute and interesting- gives me Potter vibes- will def pick it up for my younger family members
March 13, 2022 @ 5:00 pm
I like fairy tales and this really sounds like do good and goodness comes back to you kind. We judge people too fast. Just because she is an ogress she is labelled as evil. Your review gives full insight of the gist of the book, Ritu. Very well written.
March 13, 2022 @ 5:01 pm
I really liked the concept of the book. Teaching good values without being preachy. I will read it soon.
March 13, 2022 @ 7:31 pm
The book seems to be an interesting read. I would love to buy and read it.
March 13, 2022 @ 7:32 pm
Sounds like a sweet and delightful read – I’m sure to recommend it to my nieces and newphews!
March 13, 2022 @ 7:32 pm
Sounds like a sweet and delightful read – I’m sure to recommend it to my nieces and nephews!
March 13, 2022 @ 8:11 pm
400 pages…. Ok. Although it is lengthy but the book is cute. But not all middle grade readers will go for it due to the length.
March 14, 2022 @ 12:50 am
Wow what a wonderful plot. I. Think. I might pick this up myself. In love with the cover.
March 14, 2022 @ 7:05 pm
This book looks interesting and the picture is so eye catchy.
March 14, 2022 @ 10:19 pm
Its just been recent that my elder one is into books and I am trying out different type of books with her. this would be one of the book i could get her,
March 15, 2022 @ 4:58 am
I will get this books for my daughter. It is important that they know the importance of kindness, even if it is through fantasy books.
March 16, 2022 @ 4:00 pm
This seems to be a beautiful book so I am adding this to our read aloud, story time so that kids don’t get bored and enjoy reading and complete the book.🙂
May 2, 2022 @ 7:28 pm
The cover is indeed lovely and so is your heartfelt review.
May 16, 2022 @ 10:55 am
I hope she enjoys it Sonia 😊
May 22, 2022 @ 8:28 pm
Sounds like a great book to gift my niece. I do like the underlying theme of kindness incorporated in it.