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(Fairly) True Tales Series
Grump: The (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
From the New York Times bestselling author of Rump, comes the true story behind another unlikely hero: a grumpy dwarf who gets tangled up in Snow White's feud with the wicked queen.
Ever since he was a dwarfling, Borlen (nicknamed "Grump") has dreamed of visiting The Surface, so when opportunity knocks, he leaves his cavern home behind.
At first, life aboveground is a dream come true. Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L.) is the best friend Grump always wanted, feeding him all the rubies he can eat and allowing him to rule at her side in exchange for magic and information. But as time goes on, Grump starts to suspect that Queen E.V.I.L. may not be as nice as she seems. . . .
When the queen commands him to carry out a horrible task against her stepdaughter Snow White, Grump is in over his head. He's bound by magic to help the queen, but also to protect Snow White. As if that wasn't stressful enough, the queen keeps bugging him for updates through her magic mirror! He'll have to dig deep to find a way out of this pickle, and that's enough to make any dwarf Grumpy indeed.
Ever since he was a dwarfling, Borlen (nicknamed "Grump") has dreamed of visiting The Surface, so when opportunity knocks, he leaves his cavern home behind.
At first, life aboveground is a dream come true. Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L.) is the best friend Grump always wanted, feeding him all the rubies he can eat and allowing him to rule at her side in exchange for magic and information. But as time goes on, Grump starts to suspect that Queen E.V.I.L. may not be as nice as she seems. . . .
When the queen commands him to carry out a horrible task against her stepdaughter Snow White, Grump is in over his head. He's bound by magic to help the queen, but also to protect Snow White. As if that wasn't stressful enough, the queen keeps bugging him for updates through her magic mirror! He'll have to dig deep to find a way out of this pickle, and that's enough to make any dwarf Grumpy indeed.
295 pages, Hardcover
First published May 29, 2018
About the author
Liesl Shurtliff
15 books682 followersLiesl Shurtliff is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of books for young readers. Her books include RUMP, JACK, RED, and GRUMP, all part of the (Fairly) True Tales series from Knopf/Random House, and the TIME CASTAWAYS trilogy from Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins.
Liesl was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the mountains for her playground. Before she became a writer, Liesl graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in music, dance, and theater. She now lives in Chicago with her husband and four children. Visit her online at www.lieslshurtliff.com and @lieslshurtliff everywhere.
Liesl was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the mountains for her playground. Before she became a writer, Liesl graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in music, dance, and theater. She now lives in Chicago with her husband and four children. Visit her online at www.lieslshurtliff.com and @lieslshurtliff everywhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
May 9, 2018
Grump: The (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Liesl Shurtliff is a middle grade fantasy retelling of the classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. The story brings to light the saying of there’s three versions of every story, his, hers and the truth. This is Grump’s truth of what really happened.
Dwarves are generally born deep underground and feed upon the rare gems that they mine beneath the earth. However, when it was time for Borlen to enter the world his parents were close to the surface due to a collapse so along he came away from the normal depths for a dwarfling. This closeness to the surface became an obsession with the little guy as he grew with a crazy fear of the depths that the other dwarves enjoyed.
When Borlen got older his parents worried about his fitting in with those of his kind so they pushed for him to join a mining crew early. As Borlen took his place with six other dwarves on the crew he gained the nickname Grump due to his distaste of the job. His obsession with the surface only continued regardless though and one day Grump found his way to the top….
Grump was such a cute little version of the classic story from start to finish. You have the basic events that we all have known and loved all happen from a totally different prospective giving the story a whole new feel. Apparently the author has several other books done in this manor that I will definitely have to check out after enjoying this grumpy little gem of a story. A fun and fantastic twist to Snow White that I definitely recommend to all ages.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Dwarves are generally born deep underground and feed upon the rare gems that they mine beneath the earth. However, when it was time for Borlen to enter the world his parents were close to the surface due to a collapse so along he came away from the normal depths for a dwarfling. This closeness to the surface became an obsession with the little guy as he grew with a crazy fear of the depths that the other dwarves enjoyed.
When Borlen got older his parents worried about his fitting in with those of his kind so they pushed for him to join a mining crew early. As Borlen took his place with six other dwarves on the crew he gained the nickname Grump due to his distaste of the job. His obsession with the surface only continued regardless though and one day Grump found his way to the top….
Grump was such a cute little version of the classic story from start to finish. You have the basic events that we all have known and loved all happen from a totally different prospective giving the story a whole new feel. Apparently the author has several other books done in this manor that I will definitely have to check out after enjoying this grumpy little gem of a story. A fun and fantastic twist to Snow White that I definitely recommend to all ages.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
September 28, 2018
Grump: The (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
by Liesl Shurtliff is an audible book I got from the library. It is probably a kids book but I enjoyed it just the same. It has the Grump the main character in a revised story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. It is very clever and not much in common with the original story, just the basics. I like this one a lot more! It makes more sense too! Lol! The narration is great also! A great story for all ages. I normally can't stand remakes but this was really good!
by Liesl Shurtliff is an audible book I got from the library. It is probably a kids book but I enjoyed it just the same. It has the Grump the main character in a revised story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. It is very clever and not much in common with the original story, just the basics. I like this one a lot more! It makes more sense too! Lol! The narration is great also! A great story for all ages. I normally can't stand remakes but this was really good!
March 6, 2020
Pamuk Prenses hiçbir zaman favorim olmamıştır ama cücelerin bakış açısı ve yazarın masala kattığı zekice yeniliklerle kurguyu sevdim. Yazar, mekan yaratma ve küçük detayları birbirine bağlama konusunda gerçekten çok iyi.
August 18, 2018
This was a very cute retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, but this is the story of Grump's part in all of this. I really enjoyed reading this with my son. I like that it shows a different perspective.
July 7, 2018
This was so whimsical and adorable! A unique, lighthearted retelling of Snow White. Perfect for when you want something lighter and less intense, but still engaging. I loved this!
January 16, 2018
Liesl Shurtliff is one of my bosses FAVORITE fairytale-esque authors. I mentioned to her, once, that I loved Rumpelstiltskin and wanted to read more retellings of it, and she shoved Rump in my hands. At the time, I didn't want to read it, and forgot about it for a little, until I heard about Grump and laughed. When Grump became available to request, I got excited, and requested it, lo and behold, I got it, and I must say that I loved it.
Being born too close to The Surface has it's problems for dwarves. Borlen has depth sickness and longs to explore The Surface, which made his life in the mines difficult. He kept sneaking out, trying to escape and worrying his mother. When he finally had the chance to see The Surface, he didn't look back - until his presence made life for one particular human difficult and she grabbed him by the beard and commanded he protect her. On his journey, he makes countless mistakes, like magicking a mirror so he felt useful, eating every ruby in sight (they were his favorite) even if it caused trouble, and being just, such a Grump!
I really enjoyed how Liesl made this story into something new and fun, while keeping the original story completely in tact. All of the links made the story so fun to read!
I will definite be picking up the other 3 fairytale novels that Liesl has written, and I recommend that everyone do the same. You won't want to miss this!
Being born too close to The Surface has it's problems for dwarves. Borlen has depth sickness and longs to explore The Surface, which made his life in the mines difficult. He kept sneaking out, trying to escape and worrying his mother. When he finally had the chance to see The Surface, he didn't look back - until his presence made life for one particular human difficult and she grabbed him by the beard and commanded he protect her. On his journey, he makes countless mistakes, like magicking a mirror so he felt useful, eating every ruby in sight (they were his favorite) even if it caused trouble, and being just, such a Grump!
I really enjoyed how Liesl made this story into something new and fun, while keeping the original story completely in tact. All of the links made the story so fun to read!
I will definite be picking up the other 3 fairytale novels that Liesl has written, and I recommend that everyone do the same. You won't want to miss this!
February 15, 2018
Interest Level: 3-6
Did you think that fractured fairy tales were only for picture books? Well then think again! Liesl Shurtliff has spun an incredible story around a classic fairy tale. From the day Borlen (nicknamed Grump) was born he was never like the other dwarves. Because of unusual circumstances, he was born near the surface instead of deep within the earth. Borlen has never fit in the other dwarves and he actually gets sick when he has to go to work deep in the mines. His dream is to one day go to the surface and see what is above the dirt, but this is forbidden. Then one day Borlen got his chance to go to the surface and his life would never be the same again. He becomes "friends" with the evil queen and his life is wonderful until she tricks him and everything goes down from there. Will Grump do what is right and help save Snow White or is he bound by the queen to carry out her vengeance? This is a must read for anyone who is a Disney fan, a fairy tale fan, or just anyone who loves a great book!
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Did you think that fractured fairy tales were only for picture books? Well then think again! Liesl Shurtliff has spun an incredible story around a classic fairy tale. From the day Borlen (nicknamed Grump) was born he was never like the other dwarves. Because of unusual circumstances, he was born near the surface instead of deep within the earth. Borlen has never fit in the other dwarves and he actually gets sick when he has to go to work deep in the mines. His dream is to one day go to the surface and see what is above the dirt, but this is forbidden. Then one day Borlen got his chance to go to the surface and his life would never be the same again. He becomes "friends" with the evil queen and his life is wonderful until she tricks him and everything goes down from there. Will Grump do what is right and help save Snow White or is he bound by the queen to carry out her vengeance? This is a must read for anyone who is a Disney fan, a fairy tale fan, or just anyone who loves a great book!
Follow me:
Facebook - Laurie’s Library Place - https://www.facebook.com/LauriesLibra...
Instagram - laurieslibrary - https://www.instagram.com/laurieslibr...
Twitter - https://twitter.com/lauriepurser27
Goodreads - Laurie Purser - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
Blog - Blazer Tales - https://blazertales.weebly.com/
May 26, 2018
I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for this review. This middle grade fantasy novel is the latest in a series of books giving the back story of some of our favorite fairy tales: Rump – The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin, Jack – The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk, and Red – The True Story of Little Red Riding Hood. And once again, I loved it!
Shurtliff expertly freshens and livens up the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by giving us the back story of how Borlen (Grump) comes into the world of Snow White and gets involved in the conflict between the evil queen and the sweet princess. While this book is part of an awesome series, it stands by itself and is enjoyable even if you haven't read the other titles. The fifth-grade students I taught loved these books and they didn’t sit on the shelf for very long!
I know that this will be a very popular book among middle grade readers. The story is engaging and suspenseful, even to those who think they know what will happen because of the classic fairy tale. There is danger and violence, but they are appropriate to the story and not over-the-top. I also think there are some good take-away messages for young readers about friendship, loyalty, and true love. I also like the lesson about reflections: whatever you put out to the world is what will come back to you.
Shurtliff expertly freshens and livens up the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by giving us the back story of how Borlen (Grump) comes into the world of Snow White and gets involved in the conflict between the evil queen and the sweet princess. While this book is part of an awesome series, it stands by itself and is enjoyable even if you haven't read the other titles. The fifth-grade students I taught loved these books and they didn’t sit on the shelf for very long!
I know that this will be a very popular book among middle grade readers. The story is engaging and suspenseful, even to those who think they know what will happen because of the classic fairy tale. There is danger and violence, but they are appropriate to the story and not over-the-top. I also think there are some good take-away messages for young readers about friendship, loyalty, and true love. I also like the lesson about reflections: whatever you put out to the world is what will come back to you.
May 18, 2018
I absolutely love a fairy tale retelling, and one from Liesl Shurtliff makes me love them even more! I have adored every book she has written. Liesl writes her characters perfectly and every one is unique and fun. Grump was especially fun. It was written on "Grumpy's" point of view. I loved everything about Borlen AKA Grump. Borlen is a unique dwarf, he doesn't enjoy being underground and is fascinated by The Surface. All the dwarfs think he is strange, but his parents never give up their dream of him being on a digging team. Borlen is assigned to a team as the Seventh, and ends up on an adventure that has him entangled with the "E.V.I.L" Queen and Snow White herself. I loved Borlen's and Snow White's interactions. As always, Liesl adds her own wonderfully clever and entertaining twists to a classic tale and gives it a fanciful magic of its own.
November 18, 2021
I just love this! What an incredible and unique take on the Snow White fairytale!
Told from the perspective of a dwarf who is the equivalent of Grumpy, this story is filled with humor and magic. Perhaps one of the most poignant Snow White retellings I’ve ever read!
Grump is definitely worth picking up!
Told from the perspective of a dwarf who is the equivalent of Grumpy, this story is filled with humor and magic. Perhaps one of the most poignant Snow White retellings I’ve ever read!
Grump is definitely worth picking up!
February 23, 2021
Fun read with the kids.
March 26, 2021
Very much enjoyed listening to this one with my son - the narrator was terrific!! Fun story!!!
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
May 1, 2023dnf at 25%
Will probably visit again when I’m less busy
Will probably visit again when I’m less busy
December 30, 2017
I love this book! This is a fun to read reimagninging of the dwarves who protected Snow White, particularly the one known as Grumpy. While she does make an appearance, Snow White is a minor character in this tale. Instead we follow the life of Borlen (aka Grumpy) as he struggles between his curiosity about the surface and his obligations below ground. Through the process we learn about dwarf culture, relationships, and even cuisine. I enjoyed this story so much that I booktalked the author's earlier works to my 5th grade students since they can't read this until May. I plan to acquire a copy for both my elementary and middle school libraries.
Note: I received this from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
Note: I received this from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
March 29, 2018
Don’t tell the other characters in the “Fairly True” series, but this one is probably my favorite! So much to talk about - identity, being torn between responsibilities/loyalties, can you control your fate? I hope we have more of these stories coming!
July 14, 2018
Perfect for fans of Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted books. Grump is a fun twist on the Snow White story you think you know, told from the point of view of "Grump," a misfit dwarf who was born too close to the surface and it made him a little odd. (He actually reminds me a bit of Ariel from The Little Mermaid, always dreaming about the surface and collecting surface dweller things…) I love the way the dwarves are portrayed, both the individual characters in the book and as a culture. The world buliding is just so complex and spot-on. Also, the way this book explains the Evil Queen's magic mirror and the whole "fairest" in the land thing is just awesome and explains so much that I never really understood from the original tale.
This book has so many little hidden gems. (See what I did there? That's a dwarf joke.) I LOVE the little Rapunzel shout-out bit when the Queen orders her servants to take a beautiful baby from her mother, and then assigns a servant woman named Gothel to lock the baby up and look after her… DUN DUN DUNNNN! There are so many other little tidbits too, I'm sure some of which I didn’t catch. I spent a goodly chunk of the first half of the book trying to match Grump's dwarf friends up with their Disney counterparts, and was pleased when EVENTS happen later in the book that cause a few quirks to arise that made it clear who at least some of them are. And I knew they would probably align with the Disney movie when Snow White is running around with her best buddy Florian, as that's the official Disney name of her Prince (even though his name is never actually mentioned in the movie).
Grump is written in a way that's accessible to a middle-grade audience, but this book was fun for this 32-year-old Disney and fairy tale nerd as well. Grump would be an excellent book to read aloud to your child, to read along with your early reader, or to read alone for those ready to start some more complex chapter books.
This book has so many little hidden gems. (See what I did there? That's a dwarf joke.) I LOVE the little Rapunzel shout-out bit when the Queen orders her servants to take a beautiful baby from her mother, and then assigns a servant woman named Gothel to lock the baby up and look after her… DUN DUN DUNNNN! There are so many other little tidbits too, I'm sure some of which I didn’t catch. I spent a goodly chunk of the first half of the book trying to match Grump's dwarf friends up with their Disney counterparts, and was pleased when EVENTS happen later in the book that cause a few quirks to arise that made it clear who at least some of them are. And I knew they would probably align with the Disney movie when Snow White is running around with her best buddy Florian, as that's the official Disney name of her Prince (even though his name is never actually mentioned in the movie).
Grump is written in a way that's accessible to a middle-grade audience, but this book was fun for this 32-year-old Disney and fairy tale nerd as well. Grump would be an excellent book to read aloud to your child, to read along with your early reader, or to read alone for those ready to start some more complex chapter books.
June 4, 2019
maybe 2.5 stars, but not nearly sure enough about that to round up to 3 stars... i was so excited to read this as i have loved the (Fairly) True Tales series... alas, this one was much too long, which seemed to stem mainly from taking on too much tangential bits and not sticking closer to the "original" tale... you know Borlen/Grump ends up on the Surface, so using the first 60+ pages as a prologue of sorts just made the book too long spending time on "Dwarf Lore" (read and you'll see what i mean, whether you agree it's wasted pages or not is up to you)... there are fun and funny parts, but they are too few and far between LOADS of dialogue that isn't fun or funny... and we know these characters (mainly, right?) so why fill so many pages with rehashing who is evil, who is good, and who does what? i had hoped fo a lot more about The Seven and how they team up with Snow White, but that comes so late in this tale it never feels interesting enough... Snow White is less of a pawn and way more of an actual person, which i liked, but i also felt this took away from the cuteness/magicalness of the story... not that we must stick to "female characters as weak in faiy tales" idea, not at all, but a female character can be strong inside of a fun and fantastical and imaginative and magical tale too... to make a long too-long review shorter, i never felt the magic and excitement and fun in this book like i had with the previous entries in the series... it felt more like a "Treatise on Fairy Tale People and Creatures You Know and Love" than a cute reimagining, and that bummed me out...
July 15, 2019
From the New York Times bestselling author of Rump, comes the true story behind another unlikely hero: a grumpy dwarf who gets tangled up in Snow White's feud with the wicked queen.
Ever since he was a dwarfling, Borlen (nicknamed "Grump") has dreamed of visiting The Surface, so when opportunity knocks, he leaves his cavern home behind.
At first, life aboveground is a dream come true. Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L.) is the best friend Grump always wanted, feeding him all the rubies he can eat and allowing him to rule at her side in exchange for magic and information. But as time goes on, Grump starts to suspect that Queen E.V.I.L. may not be as nice as she seems. . . .
When the queen commands him to carry out a horrible task against her stepdaughter Snow White, Grump is in over his head. He's bound by magic to help the queen, but also to protect Snow White. As if that wasn't stressful enough, the queen keeps bugging him for updates through her magic mirror! He'll have to dig deep to find a way out of this pickle, and that's enough to make any dwarf Grumpy indeed.
"Liesl Shurtliff writes the perfect middle-grade page-turners that fourth graders can gobble down on the plane, train, and automobile trips ahead this summer. . . . [she] excels at turning familiar worlds on their heads. --The New York Times Book Review
"Hilarious and heartfelt . . . Lovable Borlen's grumpy first-person narration explores themes of belonging, friendship, and doing the right thing. Sure to please fans of reimagined fairy tales." --Kirkus
"A hilarious reimagining of its origin story with a wonderfully detailed world and interesting twists on classic characters. Sure to be a hit with fantasy fans looking for comedy." --Booklist
"The story moves at a fast pace and deftly balances lighthearted humor with emotional weight. . . .a sure hit for Shurtliff's fans." --School Library Journal
Ever since he was a dwarfling, Borlen (nicknamed "Grump") has dreamed of visiting The Surface, so when opportunity knocks, he leaves his cavern home behind.
At first, life aboveground is a dream come true. Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L.) is the best friend Grump always wanted, feeding him all the rubies he can eat and allowing him to rule at her side in exchange for magic and information. But as time goes on, Grump starts to suspect that Queen E.V.I.L. may not be as nice as she seems. . . .
When the queen commands him to carry out a horrible task against her stepdaughter Snow White, Grump is in over his head. He's bound by magic to help the queen, but also to protect Snow White. As if that wasn't stressful enough, the queen keeps bugging him for updates through her magic mirror! He'll have to dig deep to find a way out of this pickle, and that's enough to make any dwarf Grumpy indeed.
"Liesl Shurtliff writes the perfect middle-grade page-turners that fourth graders can gobble down on the plane, train, and automobile trips ahead this summer. . . . [she] excels at turning familiar worlds on their heads. --The New York Times Book Review
"Hilarious and heartfelt . . . Lovable Borlen's grumpy first-person narration explores themes of belonging, friendship, and doing the right thing. Sure to please fans of reimagined fairy tales." --Kirkus
"A hilarious reimagining of its origin story with a wonderfully detailed world and interesting twists on classic characters. Sure to be a hit with fantasy fans looking for comedy." --Booklist
"The story moves at a fast pace and deftly balances lighthearted humor with emotional weight. . . .a sure hit for Shurtliff's fans." --School Library Journal
November 10, 2018
Grump
Written by Liesl Shurtliff
Genre – Middle School Fiction
Rating – 5/5 Stars
Currently Available
“The Fairly True Story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”
Borlen aka Grump has always dreamed of going to the surface, against the wishes of his fellow dwarfs. Dwarfs have a healthy fear of humans, for humans are aware of dwarf magic. Everyone knows if you grab a dwarf by the beard and command the dwarf, the dwarf physically must obey.
One day fate takes him above ground, where he is mesmerized by the human charm. Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L) befriends Grump. The Queen keeps Grump’s belly full of delicious rubies and keeps him close. It doesn’t take long for Grump to understand her intentions. The Queen commands Grump to cooperate in the death of her stepdaughter, Snow White. Snow White also demands Grump to protect her. How can he do both?
Many times I do not enjoy a remake, that is not the case this time. I loved this twisted, fun, yet dark tale of Snow White. After reading this book, I can’t imagine this story told any other way. This will be the version that will remain dear to my heart for many years to follow. Although this is written for middle school readers, it is truly a book for all ages. I highly recommend this book! So much that I am getting the remainder of the series – Rump (Rumpelstilskin), Red (Red Riding Hood) and Jack (Jack and the Beanstalk). I hope you all enjoy as much as I did!
Written by Liesl Shurtliff
Genre – Middle School Fiction
Rating – 5/5 Stars
Currently Available
“The Fairly True Story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”
Borlen aka Grump has always dreamed of going to the surface, against the wishes of his fellow dwarfs. Dwarfs have a healthy fear of humans, for humans are aware of dwarf magic. Everyone knows if you grab a dwarf by the beard and command the dwarf, the dwarf physically must obey.
One day fate takes him above ground, where he is mesmerized by the human charm. Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L) befriends Grump. The Queen keeps Grump’s belly full of delicious rubies and keeps him close. It doesn’t take long for Grump to understand her intentions. The Queen commands Grump to cooperate in the death of her stepdaughter, Snow White. Snow White also demands Grump to protect her. How can he do both?
Many times I do not enjoy a remake, that is not the case this time. I loved this twisted, fun, yet dark tale of Snow White. After reading this book, I can’t imagine this story told any other way. This will be the version that will remain dear to my heart for many years to follow. Although this is written for middle school readers, it is truly a book for all ages. I highly recommend this book! So much that I am getting the remainder of the series – Rump (Rumpelstilskin), Red (Red Riding Hood) and Jack (Jack and the Beanstalk). I hope you all enjoy as much as I did!
July 26, 2018
Borlen is not like other dwarves. He is not very strong, he doesn’t sing, and he hates being underground. Borlen longs to experience the world above, and a chance to break through the surface gives Borlen the opportunity he has always dreamed of. But, the outside world is not as glorious as it seems, and dangers come in all shapes and sizes. The story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves told from Grumpy’s point of view.
Recommended for grades 4-6. Lexile Level: 360
Reviewed by Christine Hwang, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
Recommended for grades 4-6. Lexile Level: 360
Reviewed by Christine Hwang, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
February 19, 2019
Loved this story! I've read one of Shurtliff's other books and really liked it, but this one was just awesome! Loved the slow lead in to the Snow White story, getting to know "Grump" and the dwarf community. Fun, unique, loved their food. Once we got into the Snow White part of the story, it was close enough to be satisfying, but with unique differences that made it rich and interesting. I did not like the prince very much at first, but that didn't detract from the story. Highly recommended to middle grade readers who enjoy the fractured fairy tales. 5 stars!
July 3, 2018
Probably the best re-telling or version of Snow White I’ve read! It’s so easy to pick up and delve into the world of dwarves. There are many twists and turns that make the book so much fun to read!
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December 17, 2018This one took a few chapters for my kids to get into, but soon enough they were begging for "one more chapter."
October 3, 2018
It is so fun! Reading a Snow White story from dwarf's point of view gives me deeper and adventurous experience!
June 28, 2019
I loved Borlen aka Grump he was definitely grumpy and funny lol
March 16, 2021
Super cute and creative take! My students are loving the series!
March 15, 2023
What fun! Love her series of fairy tales!
January 31, 2018
Once again, Liesl Shurtliff takes a familiar fair tale and puts a whole new spin on it! In this book, we hear the tale from Grump’s (also known as Borlen) point of view. I think kids are going to be lined up for this one just as they have been for the others.
February 21, 2018
I enjoy reading traditional fairy tales from a side character's perspective. Even though you know how it's going to end, it's really fun to see how the author gets you there.
This installment wasn't as strong as the other two for me. I liked Grump's story, but it just took too long to get to the meat of the story.
I did enjoy the way the story ended, and I really liked the trolls. I wish there would've been more of them in there.
This installment wasn't as strong as the other two for me. I liked Grump's story, but it just took too long to get to the meat of the story.
I did enjoy the way the story ended, and I really liked the trolls. I wish there would've been more of them in there.
July 3, 2019
I enjoyed this author’s other book called Rump - true story of rumplestilken. This was a good read as well. It was difficult at first to get into the story but once Grump meets the Queen things start popping!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews