The Grimm Legacy [Paperback]

Elizabeth Rew figures the library job will give her a little spending money and a chance to finally make some friends. Ever since her Dad remarried, Elizabeth has been feeling like an outsider. That's true at home, where her father barely notices her anymore and her stepmother sees her as some sort of chore machine, and at school, where the students are not interested in becoming friends with `the new girl.' So when her social studies teacher recommends Elizabeth for a job as a Page at The New-York Circulating Materials Repository, she figures `Why not?'

When Elizabeth starts work, she discovers that the Circulating Materials Repository is unlike any library she's ever seen. Instead of books, the vast building is stuffed full of things. Objects like Marie Antoinette's wig, Shakespearean-era doublets, tea sets, carpets and every other material possession imaginable are housed in the Repository's nine floors of stacks.

Even more amazing are the `special' collections. The Repository is home to a number of secret and magical objects, including those in the Grimm Collection. It seems that when the Brothers Grimm gathered folk tales and legends in their travels, they also acquired many of the magical items associated with the tales they made famous - things like dancing slippers, mermaid combs, and even the Seven League Boots.

Before long, Elizabeth feels a strong connection with both the Repository and her coworkers. She truly fits in and she enjoys easy bonds of friendship with most of her fellow Pages. But all is not well at the Repository. Someone is stealing magical objects from the Grimm Collection and until the thief is caught, everyone is a suspect, including the Pages. On top of that, one of the Pages has already disappeared and Elizabeth's friend Anjali is being stalked by a large creepy bird, of all things. It's obvious the Pages will have to take matters into their own hands if they want these mysteries solved, the Repository returned to normal, and their jobs secured.

Although Elizabeth begins the book unhappy with her new family arrangement and her father's neglect, her attitude isn't overly whiney or self-pitying. In fact, her character is a true to life representation of a teen struggling to find her way in a new family. The idea of the Repository and its special collections is fabulously presented and the story is a fun and breezy adventure with just a hint of romance. There's enough going on here, both with the plot and with the world of the Repository itself, to keep you interested from beginning to end. The Grimm Legacy is well worth reading!

The New York Circulating Material Repository is an amazing place. It's a library that circulates things instead of books. Subscribing patrons can check out 14th century clothing, Abraham Lincoln's hat, or even Marie Antoinette's wig. H G Wells time machine is in residence, as well as artifacts from Lovecraft and Gibson. For any fan of science fiction and fantasy, this place is a dream! Perhaps the most mysterious room is the one that houses the Grimm collection, where Elizabeth finds out that the magic described in her favorite fairy tales is real, and all the objects that appear in those stories are now at her disposal.

The author has created a fascinating story here, and a great character in Elizabeth. She's a lonely teen who takes the job at the library in hopes of meeting new friends and ends up on the adventure of her life. This book is brilliantly plotted and the author does a great job of weaving in the fantasy elements with the modern day aspects of her story. The pacing is fast and readers will be glued to the page as Elizabeth encounters flying shoes, gets shrunk by a shrink ray, and is attacked by an evil art dealer, all the while trying to save her friend who has been turned into a doll. I don't think I'll ever look at a doll collection in quite the same way.

In amongst all the fantasy and magic is actually a really good mystery. Elizabeth and her fellow pages at the library must find out who is stealing items from the Grimm collection and it's this quest that keeps the story moving along. All the magic sometimes works together for some convenient coincidences on a couple of occasions, but that's okay since the story flows so beautifully. The magic described in the story is very imaginative and I loved how it all tied in with classic stories and with the library. I've always known that libraries are magical places!

There's a bit of romance here that adds to the charm, and some unrequited love. Our group of heroes spend some time mooning over and fighting with each other, and the author does a great job with their dialogue. She has an authentic voice for all of her characters. This book will be a great read for any lover of fantasy, classic stories, or libraries. There are no language issues, just some kissing and talk of "hotness". This is a smart action adventure for anyone grade 7 and up. Adults will appreciate the many references to classic tales, and kids will revel in all the action. A big recommend.

Gold Star Award Winner!

Elizabeth, the new girl in school, doesn't have any friends. When her social studies teacher, Mr. Mauskopf, recommends her for a job at a special library, things start looking up.

During the job interview, she's given a box of buttons and asked to sort them. Elizabeth doesn't know quite what to make it of, but apparently she passes with flying colors. Then she discovers that the library doesn't hold many books, but it circulates a variety of items - including hot chocolate pots.

At first, she's confused, but soon she learns that the library circulates old items, valuable items, and some magic items. The magic items are from the Grimm Collection - as in objects from the fairy tales. However, the items from the Grimm Collection seem to be losing their magic.

Could someone be stealing the magic, and with all the security, could it actually be an inside job?

I love the idea of fairy tale items being available for circulation. While the fantastical elements made the story surprising and enjoyable, the mystery behind the magic moves the story. I simply devoured this book, and I dearly hope this is the start of a new series.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

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