JULY 2018 - AudioFile
Paul Fox’s lively narration sparkles in this funny retelling of the Snow White story. Dwarf Borlen (a.k.a. Grump) was part of the original story, but over the years humans changed it and forgot the dwarves’ real names. This is Borlen’s first-person account of the actual events. The seventh dwarf on an underground mining crew, he has an odd fascination with the human world that gets him ostracized until he finds his way above ground and takes his chance. Once there, he makes a dangerous alliance with the queen, and the familiar story unfolds—with a few twists. Fox’s characterizations are a joy—from the accents of the dwarves to the gruffness of the trolls, from the deliciously evil imperiousness of the queen to the heartfelt sincerity of Borlen. S.C. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
The New York Times Book Review - Karen Valby
Shurtliff excels at turning familiar worlds on their heads. The underground dwarf culture is wonderfully realized, and Grump's fascination with the Surface well drawn…Her Snow White is fresh, a little snotty but highly capable, with far more grit than her Prince. Together, Grump and the Princess are a welcome reminder that heroes needn't be perfect to get the job done.
From the Publisher
"Shurtliff excels at turning familiar worlds on their heads. The underground dwarf culture is wonderfully realized, and Grump's fascination with the Surface well drawn…Her Snow White is fresh, a little snotty but highly capable, with far more grit than her Prince. Together, Grump and the Princess are a welcome reminder that heroes needn't be perfect to get the job done." —The New York Times
"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'
"GRUMP is full of hilarious moments, surprising twists, a little bit of action, and a character whom you can't help but like. Even if he is a Grump."—Mundie Kids
School Library Journal
02/01/2018
Gr 4–6—Dwarves live and work underground, and dwarflings are taught to fear the Surface and the humans who live there. Borlen's scandalous curiosity about the Earth and his fear of depths make life underground a misery, earning him the nickname Grump. When he eventually escapes to the Surface, he befriends a human queen who treats him as a trusted advisor. It is only when the queen uses Borlen's words to justify her attempt to kill Snow White that he realizes her true character. When he finds himself magically sworn to serve the queen and to protect Snow White, he struggles to do the right thing while finding a place where he belongs. Shurtliff's fourth fractured fairy tale boasts the same intricate world-building, expansive character development, and rich imagery as her other novels. By shining the spotlight on a seemingly secondary character, Shurtliff explores the theme of how we assign value to people: being different can make you either an outcast or someone special. The story moves at a fast pace and deftly balances lighthearted humor with emotional weight. Many readers will recognize the feelings of isolation and dread Borlen endures when he's teased by groups of other dwarves. Fans of Disney's fairy tales will enjoy the slow reveal of how Borlen's crew syncs up with the movie dwarves as well as the subtle setup for a true tale of Rapunzel. VERDICT A recommended purchase and a sure hit for Shurtliff's fans.—Elizabeth Lovsin, Deerfield Public Library, IL
JULY 2018 - AudioFile
Paul Fox’s lively narration sparkles in this funny retelling of the Snow White story. Dwarf Borlen (a.k.a. Grump) was part of the original story, but over the years humans changed it and forgot the dwarves’ real names. This is Borlen’s first-person account of the actual events. The seventh dwarf on an underground mining crew, he has an odd fascination with the human world that gets him ostracized until he finds his way above ground and takes his chance. Once there, he makes a dangerous alliance with the queen, and the familiar story unfolds—with a few twists. Fox’s characterizations are a joy—from the accents of the dwarves to the gruffness of the trolls, from the deliciously evil imperiousness of the queen to the heartfelt sincerity of Borlen. S.C. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2018-02-19
Shurtliff (Red, 2016, etc.) continues her series of hilarious and heartfelt fairy-tale retellings by relating "Snow White" from the grumpiest dwarf's perspective.An anomaly among dwarves, young (he's 52), friendless Borlen has an unnatural fear of depths, preferring to be as close to The Surface as possible. When Borlen is appointed to a work crew as the lowly, purposeless Seventh (crews almost always have only six), he finds his chance to escape the tunnels. As the crew mines ever deeper, Borlen digs to the forbidden Surface, where he meets the vain and paranoid Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore. Life on The Surface is more wonderful than Borlen could have dreamed. The queen is so kind! Definitely not like the humans in the cautionary tales he grew up with. She gives him purpose by appointing him her personal adviser and keeps him well-fed with a never-ending supply of sweet, euphoria-inducing rubies. To repay her generosity, Borlen turns her looking glass into a magic mirror. A rambunctious princess with snow-white skin, a poisoned apple, an enchanted sleep, and true love's kiss—all the familiar elements are here, but not in the way readers might think. 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. (Fantasy. 8-12)
