 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Inkheart
- By Cornelia Funke
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
Thick but rich fantasy great for book-loving tweens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that, while this is fantasy, the villains are really quite wicked, and Meggie is often in mortal danger. There's an edge to the villainy here that some kids find enthralling, others disturbing. Book-loving kids and their parents will enjoy the literary references and celebration of books in the lives of the heroes.
What's the story?
Meggie's life with her father Mo, a bookbinder, is disrupted when a mysterious scarred man named Dustfinger appears at their home. Soon she discovers that her father has the ability to read things and even characters out of books. But this ability is a curse -- when someone comes out of a book, someone else from our world goes into the book, and this, Meggie learns, is how she lost her mother many years ago. Now the villain, Capricorn, whom Mo accidentally released from a book called Inkheart, is determined to capture Mo, Meggie, and the book, and force Mo to read both treasure and an evil creature out of the book, using Meggie as his hostage. Betrayed by Dustfinger and on the run from Capricorn, they travel across Europe to find the author of Inkheart.
Is it any good?
This book could easily have been half the length and still told the same story. As with Cornelia Funke's previous book, The Thief Lord, some kids will be put off by the leisurely pace of INKHEART while others will be enthralled by the unusual story. But despite the slow pacing and repetition, this is a rousing adventure. Meggie is a stalwart heroine, and the villains are truly creepy and brutal (perhaps too much so for some children). Each chapter begins with a quote from another children's book, both foreshadowing the chapter and giving pleasure to bibliophiles. And the whole thing is a paean to books, authors, reading, and especially reading aloud -- an enjoyable, if flabbily edited, adventure.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the popularity of this book. It is part of a series of three book -- and has been made into a movie. Why are tweens willing to wade through so many pages? What is it about this story that's appealing?
This book is fantasy but does feature some evil villains, and Meggie herself is often in mortal danger. Is it easier to read about dark and disturbing things if it's in a work of fantasy -- or does it make any difference to you?
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AGE
great book but...
first of all i'll say that i loved the book!! a really great story and everything and im glad i bought it! but one thing that i didnt like was all the swearing. in my family we never swear so whenever i came across a sw it would always kinda jolt me out of the story and it got anoying...swearwords take the innocence out of reading...other than that the story was great! i liked the book a lot, but i liked the sequel way better as it was more exciting and way less swear words! u mite wanna go thru the book b4 u read it to ur kid. all in all a great story tho!
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AGE
Amazing
I loved Inkheart. Amazing! I love how the author makes you get lost in the book Page turner i couldn't put it down
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Kid, 12 years old
March 30, 2009
AGE
BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN
The begining of the book is murky and doesn't really make sense but keep reading! It is an amazing book about mo a.k.a. silver tounge and he transports a boy named Farrid to their world ( IN THE BOOK !!!) I have read all 3 books and they leave me breathtaken! I just keep wanting more and more of that kind of writting.
The downs about it are that there is alot of cursing, killing ( knives, rifles, and so on..... ) I still highly recomend it!
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AGE
Very good book
I absolutely loved this book. There's a lot of drama, a lot of action, and perfect villians (Basta is awesome). I felt that there were a few parts that got a bit boring, but for the most part, it's an excellent read. I would highly recommend it to fans of fantasy.
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AGE
I hated it.
Great Author terribly boring book. It was waay to violent and evil. Spooky as well for anyone under 11. A big big big disapointment.
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Kid, 10 years old
December 27, 2010
AGE
One of my favorite books!
This is truly an amazing book I love to read over and over again!
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AGE
Really awesome book!
Really loved this book from the moment I picked it up. Very exciting and suspenseful. Only a few cuss words. I hope everyone loves it as much as I do!
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AGE
wonderful, kid-friendly fantasy that celebrates reading is a winner!
Inkheart is original and satisfying. The length may be a little discouriging to kids, but will be rewarded for reaching the 500 plus page ending that is wonderful. Not only is the end great, the trip to get there is just as original and fun. The book is written masterfully and is one of my top all favorite children's book. The story tells of a man who has the gift to read anything or anyone out of a fantasy. And one night he reads out one of the most horrific villian on earth Capricorn. 12 years later, the memory of this terrible chapter in his life, will come flooding back, not only terriizing him, but his wonderful child Maggie. The story is fresh and filled with twists you won't see coming and will gasp in surprise with the characters, and moan in pain when one is hurt. The characters are realistic and in one beautiful three paged chapter will get to know one a little bit too well. The magic is exciting and every page screams a book lover's cove. The book is stunning, but is also disturbing. The violence is presence, but it doesn't take from the story. Guns are shot off and used repetitivly sometimes so much its annoying. The bad guys are mean and cruel and almost win in the end. Kidnappings happen and knives are used. Some guards of Capricorn shoot at servant's skirt to see a little bit of un-menchables. The banter between Mo and Maggie is realistic and sweet, the perfect relationship. Characters say the d word and one character says suck. I can't wait to read the sequel, and any other magical tales erupting from this german author's head.
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AGE
Best possible Start for a Series
Awesome book mixed with real places. You can't get better that that!
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Kid, 12 years old
July 15, 2011
AGE
Inkheart Rocks!
Really good book!
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy |
| Author: | Cornelia Funke |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | Scholastic Inc. |
| Publication date: | March 7, 2004 |
| Number of pages: | 534 |
| Hardcover price: | $19.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
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