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Inkheart (by Cornelia Funke)

common sense media says

Thick but rich fantasy great for book-loving tweens.

parents & educators say
See all 84 reviews | Review it

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.

Educational value: 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.
Positive messages: Tweens get messages about family loyalty, loving books, and fighting for good.
Positive role models: Brave bibliophile Meggie is a stalwart heroine.
Violence: Not much actually described, but much threatened, hinted at, and assumed. Guns and knives are prominent. Several kidnappings.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Inkheart

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

  • 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?

What's the story?

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?

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.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Cornelia Funke
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Publication date: March 7, 2004
Number of pages: 534
Hardcover price: $19.95
This review was written by Matt Berman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

7

Most useful reviews by all members

snoweyy
kid, 12 years old
10
 
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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bookworm136
teen, 14 years old
10
 
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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JesusFreak09
teen, 16 years old
12
 
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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wizardortitan
kid, 10 years old
9
 
One of my favorite books!
This is truly an amazing book I love to read over and over again!
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piefi13
kid, 12 years old
11
 
Inkheart Rocks!
Really good book!
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Snakesmile
kid, 10 years old
9
 
Motivating but never cheesy!
The book navigated me through its maze of pages, through twists and turns. Thank you Cornelia Funke for bringing this into our lives. I recommend this book 100%!!!
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dezoraylove101
kid, 12 years old
3
 
BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ
I absoulutly love this book it is amazing i reed it over and over again my mom even reeds it to my 3 year old cusin named emma even my 3 other sisters anna destiny and nichole love this book. best book i have ever read and i am working on inkdeath already read inkspell trying to beat my mom =) lol Dezoray,Nichole , Destiny, and Anna ?
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Megumi Yosei
teen, 13 years old
10
 
Great Book!
This is a great book. It's story is interesting, and pretty unusual. It only has like maybe 1 or 2 cuss words. Although, the bad guys are a pretty, well, bad (as in creepy), so it's not best for kids under 8 or so. (but they probably couldn't read it anyway) So, long story short, it's good and I recommend it.
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sarasnake99
teen, 15 years old
9
 
Great book!
I personally LOVED this book. It is a great book for fantasy lovers.
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jammy145
kid, 11 years old
8
 
ok but not brilliant
I dont now what to think if this book im not sure if i like it or i dont but it has quite a complecated story to it but i still quite like it but im not sure
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Cory OBray
kid, 12 years old
11
 
good for pre-teens
I love Cornelia Funke and this book was amazing. it's great for all mystery lovers.
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Jazjazzjazyye
parent of and 11 , 11 , 11 , 11 year old
3
 
Best book i have read in years
I love this book wheni read it i loved it so i bought a copy for each of my daughter (4 copies) and all my daughter loved it i got it for them when it firsst came out because i bought it and read it in 4 days as soon as i was done i went to barns and noble to buy copies for all my daughters and since all of them love reading they finished in 5 or 6 days this is the best book i have ever read and cant wait to finish indeath (already finished inspell) =) my daughters i think were 4 5 or 6 id i dont keep track and i let my little cuzin emma read it at 3 it took her a while to read it but she understood it perfectly i read it to her to bed
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Inkheart Fan
kid, 12 years old
9
 
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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DisneyChannelFan
kid, 10 years old
9
 
Inkheart
Nice Book.No Bad Words But God D@mn!So Im Good.The Movie Is 2 Thumbs Down!So Read This Book But For Kids 8 And Under It Maybe Hard.
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noveleater
teen, 15 years old
10
 
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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MasterLuke
kid, 13 years old
9
 
Best possible Start for a Series
Awesome book mixed with real places. You can't get better that that!
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purplecatroo
adult
 
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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mcguire217
kid, 10 years old
10
 
10+
There are only about 3 cusres.
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Xiuhcoatl
kid, 13 years old
12
 
AWESOME
I've been planning on reading this book for years now. And when I started I couldn't do anything else, it was so awesome. I suggest that those who love adventure and books read it!!!
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mugglemama
adult
7
 
Boring, with no clear setting
We are nearly done with this book. I am reading it to 2 of my children. We are homeschoolers, and often read a novel before going to see the corresponding movie. My 10 year old son loves the story so far, and my 7 year old seems slightly less enthralled, although she is enjoying it. I myself am bored stiff. My biggest complaint is that there is no clear setting...we have no idea what year it is, or even what country the story began in (I'm assuming Germany because the author is German?). The setting that is painted seems to be of an earlier time period, but then there are elements like cell phones and airplanes, so we understand it must be modern times, however it's very difficult to reconcile the two seemingly opposing settings. We're going to finish it (read: get it over with), and go see the movie tomorrow. Which I am hoping, like Prince Caspian, proves to be better than the book.
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