Of Giants and Ice: The Ever Afters, Book 1

Book review by Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media
Of Giants and Ice: The Ever Afters, Book 1 Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 8+

Derivative but fun fairy-tale adventure.

Shelby Bach Fantasy 2012
Rate book

Parents say

No reviews yet.

Add your rating

Kids say

age 9+

Based on 4 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate book

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Of Giants and Ice isn't an especially gentle fantasy. Characters face real peril -- even risk death -- while carrying out missions and quests based on familiar fairy tales. Rory hides the truth about Ever After School from her family members because she doesn't want them to pull her from the program. She and her friends have difficult family backgrounds marked by divorce, poverty, and absent parents. They also engage in violent battles with magical creatures that lead to stabbings, beheadings, and the like. Teen characters use a few coarse words, including "suck," 'jerk," "crap," and "piss."

Community Reviews

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Eleven-year-old Rory Landon moves frequently, but everywhere she's known for being the daughter of her famous parents. Then she's invited to Ever After School, an afternoon program like no other: Her first day, she finds herself battling a dragon in Yellowstone National Park. At EAS, children train to be Characters in dangerous Tales that could begin at any time. Rory's surprised to find she's famous at EAS: It's rumored that she has a special Destiny. But her immediate concern is to stay alive and help friends Lena and Chase on a beanstalk quest. But this Tale is like no other, and the three kids get drawn into a larger drama: The imprisoned Snow Queen is plotting escape and a new, epic war.
\

Is It Any Good?

OF GIANTS AND ICE, the first in the Ever Afters series, is a fun read for elementary-school-age fantasy fans. It owes a considerable debt to Harry Potter and others in the magical school genre: an uncertain hero saddled with high expectations, loyal friends who rise above their bickering, wise teachers with questionable motives, a super-villain gathering up power to battle to the hero, etc. Rudimentary storytelling and a lack of imaginative richness result in a slight but enjoyable adventure.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the trend of reimagining fairy tales for older audiences in books and films. Why do you think this is popular right now? What's the appeal?
  • Characters play out their parts in familiar tales that repeat regularly, though with variations. Talk about archetypes, and find examples of fairy tale archetypes in diverse settings. Rapunzel, for example, is a sage -- like Dumbledore in Harry Potter and Merlin in the King Arthur tales.

  • Stories about special schools for witches, wizards, or kids with magical or super powers are also popular. What others have you read? How does this one compare?

Book Details

Our Editors Recommend

Themes & Topics

Browse titles with similar subject matter.

  • Cartoon magic wand on orange background
    Magic and Fantasy
    See all
  • Cartoon picture of luggage and a map
    Adventures
    See all
  • Cartoon picture of a book
    Book Characters
    See all
  • Cartoon picture of a princess castle
    Fairy Tales
    See all

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate