Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Parable of books, kindness, inclusion gets heavy handed.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
The town of Stone-in-the-Glen, whose inhabitants include THE OGRESS AND THE ORPHANS, was once a lovely place, with trees, flowers, fountains, gardens, and a library that was a wonder of the world. But years ago -- strangely coinciding with the arrival of an extremely shiny new mayor -- things went bad, as the library burned to the ground, fires destroyed the trees and gardens, and people who had once cheerfully helped and looked out for one another now began to view each other with suspicion and mistrust. The orphans and their caregivers, once generously provided for, now struggle. The centuries-old Ogress, meanwhile, just wants a place to belong, and arrives on the outskirts of town hoping to make a home where she can love and be loved. Hardworking, clever, and kind, she showers the villagers with secret, bountiful generosity. Her friends the crows warn her that no good deed goes unpunished. With misunderstanding and ill will everywhere, it seems like they might be right. But when a series of events brings Ogress and orphans together, maybe there's a glimmer of hope.
Is It Any Good?
Kelly Barnhill's fable of kind outcasts, plucky underdogs, a villain who draws power from distraction and division, and a long-lost library is full of heart, beauty, and the celebration of learning. The Ogress and the Orphans both seek love, kindness, family, friendship, and belonging, especially as an antidote to the dark unkindness around them, while the villain who's managed to set neighbor against neighbor while stealing their wealth is a sneaky and formidable foe. Messages of civic virtue, with everyone contributing goods, services, and skills for the common good, are a steady, un-nuanced drumbeat in a world where these things are now lacking and the characters miss the old days, and even readers who cheer the sentiment may find the repetition oppressive. But there are plenty of cheer-worthy moments where characters shine, and the cynical but helpful crows are a delight throughout.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like The Ogress and the Orphans, in which villains stir people up against those who look and act different -- or even belong to different species -- because it feeds their own power. Where else do you see this happening, in stories or in real life?
Empathy -- being able to understand and feel others' emotions and viewpoints -- is an essential social-emotional skill. As we see in the example of the mayor, it can have a dark side: If you understand what makes people tick, you can use their hopes and fears to manipulate them. Do you see this happening in the people around you? How do you stand up against this?
Are there any books you would rush to save from a fire? Why would you save those particular books? Who are you saving them for?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Algonquin Young Readers
- Publication date : March 8, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 18
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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