Would You Dare to Borrow From the Grimm Collection?

Elizabeth has been having trouble making friends at her new school. When she decides to write a report on the history of the Brothers Grimm she finally has something to focus on besides her lack of friends or her evil stepmother. Not only does she do well on the project, but her teacher tells her that he has recommended her for a job as a page at the New York Circulating Material Repository. She has no idea what a page is or what the job involves, but she needs money and she agrees to give it a try. As Elizabeth starts her job, she learns from two of the pages, Marc and Anjali, that she is working at a special lending library where objects are borrowed instead of books. The objects she has to find and help people borrow vary from common items to rare historical objects. The old building is filled with all kinds of twists and turns that Elizabeth knows she will have fun exploring. Making the job even more enticing is what she hears about the special collection in the basement called the Grimm Collection. It is supposedly filled with magical items found in the stories the brothers told, and they can only be accessed by people with special borrowing privileges. Unfortunately, Elizabeth can’t help but become a little nervous when she hears that there have been some strange occurrences at the library. Should she believe what she is hearing about the page that disappeared and the large menacing bird within the stacks? What should Elizabeth do when she discovers that Marc has been secretly borrowing a pair of seven-league boots from the Grimm Collection? After she is told that objects are being stolen from the Grimm Collection, is it time to turn in her new friend? Just who can she trust? Elizabeth will take you on a dangerous ride as she tries to find out what is going on at the New York Circulating Material Repository!

I love fairy tales and was thrilled when I found a copy of The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman at the book fair at school. I was drawn to the cover because it looks magical and whimsical. The tree looks like it holds a lot of secrets! Not only was there suspense and action, but I learned a lot about the Brothers Grimm along the way. I want to learn more about them and where they got their ideas from! Being a page sounds like such a blast! I already visit the library every chance I get, but now I am even more curious about what could be hiding behind some of the walls. I think Elizabeth is someone that I would be friends with because she is kind towards others and will go out of her way to help the people around her. Also, she tries to follow the rules, but is willing to take risks to solve mysteries. I think this book is great for anyone in fifth grade and up because the main characters are in high school and there is a little romance sprinkled in with the fantastical adventure. You won’t want to stop turning the pages and I bet you will be thinking about the objects you would want to borrow from the Grimm Collection.

Has anyone else read The Grimm Legacy? Or have you read another book by Polly Shulman?

Happy Reading! ~L