Reviews

Grump: The (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Liesl Shurtliff

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danika_eden1038's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

womanon's review against another edition

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5.0

This was one of the most funny, quirky, easy and fast-paced middle-grade stories I read in a while! Loved it completely!

amysutton's review against another edition

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4.0

This was a cute retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves as told from the seventh Dwarf, Borlen's, perspective. Borlen (unaffectionately nicknamed Grump by all the dwarves) was born near the surface and yearns to explore his whole life. If he goes deeper into the dwarf mines, he's dizzy and sick. This alienates him from all the other dwarves. When he finally gets a chance to (accidentally) go to the Surface, he happily chases freedom and gets entangled with the evil stepmother. Magic mirrors, huntsmen, mining precious gems, and magical beards are all involved for this fractured fairytale.

I enjoyed this. There were a few pacing areas that weren't perfect (the ending felt abrupt), but overall this was very enjoyable and kids will LOVE this! I already have Rump to read next.

ru_bunny's review against another edition

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Very slow build, unlikeable main character

mrsbond's review against another edition

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5.0

I love this book! This is a fun to read reimagninging of the dwarves who protected Snow White, particularly the one known as Grumpy. While she does make an appearance, Snow White is a minor character in this tale. Instead we follow the life of Borlen (aka Grumpy) as he struggles between his curiosity about the surface and his obligations below ground. Through the process we learn about dwarf culture, relationships, and even cuisine. I enjoyed this story so much that I booktalked the author's earlier works to my 5th grade students since they can't read this until May. I plan to acquire a copy for both my elementary and middle school libraries.

Note: I received this from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

tale_of_tales's review against another edition

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5.0

Time to read: 1 hr

I have a huge weakness for retellings of fairytales (The Lunar Chronicles, The Sisters Grimm, Whatever After, etc) and Liesl Shurtliff does not fail to deliver a lighthearted and fun adventure. I love the perspective of the dwarf Grumpy and his entire personality just sparks joy in my heart.
Read this if you’re looking for a younger people retelling of Snow White(who is quite a spoiled brat in this book) and the Seven (confused) Dwarves.