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IN A GLASS GRIMMLY

Name: IN A GLASS GRIMMLY
Author: Adam Gidwitz

Adam Gidwitz

Jack and Jill meet a talking frog in these grisly and Grimm tales.

Ages 10+Source checked

Why this age? The story is aimed at middle-grade readers but includes threatening fairy-tale creatures, peril, frightening scenes, violence, and emotionally intense material involving loss and danger. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age10+

Strongest cautions

Frightening scenes4/5
Death of a character3/5
Graphic injury3/5

Strongest positives

Courage & resilience4/5
Creativity & curiosity4/5
Positive messages4/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5

Why this rating?

Characters face significant dangers, and some deaths occur. The tone towards mortality is grim and unflinching.

Graphic injury3/5

Why this rating?

Macabre fairy-tale violence includes dismemberment or bodily-fluid imagery, but descriptions are brief and not relentlessly graphic.

Strong language1/5

Why this rating?

Occasional mild language or insults fitting the fairy tale tone.

Religious themes1/5

Why this rating?

Not a primary theme or prominent element.

Romance1/5

Why this rating?

Mild romantic interests or notions of attraction appear, but are not the central focus of the story.

Frightening scenes4/5

Why this rating?

Menacing creatures, threatening settings, danger, and grim fairy-tale situations create sustained scares for younger readers.

Alcohol or drugs1/5

Why this rating?

May feature incidental references to potions or brews that function metaphorically or magically.

Violence3/5

Why this rating?

Features fantasy combat, injuries, and peril. Some scenes involve detailed descriptions of harm to creatures and characters.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5

Why this rating?

Facing frightening creatures and difficult circumstances with loyalty and determination is central to the adventure.

Creativity & curiosity4/5

Why this rating?

It imaginatively remixes fairy tales, uses playful dark humor, and encourages inventive thinking in fantastical situations.

Diverse representation2/5

Why this rating?

Features a varied cast of characters typical of fantasy retellings.

Educational value1/5

Why this rating?

Provides exposure to classic folklore and literary structure through subversion.

Kindness & empathy3/5

Why this rating?

Kindness is a pivotal moral challenge for the characters in a harsh world.

Positive messages4/5

Why this rating?

It emphasizes friendship, courage, resilience, self-acceptance, and resisting cruelty or unjust expectations.

Good role models3/5

Why this rating?

Protagonists grow through struggle and learning from mistakes, demonstrating resilience and eventually moral growth.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
Which choice in IN A GLASS GRIMMLY would you have made differently, and why?
Who changed the most in IN A GLASS GRIMMLY, and what caused that change?

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