Evaluative Criteria of Fantasy Children's Books

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

 

Plot

      Gregor and his sister Boots discover an underground world, the Underland, after falling through a laundry chute in their apartment complex in New York. In this world they find strange people along with oversized rats, roaches, spiders and bats who run the Underland. Gregor and Boots go in an adventure to search for answers about their dad who went missing years back without a trace. During this adventure Gregor and Boots also get caught up in a war between the humans and the rats. 

Theme

            In “Gregor the Overlander” we can see theme of determination throughout the story as Gregor searches for the truth of what happened to his father. We also see the themes of loyalty and responsibility as Gregor makes small but powerful sacrifices to take care of his siblings.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Characters

            Nobody Owens, or Bod, is a boy who has become an orphan after his family is murdered by “The man Jack”. He is then looked after by Silas (his guardian), and Mr. and Mrs. Owens (adoptive parents) as well as many other dead people in the graveyard nearby who teach him how to live amongst them in the graveyard.

Setting

            Although Bod goes in several adventures, most of the story takes place in the graveyard amongst the dead that have been buried there and take care of him to protect him from “The man Jack”. They don’t allow him to leave the graveyard in fear that he will get killed.

Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon & Dean Hale

Characters

            In the story we see the classic characters of the original Rapunzel story but with a slight twist such as Rapunzel (in a Calamity Jane way) and the evil witch. We also see outlaw and eventual sidekick, Jack (as in Jack and the Beanstalk).

Style

            Rapunzel’s Revenge was written loosely on the original story with a Old West theme to it. Rapunzel uses her long hair to lasso her way out of danger. The book itself is written like a comic book.

Comic Squad: Recess by Jennifer Holm, Matthew Holm, Raina Telgeimer, Dave Roman, Dan Santat, Dav Pilkey, Jarret Krosoczka, Ursula Vernon, Eric Wight, Gene Luen Yang

Characters

            Characters differ since the book itself has 8 different stories. “Book ‘em Dog Man” consisted of a mischievous cat and a super hero type dog. “Betty and the Perilous Pizza Dog” consisted of Betty the lunch lady and a pizza monster. “Jiminy Sprinkles in Freeze Tag” which consisted of talking fruits, cupcakes, peanuts and vegetables.

Style

            The book contains a series of different mini stories in a comic book format. Some of the stories such as “Book ‘em Dog Man” are illustrated like children’s drawings.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Plot

     Stephanie meets Skulduggery Pleasant at her uncle’s funeral. Skulduggery Pleasant was a friend of her uncle’s and later becomes her mentor. Together they solve mysteries, investigate her uncle’s death, and fight against those who are trying to steal her late Uncle Gordon’s key to the Scepter that would release destruction and chaos.

Characters

            The main characters in the story are Skulduggery Pleasant, a sarcastic skeleton of a dead sorcerer, and Stephanie Edgeley, an adventurous yet angsty 12 year old.