Leni Zumas's writing crackles. Her books are sharp, bleak, funny, and possibly dangerous. When her collection of short stories, Farewell Navigator,...
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Having never read Beowulf (or even seen the movie, for that matter) I read Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath entirely free of any expectations of the book living up to its anonymously-authored predecessor. Therefore, I can say that for those of us who have never been introduced to the story, Kid Beowulf stands well on its own as a dramatic and clever presentation that combines an epic tone with well-developed characters and clever touches of humor.
Author and illustrator Alexis E. Fajardo first outlines the traditional story of Beowulf in a prologue, then launches into the story of young Beowulf and his twin brother Grendel, spinning the story of the warring communities whose conflict led to the birth and separation of the twins. Fajardo’s tale includes war- and peace-mongering brothers, a cave-dwelling dragon, and a talking sword, among other things, and explains the circumstances that brought the brothers back together again.
The well-designed drawings do a great job of illustrating the action-packed story, and Fajardo’s distinctly drawn characters help the reader keep the large cast straight (although he also includes a very helpful illustrated character list at the beginning for any readers who might forget). Overall, Kid Beowulf is an entertaining story to read, and a truly unique way to introduce a classic story to young readers.
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erinmurray09 has commented on (1) product.
Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath
erinmurray09, June 30, 2008
Having never read Beowulf (or even seen the movie, for that matter) I read Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath entirely free of any expectations of the book living up to its anonymously-authored predecessor. Therefore, I can say that for those of us who have never been introduced to the story, Kid Beowulf stands well on its own as a dramatic and clever presentation that combines an epic tone with well-developed characters and clever touches of humor.Author and illustrator Alexis E. Fajardo first outlines the traditional story of Beowulf in a prologue, then launches into the story of young Beowulf and his twin brother Grendel, spinning the story of the warring communities whose conflict led to the birth and separation of the twins. Fajardo’s tale includes war- and peace-mongering brothers, a cave-dwelling dragon, and a talking sword, among other things, and explains the circumstances that brought the brothers back together again.
The well-designed drawings do a great job of illustrating the action-packed story, and Fajardo’s distinctly drawn characters help the reader keep the large cast straight (although he also includes a very helpful illustrated character list at the beginning for any readers who might forget). Overall, Kid Beowulf is an entertaining story to read, and a truly unique way to introduce a classic story to young readers.