Far Far Away

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal. Knopf Books for Young Readers, New York, 2013. ISBN: 978-0375849725

Summary

Ever since the age of six, Jeremy Johnson Johnson has been able to hear ghosts. But only one ghost has stuck with him throughout the years--Jacob Grimm, one of the Brothers Grimm. Jacob is not an angry spirit and instead helps Jeremy out with normal things such as homework and girl advice, as well as protecting him from evil he cannot see--including the evil in his small town. 

 Jeremy doesn’t  really believe in evil or curses, until one of his classmates magically falls in love with him. After taking a bite from an enchanted cake, Ginger Boultinghouse falls in love with the first person she sees--who just happens to be Jeremy. 

But his classmate falling in love with him is the least of Jeremy’s problems.  Strange things are happening in town and everyone seems to have a deadly secret they’d do anything to keep. Now with the help of Jacob’s spirit and Ginger, Jeremy must figure out how to stop the evil in town before it’s too late.  

Critical Evaluation

Far Far Away reads similar to a Brothers Grimm fairytale, with a modern twist. The classic elements of a fairytale are all in the story: love at first sight, a normal boy must become a hero, a curse upon a small town.  However, McNeal uses plot twists and surprises to keep the story original.  

The omnipresent narrative of Jacob Grimm’s spirit allows readers the chance to observe everything going on in the story. McNeal also interweaves German history and personal facts from the Brothers Grimm throughout the plot, giving the plot a historical fiction feel.

It may be hard for some readers to get into the point of view of Grimm’s ancient spirit, and the prose can be a little clumsy at times.  There’s no foul language or bloody violence, making this a perfect read for both older and younger teens.  For readers looking for a fairytale adaptation with a male main character, Far Far Away is an entertaining and interesting book.

Reader’s Annotation

Jeremy Johnson Johnson and the spirit of one of the Brothers Grimm find themselves living in their own dark fairytale.

About the Author

 “Tom McNeal was born and raised in Santa Ana, California, but spent part of every summer at the Nebraska farm where his mother grew up.  After earning a BA in English at UC Berkeley and an MFA in Creative Writing at UC Irvine, he lived and worked in the region of Nebraska that inspired his critically acclaimed novels, Goodnight, Nebraska and To Be Sung Underwater.  Tom has been a Wallace Stegner Fellow and a Jones Lecturer at Stanford University and is the recipient of the James Michener prize and two California Book Awards. His short stories have been widely anthologized, and "What Happened to Tully" was the basis of the award-winning independent film: Tully.   His solo young adult novel, Far Far Away, was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2013.”

 (About the McNeals.    Retrieved November 3^rd, 2014  from http://mcnealbooks.com/authors.aspx)

Genres

Fantasy

Fairy Tales

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

1: Difference between Brother Grimm fairytales and Disney fairytales.

2: How does McNeal make the book different from other fairytale retellings?

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 14+

Grades 9+

Challenge Issues

N/A

Why included?

I included Far Far Away for readers looking for more fairytale adaptations. I also liked the presence (pun intended) of Jacob Grimm’s spirit.