Kernel's Library: The Unmatched Power of Reading

Book 00024: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

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Title:
- Inkheart

First Publication:
- 23 September 2003 by Chicken House

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Trivia:
- A movie version of this book was released on January 30, 2009.
- Critics have praised Funke as the "German J. K. Rowling".
- Cornelia Funke is also an illustrator; she illustrated almost all of her books.

Awards:
- Colorado Children’s Book Award for Junior Novel
- 2004 Mythopoeic-Children finalist
- 2003 BookSense Book of the Year Children's Literature
- 2004 Preis der Jury der jungen Leser
- 2004 Phantastik-Preis der Stadt Wetzlar
- 2004 Kalbacher Klapperschlange
- New York Times Bestseller
- ALSC Notable Recording
- YALSA Audio Book and Alternative Media Recordings

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I was kind of glad that I am not the only one excited about this book as a classmate of mine eagerly awaited every update on this book as well on the series. Like all Funke books, this one explores the magical with naivete that is quite fascinating and fulfilling. The story once again is very good and has all its Funke trademarks.



This is a story within a story. It started way back when Mo accidentally brought Basta, Capricorn, Dustfinger, and Dustfinger's pet marten, Gwin, to life while reading aloud from the novel called Inkheart.

Dustfinger, a fire eater, is desperate to return to the world of the fictional novel while Capricorn wants Mo (and later, Meggie, who shares her father's unusual gift) to summon an evil monster forged from the ashes of the murdered known as the Shadow, from the fictional novel.

Years after this happened -- and on a rainy night -- Dustfinger and Gwin show up on Meggie and Mo's doorstep begging Mo to send him back to his fictional world. He will do whatever it takes to get back to the land he loves, maybe even betray Mo and Meggie to Capricorn...

Inkheart encourages and helps us understand the pleasures -- as well as excitement -- of reading books. Many fictional books have been included in this book like Peter Pan when while reading the book Meggie let Tinker Bell escape from ink and paper to become a real one. She also conjures up the soldier from "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.

This book is for the young and old alike.

Grade: A