Tale Dark and Grimm (Andersen Press Ltd)

Reader: beware. Warlocks with dark spells, hunters with deadly aim, and bakers with ovens retrofitted for cooking children lurk within these pages. But if you dare, turn the page and learn the true story of Hansel and Gretel - the story behind (and beyond) the bread crumbs, edible houses and outwitted witches. Come on in. It may be frightening, it's certainly bloody, and it's definitely not for the faint of heart. "Gidwitz manages to balance the grisly violence of the original Grimms' fairy tales with a wonderful sense of humor and narrative voice. Check it out!" (Rick Riordan). "Unlike any children's book I've ever read. [It] holds up to multiple readings, like the classic I think it will turn out to be". (New York Times). "An audacious debut that's wicked smart and wicked funny". (Publisher's Weekly, starred review). "Addictively compelling". (School Library Journal, starred review).