When Santa Fell to Earth by Cornelia Funke

When Santa Fell To Earth by Cornelia Funke
Review by Cheri Williams

A 2006 U.S. release, When Santa Fell To Earth is a less than traditional tale told in Funkesque style. The Great Christmas Council, consisting of hundreds of Santas, goes bad under the leadership of Gerold Geronimus Goblynch. After turning all but one of the reindeer into salami, the money-hungry, tradition-crushing Goblynch unjustly bars Niklas Goodfellow from working as a Santa.

Niklas (who is the last true Santa), two pint-sized angels, and a drawerful of hilariously grumpy elves, find themselves stranded on Earth when their invisible, marzipan-loving reindeer panics in a storm.

“Terrified, Twinklestar reared up, broke his reins, and bolted down toward Earth. Niklas Goodfellow’s reindeerless caravan swayed from side to side like a boat on a churning sea. Then it toppled forward into the swirling clouds, Niklas tumbled out of bed, hitting his head on the leg of a chair, and rolled helter-skelter under a table” (Page 2).

With Goblynch’s band of giant, evil Nutcrackers in hot pursuit and the threat of being turned into a chocolate Santa looming large, the clan joins forces with two neighborhood kids to set Christmas right.

The poetic style, dazzling imagery and timeless themes Funke is famous for are certainly present in this book, and exquisite pencil drawings by Paul Howard brilliantly complement the richness of her writing. The main question that weighs in my mind is whether a middle grader will buy into the concept of Santa. If so, this book is sure to please.

It’s also important to keep in mind that When Santa Fell To Earth is not part of the Inkheart trilogy. With far less sub-plotting, emotion and conflict, this book is shorter and simpler in every way. That’s not to say it’s less in anyway. It’s simply for the youngest end of the 9 to12-year old range.


More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: The Chicken House; 1 edition (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 043978204X
• ISBN-13: 978-0439782043

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

Reviewed by Cheri Williams (Visit Cheri's blog)


Meggie. Mo. Resa. Farid. Fenoglio. Elinor. Darius. Orpheus.

Black Prince. Adderhead. Mortola. Violante. Mmm. Dustfinger.

The bestselling Inkheart trilogy continues, and ends, with Inkdeath. From the get-go I must tell you… there’s no picking up this “stunning conclusion” without first reading Inkheart—and then Inkspell! Each fantasy builds upon the prior weaving an unforgettable tale of magical adventure.

Inkdeath, like its predecessors, is filled with a love of literature. Every chapter begins with a quote. From contemporary to classic. From Mark Twain to Ranier Maria Rilke. Story-loving characters, a reverence for the written word, and book inspired transformation make it clear: books are to be treasured; books bring joy. Books can change us. Books can change the world.

Meggie’s father Mo is a bookbinder. When he reads aloud, characters break free from the page leaving their world to enter ours. And there is always a trade. In the first volume, Mo reads from his favorite book, Inkheart, and several sinister characters appear in his living room. Just as unbelievably, Meggie’s mother, Resa, disappears—into the book.

With one foot firmly planted in our world, the other finds itself fully in the Inkworld:

“A new morning woke Meggie, with pale light that fell on her face and air as fresh as if no one had ever breathed it before. The fairies were twittering outside her window like birds that had learned to talk…”

The Inkworld is fantastic, filled with little glass men, moss-women, pet martens, and white women of death. But, it is also overflowing with evil and violence:

“But then came the screams. The groans. The blood. His own heartbeat, loud and much too fast. Striking and thrusting, pulling his sword out of the bodies of strangers, the blood of strangers wet on his clothes, faces distorted by hatred—or was it fear?”

I don’t know when I’ve been so restless waiting for a book. Captivated by Inkheart and Inkspell, I was desperate to read Inkdeath. And I do mean desperate! Did the finale to this three-book fantasy adventure fulfill the longings of my anticipatory heart?

To be honest, backstory slows the beginning, Meggie’s character takes a backseat, and this book seems darker, less edge-of-your-seat than the first two. Like the others there are a few words I would rather kids weren’t exposed to. But… I still give a hearty recommendation for this marvelous conclusion.

Why? I love Funke’s poetic style, dazzling imagery, and timeless themes. And, of course, the book-loving undertone. Inspired, thought provoking prose leads readers to wrestle with desire and passion. And good versus evil. Vivid characters beg to be loved, hated, or in some cases, a bit of both. An overarching message pervades: actions rather than words ultimately determine destiny. The words of others can not conquer our power to choose. Yes, I do love this book!

The book’s breathtaking climax includes a twist. A wide-open door for more of Funke’s Inkworld. A different world perhaps, with different characters. But hope, however faint, exists for a continuation of her timeless classic. Billed for 9 to 12 year olds (I’d lean to the higher end) Inkdeath is a fantastic read. And I’m not talking fantastic for kids. This book is fantastic—period. Highly recommended.



More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 656 pages
• Publisher: The Chicken House (September 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439866286
• ISBN-13: 978-0439866286
• Source: Review copy from publisher