2018 Christmas Gift Review & Giveaway - The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge

I intended to post this review yesterday, so today I'll share two of my Christmas Gift Reviews - and Giveaways! First another unique book from Candlewick Press - The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge.

The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge
Author - M. T. Anderson
Illustrator - Eugene Yelchin
Publisher - Candlewick Press
Ages - 10-14+

Favorite Features -

• Unique perspective on writing and illustrating a book - the illustrations show Brangwain Spurge's  take on what is happening in the story and the text shows the goblin Werfel's perspective on what happened - not necessarily the same thing.
• Entire chapters are completely illustrations - very unique.
• Filled with messages about getting to know, trust and become friends with those who are different than you and who live in, or who are from, a different land.

Candlewick Press says; "Subverting convention, award-winning creators M. T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin pair up for an anarchic, outlandish, and deeply political saga of warring elf and goblin kingdoms.  Uptight elfin historian Brangwain Spurge is on a mission: survive being catapulted across the mountains into goblin territory, deliver a priceless peace offering to their mysterious dark lord, and spy on the goblin kingdom — from which no elf has returned alive in more than a hundred years. Brangwain’s host, the goblin archivist Werfel, is delighted to show Brangwain around. They should be the best of friends, but a series of extraordinary double crosses, blunders, and cultural misunderstandings throws these two bumbling scholars into the middle of an international crisis that may spell death for them — and war for their nations. Witty mixed media illustrations show Brangwain’s furtive missives back to the elf kingdom, while Werfel’s determinedly unbiased narrative tells an entirely different story. A hilarious and biting social commentary which could only come from the likes of National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson and Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin, this tale is rife with thrilling action and visual humor . . . and a comic disparity suggesting the ultimate victor in a war is perhaps not who won the battles, but who gets to write the history."

The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge is a truly unique book and story. I have never even heard of a book where entire chapters are completely illustrations which show one character's "take" on the story and the chapters with text tell another character's "take". Unique, captivating and just a lot of fun, this book will be enjoyed by older children, teens and adults alike - although I could totally do with out the spider in chapter 45! Be sure to read this book yourself, before giving it as a gift - or get a copy for yourself as well as you will probably want one for you, too - and then talk with your grandchildren about the messages in this book of developing trust and building friendship with others not like you.

I'm very happy to say, not only did Candlewick Press send me a copy of The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge to review, but they are making another available for me to give away (USA only). If you are over the age of 18 and would like to enter this drawing for The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge, which will be on November 21, 2018, please comment below to share a message which you would like to see show up more often in books for children - I'd have to say one which teaches loving others - whether they look like you or not.

In addition if you have followed on Google Friend Connect, followed by liking on facebook with the tab in the "Find us on Facebook" box ON THE BLOG or at this link (not just liking the post) and/or have followed grandma's cookie jar by email you will receive one entry for each of these which you have done. Plus, if you "share" this post, you'll receive another entry (please let me know if you share). This will help me be able to draw names from among people who would like to win The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge and it gives you several ways to enter the give-away! Thank you for reading grandma's cookie jar and for sharing it with the people you know!