Review of "Inkheart"

"What does this Capricorn do when he's not stealing books and abducting people's fathers?"

     Today we review a title by one Cornelia Funke, an author from Germany who has written many books for children. Inkheart tells the story of Meggie, the twelve-year-old daughter of bookbinder Mortimer "Mo" Folchart. The two are classic bookworms, reading and re-reading every book that comes their way. When they don't have anything to read (which is rare), Mo spins wild stories that almost seem real; but as far as Meggie knows, he has never read aloud from a book. When a villain calling himself Capricorn kidnaps Mo, she finally discover's her father's secret: whenever he reads words off of a page, they literally come to life. Capricorn wants Mo to read a terrifying monster into our world, and only Meggie--with the help of an arrogant author, an old woman, and two fictional characters--can stop him.

     Many books about twelve-year-olds feature stunning adventures involving magic, friendship, and ugly monsters. Inkheart does not follow this pattern. The characters are complex and come from all walks of life: a retired author with two grandchildren, a homesick fire-eater, a reclusive book collector--even a horned martin. Each one is well-rounded, has ulterior motives, and possesses hidden traits. And, unlike plenty of other children's stories, the villain's cruelty is very believable.

     The world in which the story is set is beautifully detailed, with descriptions of everything from the church-turned-throne-room of Capricorn to the box where Meggie keeps her books. Inkheart is set in Italy, and the landscape fits seamlessly into the story. Characters are forced to climb up steep, heavily vegetated slopes, hide out in remote villages, and take shelter in the ruins of an ancient building. Everything is described with equal care, be it from our world or another.

     The plot of Inkheart is original and immersive. Meggie is thrown from one situation to another, learning about all sorts of evil plots and unpleasant schemes. She learns about her father's gift, a heart-wrenching betrayal, and the existence of the one person she thought never to see again. Nothing is sugarcoated. Books are burned, violent threats are made, and the villains delight in cruelty. Yet this is still a kid's book, or at least a YA one. Funke has the incredible ability to keep her work age-appropriate while giving the story enough violence and action to be realistic.

     Aside from the occasional "Damn!", characters in Inkheart do not partake in profanity.

     I would recommend Inkheart to anyone who loves books, magic, intelligent characters, and realistic plots. Although it is set in the real world, every aspect of the landscape seems filled with magic, and you never quite know what to expect in the next chapter. No matter how old you are, you're never too old for Inkheart. For all these reasons, I give it five stars.