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Pivotal Book Review

Inkdeath (Inkheart)

 

by Cornelia Funke

 

Synopsis

The Adderhead--his immortality bound in a book by Meggie's father, Mo--has ordered his henchmen to plunder the villages. The peasants' only defense is a band of outlaws led by the Bluejay--Mo's fictitious double, whose identity he has reluctantly adopted. But the Book of Immortality is unraveling, and the Adderhead again fears the White Women of Death. To bring the renegade Bluejay back to repair the book, the Adderhead kidnaps all the children in the kingdom, dooming them to slavery in his silver mines unless Mo surrends. First Dustfinger, now Mo: Can anyone save this cursed story?
 

Publishers Weekly

This concluding volume in Funke's bestselling trilogy picks up where Inkspell left off, but sputters for a hundred pages filling in backstory. (Even then, an addendum is needed to identify a cast of 114 characters.) The Inkworld, full of dark magic, is under siege; the savagery of the Adderhead and his minions now extends to taking all the peasants' children until somebody delivers, as ransom, the Bluejay, a Robin Hood-style character whose identity has been assumed by Mo, Meggie's father (it was Mo who started all the trouble by reading several villains right out of the book-within-a-book, Inkheart- don't even consider reading this series out of order). The Inkheart author, Fenoglio, now living in Inkworld himself, has turned to drink; the odious Orpheus, when he's not under a maid's skirt, rewrites Fenoglio's work (editors!) to benefit himself. The interesting metafictional questions-can we alter destiny? shape our own fate?-are overwhelmed by the breakneck action, yet the villains aren't fully realized. More disappointingly, the formerly feisty Meggie, barely into her teens, has little to do but choose between two suitors. Funke seems to have forgotten her original installment was published for children. Ages 9-up.

Cornelia Funke

This is the third and last book of the Ink-trilogy, and the story will begin about 8 weeks, after Inkspell ended. You will meet many of the characters you know by now, Mo and Meggie, Resa and Farid, Elinor and Darius, Fenoglio and, yes, you will also meet Dustfinger again and Roxane and the martens. The Black Prince will be back and many of the other robbers. You will get to know the Strong Man's brother Doria and the Adderhead's brother in law, whom the widows of Ombra call the Milksop. Violante and Orpheus will play a big part this time and there will be some others of course, new and old places and hopefully as much adventure, as you want to find on the pages!

From the reviews

Its excellently paced, descriptive, suspenseful, and keeps you flipping the pages, just salivating for the finish.

Inkdeath has a lot of twists that you wouldn't expect and several times I held my breath, both in awe of the authors creativity and fear for what would become of these beloved characters.


Books and Resources for Teaching Inkheart

 


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Indian in the Cupboard Study Guide

Omri receives several conventional gifts for his ninth birthday, including a
longed-for skateboard. However, two gifts you would expect to be of least
interest to a young boy prove to be magical and exciting. Suitable for
primary aged students this study guide has learning outcomes in key learning
areas such as English, Art and Society and Environment.

 

Make a book for Grandpa

Help your child make a book

about Grandpa (or another older friend or relative). When it’s finished it will make a great gift to give to Grandpa.