Book: The Ogress and the Orphans

Author: Kelly Barnhill

Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars





I would like to thank the publisher, Algonquin Young Readers, for providing me with an ARC.



Let me start out by saying that this is a very charming story. I think all the bones of a great middle grade fantasy. My issue being that is way too long for this age group and it does read a little young. I was confused as to if this is supposed to be a middle grade story or a children’s story. While it does read like a children’s book, it has some elements that make it middle grade. I guess that I just don’t know who the target audience is supposed to be. Regardless of what age group we are looking at, it is far too long for either.



There were certain elements of the book that I did like-don't get me wrong on that one. I did like the overall charm and feeling that I got while reading it. We see how far a simple act of kindness can go. We see the impacts that these little acts can have on people. It's a great act message and allows us to see things that we may not always see. It gives us a chance to see just how things that may go unnoticed do, in fact, have an impact on the world around them. I like that we have this message. I think it is something that this age group needs to have.



The writing was charming and, overall, did the job. However, the way it is presented makes it, once again, to figure out what our target age group is. While a lot of the themes are more geared toward the middle grade age, the overall writing feels like a child’s book. I really do think that middle schoolers are going to struggle with this. I do think my fifth grade students would be okay with the overall writing, but I know older middle school students would not. They will not read something that reads so childish. They are looking for something with a little more depth.



I guess my main issue with the book is that I don’t know for who the target audience is. Had I been able to figure that out, I think I would have been able to better judge the book. I will say, that no matter if the target audience is middle grade or children’s, the overall length is way too long for this age group.



This book comes out on March 8, 2022.

"The world is filled with goodness, and our response should not be silence and suspicion. You have a responsibility to be grateful. You have a responsibility to do good as a result."

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You know me, I love a good fairy tale with a nice moral. What I don't love is a socialist tome with an entirely heavy-handed commentary on politics and the distribution of wealth. If this had been 250 pages and focused on the Ogress and the orphans and the message of "don't judge a book by it's cover" and the importance of kindness. I would have given it 4 stars. That book was in there, but it was buried in socialist rhetoric and a Trump-esque mayor creating problems just to solve them and look like a hero.

I loved the focus on literacy and the importance of books to build empathy and understanding. And the bond formed between the Ogress, all the animals and the children was beautiful and certainly something I think children could benefit from reading. The rest of it, I think would generally bore most kids and it only served to frustrate me. If I hadn't signed up for a book tour I would likely have DNFed this one.

I think this one will appeal to some but not all. Have a good read of the synopsis and decide for yourself.

Thanks to Algonquin for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.

This is the feel-good book that we need right now, when there is so much not right with the world. It’s got the kind Ogress you want to hug and the greedy dragon it’s so easy to hate, especially when he plays tricks on people for his own benefit. And then there are the clever orphans to cheer on as they try to unravel why so many bad things are happening.

Even the townsfolk are all three-dimensional characters. They reminded me of my own neighbors as I read. And if you’re really the bookish type, you’ll enjoy the orphans’ mysterious library with more books than the room has space for (which equips them with the knowledge they’ll need to fight the good fight), and the cats (that see everything the people miss). Thank you, Kelly Barnhill, for writing this lovely, heartwarming book and reminding us how to make our own little corner of the world a better place.

This is a great read for lovers of fantasy, lovely writing, good triumphing over evil, so . . . pretty much everyone.

Thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for providing an arc of The Ogress and the Orphans. It was provided in exchange for an honest review.

This review is up on Goodreads now. I'll post to The Winged Pen next Tuesday and on Amazon and Barnes & Noble after launch.

When it comes to middle grade fantasy, Kelly Barnhill is a force to be reckoned with. Our setting, Stone-in-the-Glen, was once a beautiful and community-oriented town. However, after some buildings being burnt down and the coincidental arrival of a new hero who becomes the mayor, the town is now a much duller and less cheery place. Our ogress makes her new home at the edge of town. She secretly shares her delicious sweet and savory treats under the dark of night and rescues a runaway orphan, but is it enough to bring the town back together?
Thanks to the third-person omniscient narration, we're able to see the town through a variety of characters and over the course of time, which leaves you curious with who (or what) is narrating the story. The writing is lush and delightful, and the story has you mulling over how a community can change, both for better and for worse. There are definitely some parallels to recent years, and while the destruction of the town is heartbreaking, the repair has you feeling hopeful and asking yourself "What is a neighbor?"

Stone-in-Glen was once a wonderful town that has now fallen on hard times. First the library burned down, followed by the school closing, and now everyone has retreated inside their homes instead of coming together as a community. When a child disappears from the orphanage, the mayor is quick to accuse the Ogress that lives outside of town. However, the other orphans know it cannot be her. She's the generous one who has been delivering food to everyone in need secretly during the nights. How can they convince everyone it's not her?
If you loved Kelly Barnhill's Previous story, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, you're going to love this one even more. Perfect for readers of all ages with a timeless message of generosity. After all, "The more you gIve, the more you have,"

Heavens, this book was quite preachy. I’m not quite sure what to make of it, but I didn’t enjoy having life lessons shoved in my face while trying to enjoy characters and story. Because this story was told from the perspective of an omniscient narrator, there's many sentences and paragraphs purely devoted to talking about kindness and judging and all sorts of feel-good life lessons. It very much distracted from the story and the characters, making them seem less important. If I wanted to read a self-help book about being a good neighbor, I wouldn't pick up a middle grade fantasy. I'm just confused how any child or teenager would find this book entertaining enough to keep reading.

All that being said, does this book carry an important message? Of course. Is the story itself interesting and heart warming? Yes. So it does have some merit. And I'm sure there's plenty of people out there who appreciate the preachiness and moralizing nature of the story. I'm definitely not one of those people (I prefer my books' themes to be represented in the characters, not shoved at me in random sentences and paragraphs by a self-righteous narrator). Anyways, this obviously wasn't the book for me, which is a shame because I adored The Girl Who Drank the Moon.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 2
Plot/Movement: 2
Character Development: 3
Overall: 2

Thank you, Algonquin Young Readers, for the ARC!

A middle grade fable that most adults would benefit from reading. In a small village an older couple struggle to raise a houseful of orphans. The children are well loved and they respond by working hard to take care of chores and the younger children but it is not enough. The village used to be a thriving place until the mayor came planting seeds of distrust and discontent.
In the woods beyond the village lives an ogress who has a gentle nature and sees that the villagers are needing help. Under the cover of darkness she begins leaving them nightly gifts of food which all the villagers eagerly accept without giving any thought to where they are coming from. Through the mayor and their own discontent they blame the ogress for all their misfortune. It will take a group of determined orphans, a murder of wise crows, a small herd of sheep and a blind dog to bring the ogress back into the town's good graces and erase the hurt and suspicions of the past. The point of this story is what is means to be a neighbor and it is a message that we all need more of these days. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

When I found out that Kelly Barnhill had written a new middle-grade book, I had to get my hands on it as soon as possible.. And I was so happy that I had the chance to read it through NetGalley!

This book left me crying…

I don’t know how Kelly Barnhill does it, but again, this book feels like a warm and comfortable blanket, but still filled with so much sometimes hard to swallow truths.

The book talks about neighborliness, about how greed destroys everything and how sharing and caring are really the pillars of a good society. About creatures that can only be kind because maybe they are a little naive, about how time stretches when you read and tell stories or when you are doing something for someone else. About the innocence of childhood and how important it is to preserve some of it while growing up.

Plot and story wise, The Girl Who Drank the Moon still feels superior. The Ogress and the Orphans is a little too long, the middle part is stretched out and some parts are repeated. But what the story means to say hit me differently, it hit me on a deep human level and it soothed the loneliness I sometimes feel. And I think that’s where Barnhill's strength as a writer really lies. I rate this book a 9.

This was a wonderful story that has adventure, fantasy, and a heart-warming message. Cashier got a bit heavy handed with the message at the end of the book. However, this didn’t detract from the general appeal of orphans helping an ogress when everyone else shunned her.

This book charms its way right into the hardest of hearts. Both the ogress and the orphans are an absolute delight, and the dragon is a perfect villain.

Fifteen children live in the orphan house in Stone-in-Glen, being cared for by a pair of aging former orphans who found love with each other. But the town has been failing since the burning of its library (possibly by a dragon), with everyone getting meaner and less neighborly. The only thing holding it together is the Mayor and his dazzling personality. On the outskirts of town, a lonely ogress plants her garden, bakes, and watches over the town. She doesn't know the orphans' names, but she knows their personalities from what she can see from her telescope. But the orphan house is running out of food and money, and the offerings the ogress leaves in secret aren't enough to tide them over. When one of the orphans runs away so there will be more food to go around, the ogress finds her sick in the forest. The ogress's lonely life collides with that of the children, the villagers, and the Mayor, and none of them will never be the same again.

This story is narrated by a mysterious, all-seeing character, who engagingly shares the history of the town and the Ogress interspersed with delightful scenes showing the big hearts of the children and the Ogress. You're rooting for their inevitable meeting. You're also hoping for the children to be believed, as they know much more than any of the adult characters about what's really going on in the town.

Barnhill's lyrical prose brings the story to life, as evidenced by this description of the library fire:

"Books flew out the melting windows like panicked birds, their wings bright and phosphorescent. They were beautiful for a moment, the town remembers, the way a heart is beautiful in the moment before it breaks."

She also brings the orphans to life, from mom figure Anthea who believes in logic and science and making sure all the babies are taken care of, to head in the clouds Bartleby who doesn't notice changes until it's too late, to Cass, who doesn't talk much but her actions speak louder than her words.

This touching story shows what can happen when characters set their misconceptions aside and open their hearts to each other.

Thank you to Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love this book so much! It is frustrating when the adults will not listen to the children, who know what the problems are in the village. Many children (and adults) will relate to this as they feel ignored in real life. But it is so satisfying when the adults finally do listen to the children who figure out the answers to make things better. This book teaches about compassion towards those who are different, and avoiding being manipulated by flashy people with hidden agendas (and identities) who only have their own interests at heart. I highly recommend this book for middle grades and cannot wait to purchase it for my school.

"Pay Attention.

Listen.
This is a story about an ogress.
She is not who you might think she is.
(But really, is anyone?)'

’This is also a story about a family of orphans.’

And, might I add, a story about a dragon. A greedy, remorseless, dragon who feeds on the seeds of disagreement among the people in this town, and delights in the increasing discord in this small town.

But before this story begins, you should know that Stone-in-the Glen was a charming town which had a Library that all roads in the town led to, it was so beloved. That is, until it was destroyed in a fire.

’Books flew out the melting windows like panicked birds, their wings bright and phosphorescent. They were beautiful for a moment, the town remembers, the way a heart is beautiful in the moment before it breaks.’

This was the beginning of another series of unfortunate events, as the school burned not long after, followed by a series of other fires, which led to the loss of the town's trees. The fruit trees, and then the blossoming trees, and finally the much needed shade trees died, which led to even more problems. People withdrew, staying in their homes, keeping their children inside, stopped caring for and about others, choosing to focus on their own problems.

It is also a town with an orphanage which cares for fifteen orphans. Orphan House managed to accommodate them all, despite its small size, but they also rely on the town for assistance. And it is also a story about an Ogress who lives on the outskirts of Stone-in-the Glen, who delights in leaving goodies for the residents as they sleep. So when talk spreads, encouraged by the Mayor, that the Ogress is the one responsible for the children who have disappeared, including the one most recently missing from the orphanage, she becomes a target. And even more lies and innuendos are whispered by the townsfolk. The orphans have come to know, and love, the Ogress, but can they convince the townsfolk?

Just days ago, I read Kelly Barnhill’s previous book, The Girl Who Drank the Moon which I thoroughly enjoyed. Reading The Ogress and the Orphans was even more delightful. I know it’s early in the year, but I expect this one to make my Best of 2022 list. While it is listed as Children’s Fiction, I think it is one to be enjoyed by all ages.


Pub Date: 08 Mar 2022

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Algonquin Young Readers

Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own (well, and that of my granddaughter.) What a JOY this book was! Many children's books stick to a formula, or they seem to talk down to children. The author paints such a lovely picture of the town, the characters and the situations. I've not often seen such lyrical prose, whether in an adult book or a children's title. What is a neighbor? What makes a good community, and what happens when they start to judge and suspect each other of trying to bring down the village? I highly recommend this beautiful book.

A weaving of a fairy tale and original story "The Ogress and the Orphans" tells the tale of a once thriving community which has been devastated by a series of misfortunes. Formerly friendly neighbors are now pitted against each other as the village devolves and the new Mayor hides his secret treasure. Barnhill states at the beginning of this book that she wasn't sure if it would be a fairy tale, a picture book or a full-fledged novel. Although the fairy tale aspect follows classic lines, the story tends to wander back and forth from orphans to the mayor to the citizens of the town to the Ogress and the crows and between a rock and a long-dead tree. Lessons about community, sharing and loving each other are face forward and obvious. Adults reading will most likely finish the book, but children may struggle with the slow pace and repetition and may not stick with this to the end.

A beautiful story about neighbors, the power of the written word, and found family. I enjoyed this so much.

What worked:
The author says she needed a way to heal her soul after the nastiness and cruelty that grew from a recent presidency. This book tells the story of how simple acts of kindness can spread, as others pass good feelings on to their neighbors. However, in order to share that lesson, the author needs to create a problem of meanness and prejudice. Young readers might not notice references to actual events, but many of the awful comments from characters are eerily disturbing. It’s hard to imagine formerly kind neighbors treating each other with suspicion and selfishness, and it’s all caused by the efforts of one character.
The author helps readers empathize with the Ogress, as she’s a wonderfully kind creature. She loves helping others anonymously, out of the kindness of her heart, so the villagers of Stone-in-the-Glen are unaware of her generosity. She constantly tells herself, “The more I give, the more I have.” She takes a special interest in the orphans, as they suffer from the lack of community support. The Ogress brings them extra food and steps in to help when other problems arise. The orphans receive strange dreams about what’s actually happening in the village, but it’s hard to trust thoughts that arise from touching books, wood, and stone. It’s fitting to note the characters’ realization that many solutions to problems can be found in books.
The author’s voice is descriptive and philosophical, and it’s shared in the manner of a storyteller. An interview with the author reveals this book began as a shorter fairy tale, but it developed a life of its own and became a novel. The whole tale sounds like the narrator is speaking directly to readers, and there are hints that the narrator is one of the characters. It’s fun to consider comments and evidence throughout the book and imagine the narrator’s identity. The narrator is omniscient at is aware of all events and thoughts. Readers are able to contrast the mayor’s greedy thoughts, words, and actions and contrast them the ogress’s benevolence toward animals, plants, and the villagers.
The final verdict:
How can good people be cruel to others? It’s refreshing to see the kindness of the Ogress, and the perseverance of the orphans defeat the discord created by the mayor. I can’t think of any negatives about this book, and readers of all ages will love it.

No one does fairy tales better than Kelly Barnhill. Reading as an adult, I saw clearly each cleverly spun metaphor for the story actually being told, and could easily see kid readers enjoying this for the fairy tale it easy, and internalizing the messages it teaches.