“THE OGRE OF OGLEFORT,” by Eva Ibbotson, illustrated by Lisa K. Weber, Dutton Juvenile, August 18, 2011, $16.99 (ages 8 and up)
Princess Mirella has become fed-up with being a princess, and would much rather be a bird. Ivo is ready to escape the orphanage where he lives, and have some true adventures. And a smattering of aging magical beings and beasts are worn-out with the duldrums of living in what is becoming — more and more – a very unmagical world.
What do they do to solve these problems?
They head off to the local Ogre’s castle to change their fates and use their talents in vanquishing a terrible foe. Of course, things are never exactly what they seem in stories such as this, which means both the characters and the reader are in for an exciting journey of fun as they experience Oglefort and all its unique peculiarities.
While much of “The Ogre of Oglefort” is a meandering read through conflict and resolution, several battle scenes near the close of the novel offer more substantial adventure for the reader. By this point, the reader has discovered that life is always full of twists and surprises, and that the novel’s characters are not exactly who they appeared to be at the beginning.
One of the greatest strengths of this book, Ibbotson’s characters are both likeable and approachable — including the Ogre. One can’t help enjoy meeting all these fascinating individuals with their strange abilities and nutty personalities. Written with both a hero and a heroine, boys and girls will find it easy to put themselves inside the story and imagine they are truly along for the fun. Meanwhile, the novel’s secondary characters are full of quirks and qualities that make the reader want to make friends with them too. Even Ibbotson’s few truly evil characters are humorous and amusing — often providing laughs at the same time that they are creating havoc and mayhem.
Nothing about Eva Ibbotson’s “The Ogre of Oglefort” is typical or dull. Her delight in twisting things from what they appear to be to another — slightly comical — reality makes this book a delightful and pleasant read for both children and adults. A few scary ghost scenes and one light swear word make this book an appropriate choice for the slightly older elementary school audience.
