Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Book Review and Summary of the First Book in the Inkheart Series
Sep 29, 2008
If Inkheart’s colorful cover depicting fairies and a magical land isn’t enough to entice the reader, then the story certainly will.
Summary
Young adults who love to read will identify with Meggie, a 12-year-old girl with a passion for books so great that she fears leaving the house without a few familiar reads. Meggie was raised by her father, Mo, a bookbinder with a unique and dangerous gift—he can read characters out of books. Mo discovered his gift nine years ago when he read aloud from a book called Inkheart, and three controversial characters materialized before his eyes: a fire-eater named Dustfinger, the villainous Capricorn and his knife-wielding accomplice, Basta. To make matters worse, Meggie’s mother and their two cats took their place within the pages.
Now Dustfinger is back, begging Mo to read him home—a task that Mo simply cannot do. But Dustfinger also delivers a warning: Capricorn has sent his men to capture Mo and force him to read another villain out of Inkheart. With no time to lose, Meggie and Mo leave home and take refuge at Meggie’s great-aunt Elinor’s house, a woman whose house is crammed with books. Together, the three of them embark on a life-threatening journey to protect themselves from the greedy clutches of Capricorn and his murderous men. On the way, Meggie learns the secrets of Mo’s past and their connection to her mother’s mysterious disappearance.
Review
Writing about literature is not an easy feat. But German author Cornelia Funke, the bestselling author of The Thief Lord, has made it work brilliantly. Her writing style combines a modern voice with fable-like qualities. She showcases her love of books by cleverly weaving titles and characters from classic stories (such as Tinkerbell and the Tin Soldier) into the plot.
At 534 pages, this book is longer than most young-adult novels, but it is divided into short, digestible chapters. Readers will adore the quirky and sympathetic characters, including the villains whose words are far more threatening than their actions.
Other Books by Cornelia Funke
Inkspell, the sequel to Inkheart, is twice the fun as it follows Meggie into the magical world of Inkheart. Surrounded by fairies, trolls and traveling circuses, Meggie soon finds that this world, like her own, is filled with unexpected dangers. The third book in the Inkheart trilogy, Inkdeath, will be released in hardcover on October 7, 2008.
Cornelia Funke is the author of many books for young readers including Igraine the Brave, Dragon Rider, The Thief Lord, and the Ghosthunters series.
Inkheart, The Movie
While the release of the Inkheart movie was originally planned for April, 2008, the film is now expected to hit theatres in the US on January 9, 2009. The film will star such big Hollywood names as Brendan Fraser, Paul Bettany and Helen Mirren. And in her first leading theatrical role, Eliza Bennett (who played Tora in the 2005 family film Nanny McPhee) will star as Meggie Folchart.
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