The Ogress and the Orphans
By: Kelly Barnhill
My Rating: THREE out of FIVE Stars
Best For: 10 and up

The Ogress and the Orphans: A Clever Fable That’s a Little Too Sweet

Kelly Barnhill is a quality middle-grade author, and her book The Ogress and the Orphans is a clever fable with a lot of heart. While I definitely appreciate its mix of magic and morals, I’m a bit torn on this one. It’s the kind of book adults would love for kids to read because of its good messages, but I think a lot of kids might find it a bit boring.

What’s it about?

The once-lovely town of Stone-in-the-Glen is not so lovely anymore. The residents have lost their sense of community, putting all their trust in a charismatic Mayor who, despite his promises, seems to be making everything worse. The only people who can see what’s really happening are the clever children living in the town’s Orphan House, and a kind Ogress who lives just beyond its borders. The Mayor’s hold on the town is threatened, however, when a child from the Orphan House goes missing. The Mayor, a famously successful dragon slayer, quickly points the finger at the Ogress, who is secretly the kindest person in Stone-in-the-Glen. Now, the children must fight to save their friend from a deluded public who refuses to listen and convince them of the real villain in their midst.

What did I think?

I loved the lessons this book teaches about community, compassion, and the dangers of passing judgment on others. It’s a fun mix of magic and morals, and it has all the hallmarks of a good fable. However, I found the book’s delivery to be too flowery and on the nose. There are no secrets here. The story is quite simple and easy to see through, which makes it feel slow and repetitive at times. The characters, especially the children, are a bit unrealistic and much more emotionally mature than they should be, which can take you out of the story. Unlike The Girl Who Drank the Moon, this story is about as subtle as a bag of hammers.

The lack of a compelling mystery or a stronger narrative drive means that while the message is a good one, it might not hold the attention of all middle-grade readers.

Sensitive Content:

No content concerns.

Should you read it?

This book is a fantastic read-aloud for younger children who can benefit from its message of kindness and compassion. It’s a good, solid middle-grade story, but it’s not as exciting as some of the other great books in the genre. This dad says The Ogress and the Orphans is best for 10 and up.

Happy Reading!