Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Posted by : Deborah Takahashi Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Plot Summary:
Meggie loves books. In fact, not only does she love books, she cannot sleep, eat, or breathe without them. Thanks to her father, Mo, and his profession (he is a bookbinder), Meggie passes her time with books. However, she isn't like most twelve-year-old girls. Meggie lost her mother when she was three-years-old and it's been her and Mo ever since. What's even more unusual is that she and Mo are constantly moving so her idea of home is the van parked outside of their temporary homestead. What was supposed to be another lazy evening, Meggie spots a man lurking outside their "home" in the rain. When she tells her father, he goes to meet this man, who turns out to be an old acquaintance of Mo's. Although Meggie does not like the idea of a stranger visiting them so late, she overhears that this man is not just a stranger, but someone from past who carries many secrets and a warning that Capricorn is after a specific book that Mo has. Unlike most collectors, Capricorn is evil and dangerous who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. What Meggie doesn't know is that her mother's disappearance, the stranger's warning, and Capricorn's threats are all related to a single book that her father refuses to hand over, which leads to an adventure that can only be found in the books that Meggie loves.

Critical Evaluation:
Inkheart is one of the most detailed, thorough, and and epic tween novel I have ever read. In many respects, readers have to have the patience to digest the background story before the adventure really begins. I will admit that my interest was waning because there would be moments of story-->action-->story. Although I wasn't sure what to expect, I kept on reading and I am so glad I did! The characters in this story are utterly amazing, in the fact, they all have stories and personalities of their own. My favorite character in this story is Elinor because not only did she grow, as a person, she changed immensely, which gives readers hope that she will be more loving, courageous, and determined. Moreover, her transformation proves that even the most stubborn character can change, including the villains. Lastly, another aspect of this story, is the ending of this book prepares the readers for an adventure that leaves them craving the next installment. This feeling is important to motivate the reader to keep reading, which is essential for any series.

Information about the Author:
Cornelia Funke was born in 1958 in Westphalia, German. According to Scholastic Publishers:

Following a post-graduate course in book illustration at the Hamburg State College of Design, Cornelia Funke worked as a designer and illustrator of children’s books. But disappointment in the way some of the stories were told, combined with her desire to draw fantastic creatures and magical worlds rather than the familiar situations of school and home, inspired her to write her own stories.

Cornelia Funke is a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkies, J.M. Barrie, and C.S. Lewis; she loves a good fantasy and she clearly has good taste. Before becoming an author, Funke worked as a social worker where her experience, during that time, provided her with ideas for future works:

When I finished the school I wanted to change the world and I though the best way would be to become a social worker. I worked for three years on an adventure playground in Hamburg and I’ll never forget the children I met there. Many of them came from very difficult backgrounds and dysfunctional families, but I respected them so much for their courage and their compassion for one another. I saw them care for their siblings, where their parents didn’t care at all. I saw them laugh although life didn’t give them much to laugh about. They taught me so much that I still owe them.

Genre:
Tween Fantasy

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 5-7

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