The Ogress and the Orphans
Books | Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Dragons, Unicorns & Mythical
4.5
Kelly Barnhill
A National Book Award finalist and instant fantasy classic about the power of community, generosity, books, and baked goods, from the author of the beloved Newbery Medal winner The Girl Who Drank the Moon. The town of Stone in the Glen used to be lovely, but it hasn't been so in a very long time. Once a celebrated town with a vibrant town square, prosperous businesses and families, and educated, happy children, Stone in the Glen has fallen on hard times. Since the expansive and beloved Library burned with other buildings in a time of terrible fires, the town has been plagued by droughts, blight, and destruction. But the people have continued to put their faith in the Mayor, a dazzling fellow with a bright shock of golden hair and brilliant white teeth who promises that he alone can solve their problems. And he is a famous dragon slayer! At least, no one has ever seen a dragon in the Mayor's presence... But somebody is to blame for the town's problems, not only the fires and the decline that followed them, but the child who has gone missing from the local Orphan House. And with a little helpful suggestion from the Mayor, all eyes turn to the Ogress who has come to live at the far edge of town. Only the children of the Orphan House know the truth. Together, they must clear the Ogress's name and solve the mystery of the town's destruction before their home of Stone in the Glen is destroyed by its own people.
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Author
Kelly Barnhill
Pages
400
Publisher
Algonquin Books
Published Date
2022-03-08
ISBN
1643750747 9781643750743
Community ReviewsSee all
"I loved, loved, loved this story. I'm a big fan of Kelly Barnhill ever since I read her other book, The Girl Who Drank the Moon and this did not disappoint. This definitely lives up to the hype. <br/>This did have moments that seemed a bit slow, but overall I loved pretty much everything about this. This got me right in the feels and I think everyone needs to read this. This is the kind of book that everyone needs to read. I think the world needs this story especially now. This was a very well-done audiobook and I didn't think it could get any better, but it did with audio. The narrator is fantastic and brings the characters, the world, the story, and the wonderful message to life and straight to your heart. Suzanne Toren does a great job with the narration and made me feel like I was in the world with the story and the characters. <br/>This is about an ogress in a village who is kind to everyone, a dragon in disguise, and the orphans who save the day. This is like a love letter to everyone and a warm hug.<br/>Make sure to go get this and check it out. I highly recommend this. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for letting me listen to and review this amazing story. All thoughts and opinions are my own."
Annette W
"I loved this as much as The Girl Who Drank the Moon. An allegory for our current times, yet a timeless reminder of the importance of community, graciousness, and generosity. it does, after all, take a village! The tale here starts with a town, its citizens, a stone, and a shiny mayor. Our dazzling mayor is more than he seems. He enflames division, burns books (for ignorant people are easier to control), hoards the wealth of the town, spreads fake news, and admires himself as only a true narcissist can do.<br/><br/>P.380<br/>The town had a mayor who wasn't the man he said he was. Indeed, he wasn't a man at all. In addition to enthralling the citizens with his pretty lies and manipulating them with his devious half-truths, [he] had been stealing from the town for years. Letting the public good go bad. Standing by while the notion of neighborliness shriveled and died like an unwatered garden. Encouraging the people to cultivate grievance and petulance and isolation and to reject reconciliation and community. There was blame to share all around. But the town's failures didn't mean that they couldn't choose to do better. The Ogress knew this. So did the orphans. And eventually, so did the rest of the town.<br/><br/>This be a re-read at some point."
P G
Paul Garcia
