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The Grimstones #1
Hatched
Hello, my name is Martha Grimstone. Shall I tell you my best secret? One day I'm going to be Lady Martha the Magnificent. I don't know what my special talent is, but I hope to find it any day now.
I live in a grand old house in a valley full of rare and precious herbs, which my grandfather uses to heal and comfort people. But they haven't worked on Mama; she cries a lake of tears every night. If only I could get into Grandpa Grimstone's apothecary and work my very own spell!
I live in a grand old house in a valley full of rare and precious herbs, which my grandfather uses to heal and comfort people. But they haven't worked on Mama; she cries a lake of tears every night. If only I could get into Grandpa Grimstone's apothecary and work my very own spell!
122 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Asphyxia
9 books82 followersAsphyxia is an artist, writer and public speaker. Author of the much-loved junior fiction series the Grimstones, Asphyxia has also been a circus performer and puppeteer. An avid art-journal creator, she loves to share her process and help others benefit from this amazing tool for self-expression, problem-solving, planning, goal-tracking and self-esteem.
Deaf since the age of three, Asphyxia learnt to sign when she was eighteen, which changed her life. She is now a Deaf activist, sharing details of Deaf experience. She raises awareness of oppression of Deaf people and what we can do to change this. Her free online Auslan course (www.asphyxia.com.au) has had over 15,000 students.
Asphyxia is kept busy with her small farm where she combines food-growing with art - creating a magical aesthetic with plants and natural elements.
Her novel for teens, Future Girl, combines all these passions.
Deaf since the age of three, Asphyxia learnt to sign when she was eighteen, which changed her life. She is now a Deaf activist, sharing details of Deaf experience. She raises awareness of oppression of Deaf people and what we can do to change this. Her free online Auslan course (www.asphyxia.com.au) has had over 15,000 students.
Asphyxia is kept busy with her small farm where she combines food-growing with art - creating a magical aesthetic with plants and natural elements.
Her novel for teens, Future Girl, combines all these passions.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 26, 2012
Martha Grimstone lives with her mother and grandfather in a dilapidated house built by her Grimstone ancestors. Her grandfather, Elcho, is a talented apothecary, using the many herbs and plants that grow in abundance around the old house to heal people. But Elcho cannot cure Velvetta Grimstone; Martha’s mother who cries for her lost love and Martha’s father, Mortimer. Also living in the Grimstone house is Aunt Gertrude – a terrible cook and Martha’s tutor – and August; the resident repairman and gardener whose family has served the Grimstone’s for many generations. And of course there’s father, who rests in the family crypt.
Everyone in the Grimstone household has their chores and talents. Mother is a talented seamstress, grandfather is a respected healer, August the reliable housekeeper and Aunt Gertrude, who runs the household like a navy captain. The only person who feels out of place in the Grimstone family is Martha – and that’s just because she hasn’t found her special talent yet. But all that’s about to change. . .
‘The Grimstones’ is a new children’s book series by Asphyxia.
‘The Grimstones’ is a book series companion to a puppet show of the same name. Asphyxia is a circus performer, puppeteer and writer. ‘The Grimstones’ puppet plays have toured Australia and overseas, and have now been adapted into children’s books (a sort of companion to the plays) for readers eight and older.
The heart of the story is a family trying to repair itself. Martha’s mother misses her father, Mortimer, who died when Martha was a child. Velvetta visits Mortimer’s crypt daily and not even grandpa Elcho’s herbs can stop her river of tears.
Martha has started a diary as she tries to grasp her special Grimstone family talent – and within its pages she draws pictures of the plants that grow wild around the old dilapidated house, as well as some of Elcho’s remedy recipes.
‘The Grimstones’ is a Gothic series – a cross between Mary Shelley and Tim Burton for the younger set. And I know that sounds odd and scary for younger readers. The puppets do have a ghostly, drawn appearance – with black-rimmed eyes and white complexions. And there is talk of a family crypt and the death of Martha’s father. But the books have real heart – at its crux, ‘The Grimstones’ is about family. It’s about moving on from tragedy and appreciating what you have instead of what you’ve lost. And Martha is a charming young narrator with a detailed eye and endless empathy for her mother’s heartache.
The novels are chapter books, but instead of illustrations, photos from the puppet play accompany the story. And this is the real brilliance of ‘The Grimstones’ – Asphyxia’s set designs and puppets are absolutely gorgeous. At the end of ‘Hatched’ there are pictures from the author’s workshop, where we see that mother Velvetta’s little Bobbin & Co. sewing machine was handcrafted from a piece of wood.
‘The Grimstones’ series is Gothic fairytale, told in puppet pictures and with a really lovely, heartfelt story at its centre. The books are sort of the best of Tim Burton (with lovely Gothicism and intricate puppetry) with a delicate but difficult story at its centre, not dissimilar to Neil Gaiman and the like. I think this is a fantastic series for younger readers – especially if parents take their children to the puppet show and give them an extra dose of this fantastical world.
Everyone in the Grimstone household has their chores and talents. Mother is a talented seamstress, grandfather is a respected healer, August the reliable housekeeper and Aunt Gertrude, who runs the household like a navy captain. The only person who feels out of place in the Grimstone family is Martha – and that’s just because she hasn’t found her special talent yet. But all that’s about to change. . .
‘The Grimstones’ is a new children’s book series by Asphyxia.
‘The Grimstones’ is a book series companion to a puppet show of the same name. Asphyxia is a circus performer, puppeteer and writer. ‘The Grimstones’ puppet plays have toured Australia and overseas, and have now been adapted into children’s books (a sort of companion to the plays) for readers eight and older.
The heart of the story is a family trying to repair itself. Martha’s mother misses her father, Mortimer, who died when Martha was a child. Velvetta visits Mortimer’s crypt daily and not even grandpa Elcho’s herbs can stop her river of tears.
Martha has started a diary as she tries to grasp her special Grimstone family talent – and within its pages she draws pictures of the plants that grow wild around the old dilapidated house, as well as some of Elcho’s remedy recipes.
‘The Grimstones’ is a Gothic series – a cross between Mary Shelley and Tim Burton for the younger set. And I know that sounds odd and scary for younger readers. The puppets do have a ghostly, drawn appearance – with black-rimmed eyes and white complexions. And there is talk of a family crypt and the death of Martha’s father. But the books have real heart – at its crux, ‘The Grimstones’ is about family. It’s about moving on from tragedy and appreciating what you have instead of what you’ve lost. And Martha is a charming young narrator with a detailed eye and endless empathy for her mother’s heartache.
The novels are chapter books, but instead of illustrations, photos from the puppet play accompany the story. And this is the real brilliance of ‘The Grimstones’ – Asphyxia’s set designs and puppets are absolutely gorgeous. At the end of ‘Hatched’ there are pictures from the author’s workshop, where we see that mother Velvetta’s little Bobbin & Co. sewing machine was handcrafted from a piece of wood.
‘The Grimstones’ series is Gothic fairytale, told in puppet pictures and with a really lovely, heartfelt story at its centre. The books are sort of the best of Tim Burton (with lovely Gothicism and intricate puppetry) with a delicate but difficult story at its centre, not dissimilar to Neil Gaiman and the like. I think this is a fantastic series for younger readers – especially if parents take their children to the puppet show and give them an extra dose of this fantastical world.
October 12, 2019
A slow moving book about a girl growing up in an old house with a depressed mother, strict ain't, and crazy grandfather.
Very very slow moving. Illustrations are photos of creepy puppets, which was cool, and the book was told from a diary perspective, which sounds better than it was.
Listed as an eyebrow book of 2019 because of the cool puppet eyebrows.
Very very slow moving. Illustrations are photos of creepy puppets, which was cool, and the book was told from a diary perspective, which sounds better than it was.
Listed as an eyebrow book of 2019 because of the cool puppet eyebrows.
May 14, 2018
Author and Illustrator: Asphyxia
Age Recommendation: Tween (maybe a bit earlier, maturity dependant)
Art Style: Collage using photography of her puppets and sets.
Topic/ Theme: Family, slice of life.
Setting: Grimstone Manor (I really want to call it Grimstone Manor, basically it's just a big old house)
Series: The Grimstones
Hatched is written as a diary, slice of life into the world of Martha Grimstone. Martha is young and anxious to find her place. She knows what she wants in the long term, to be the Lady Martha the Magnificent, and she knows what she wants in the short term, for her family to be happy. Nothing overly ground shaking happens given the circumstances. It is just a fantastic little story, this brilliantly pulls off the idea of slice of life.
The Grimstones from all I can ascertain started off life as a low scale stage production. The conversion from the stage to the page has been executed well. The world sucks you in. I would definitely recommend this to adults and younglings alike as a way to break the monotony. Adults will definitely be interested in The Making of the Grimstones note.
The author of the Grimstones series Asphyxia is deaf. While it is irrelevant to the merits of the book it is relevant to the recommendation of the book. Representation of works by a minority made available to them. Also Hatched is just kooky it is fantastic, unlike anything else I've read. Think of Martha as the chaotic good to Wednesday Addams' neutral evil.
July 30, 2014
This is a delightfully uneventful children's book! I love it how the slow pacing lets the reader really sink into the world and the characters. The leading lady, a little girl determined to be Great, is a welcome addition to heroines in literature. Bravo!
January 2, 2022
The art involved in this book is absolutely incredible. The Tim Burton like dolls an the intricate apothecary room blew me away! The story was slightly creepy and strangely cute. I really enjoyed the author's note at the the end where she describes her experience making the puppets and miniature rooms which she and her partner performed in what must have been an incredible live show. I wish I could have seen it in person but the book is a pretty great consolation.
December 12, 2021
Asphyxia toured this stunning puppet show to regional Queensland, and I took my daughter to see it. We were astounded by the beautiful puppets, and the lovely magical story of the Grimstones. We bought the book to remember the mesmerising show, and my little girl was so inspired by Asphyxia's boundless creativity. I wish her well in all her endeavours.
November 4, 2018
sweet, gothic and creative
April 16, 2022
ok story but very creative presentation. In awe of Asphyxia's puppets and tiny details.
January 31, 2025
A wonderful middle-grade narrative about a young girl who uses magic (love) to heal a broken heart.
I adore the dolls created by Asphyxia.
I adore the dolls created by Asphyxia.
May 3, 2013
Martta Kalmankallio asuu vanhassa talossa äitinsä, Gertrude- tätinsä, isoisänsä ja Aukusti- puutarhurin kanssa. Martan isä on kuollut, ja on nyt hautakammiossa pihalla.
Isoisä Kalmankallio tekee rohtoja kyläläisille, ja Martta haluaisi oppia taikoja myös. Harmi vain, että Marttaa pidetään liian huolimattomana.
Martta on kuitenkin päättänyt olla jonain päivänä Martta Maanmainiomahtava. Eikä ainakaan mikään Tuiki Tavallinen Järkevä Tantta!
Martan äiti suree isää, ja itkee kyyneljärven isän hautakammion viereen. Siksi Martta päättää auttaa äitiä, ja löytää loitsun jolla luodaan elämää. Niinpä Martta pistää toimeksi ja luo munan, josta kuoriutuu mahtava pikkuveli! Silti aikuiset ei ole oikein tyytyväisiä. Kummallista sakkia.
Tämä menee taidekirjaksi kuvituksen, suurisilmäisten goottinukkejen (-nukkien?) ansiosta. Kuvitus on ihan mahtavaa. Nuket on käsintehtyjä, samoin taustat. Kirjan lopussa esitellään miten hahmot on syntyneet.
Melkein tämä menee hämmentävää- osioonkin, mutta ei ihan. Tämä ei ole wtf- hämmentävää, vaan suloisen hassun hämmentävää, niinkuin goottilais- satujen kuuluu. Kertakaikkisen ihana kirja.
Isoisä Kalmankallio tekee rohtoja kyläläisille, ja Martta haluaisi oppia taikoja myös. Harmi vain, että Marttaa pidetään liian huolimattomana.
Martta on kuitenkin päättänyt olla jonain päivänä Martta Maanmainiomahtava. Eikä ainakaan mikään Tuiki Tavallinen Järkevä Tantta!
Martan äiti suree isää, ja itkee kyyneljärven isän hautakammion viereen. Siksi Martta päättää auttaa äitiä, ja löytää loitsun jolla luodaan elämää. Niinpä Martta pistää toimeksi ja luo munan, josta kuoriutuu mahtava pikkuveli! Silti aikuiset ei ole oikein tyytyväisiä. Kummallista sakkia.
Tämä menee taidekirjaksi kuvituksen, suurisilmäisten goottinukkejen (-nukkien?) ansiosta. Kuvitus on ihan mahtavaa. Nuket on käsintehtyjä, samoin taustat. Kirjan lopussa esitellään miten hahmot on syntyneet.
Melkein tämä menee hämmentävää- osioonkin, mutta ei ihan. Tämä ei ole wtf- hämmentävää, vaan suloisen hassun hämmentävää, niinkuin goottilais- satujen kuuluu. Kertakaikkisen ihana kirja.
April 2, 2014
Asphyxian kehittämä Kalmankallioiden perhe on erikoinen ja mielenkiintoinen tuttavuus nuortenkirjoissa. Kirja on kuvitettu nukkien avulla tehdyillä nukkekotikohtauksilla, ja tarinaa kertoo perheen tytär Martta.
Martan isä Mortimer on kuollut, ja Martan äiti viettää suurimman osan ajastaan hautaholvissa itkemässä hänen kuolemaansa. Martta ei haluaisi mitään muuta tässä maailmassa, kuin nähdä äitinsä onnellisena. Martan isoisä on apteekkari, joka osaa taikoa ja loitsia. Martta haaveileekin tulevansa isona Maanmahtavaksi Lady Martaksi, jolla on Maagisia taitoja.
Martta on kuin kuka tahansa normaali nuori: impulsiivinen, nopeaotteinen, seurauksia miettimätön tyttönen. Ehkä juuri tämän takia hän päättää loihtia äidilleen uuden vauvan.
Kalmankalliot sopivat tarinansa puolesta vitos-kutosluokkalaisten vinkkaukseen. Kokeilen itse ensin vitosille.
Martan isä Mortimer on kuollut, ja Martan äiti viettää suurimman osan ajastaan hautaholvissa itkemässä hänen kuolemaansa. Martta ei haluaisi mitään muuta tässä maailmassa, kuin nähdä äitinsä onnellisena. Martan isoisä on apteekkari, joka osaa taikoa ja loitsia. Martta haaveileekin tulevansa isona Maanmahtavaksi Lady Martaksi, jolla on Maagisia taitoja.
Martta on kuin kuka tahansa normaali nuori: impulsiivinen, nopeaotteinen, seurauksia miettimätön tyttönen. Ehkä juuri tämän takia hän päättää loihtia äidilleen uuden vauvan.
Kalmankalliot sopivat tarinansa puolesta vitos-kutosluokkalaisten vinkkaukseen. Kokeilen itse ensin vitosille.
April 12, 2016
This book is about Martha, a very lonely child who lives in a grand house with her sad mother and her magician grandfather. Her dad is dead, and her mother spend a lot of time either working to provide for her, or mourning her husband in his crypt.
The book is written like a journal, and the illustrations are photos of gothic puppets that the author herself has made. The illustrations are the reason I picked this book up, it looked like a nice little gothic inspired story for children, and I suppose it is. I am however a bit disappointed as I thought the plot was too slow to start up, and it wasn't as much of an adventure story as I had hoped. I was also not completely sold on the family values this book portrays, as I found them too conservative. But maybe that's me overthinking it.
The book is written like a journal, and the illustrations are photos of gothic puppets that the author herself has made. The illustrations are the reason I picked this book up, it looked like a nice little gothic inspired story for children, and I suppose it is. I am however a bit disappointed as I thought the plot was too slow to start up, and it wasn't as much of an adventure story as I had hoped. I was also not completely sold on the family values this book portrays, as I found them too conservative. But maybe that's me overthinking it.
November 8, 2012
While The Grimstones are creepy kooky characters, something has been lost in the translation from marionette puppets to book form. The diary format isn't entirely successful, especially when a single event happens on two different days, and the voices switches disconcertingly from past to present tense, and is, at one point, omnipresent!
That said, the main character, Martha, is an endearing little goth, who tries her hardest to do her best and fix things - often without any input from her odd collection of relatives. Martha's heart is in the right place at all times, and come to the fore when her spell-created egg hatches. A sweet story for younger readers.
That said, the main character, Martha, is an endearing little goth, who tries her hardest to do her best and fix things - often without any input from her odd collection of relatives. Martha's heart is in the right place at all times, and come to the fore when her spell-created egg hatches. A sweet story for younger readers.
March 19, 2013
Mukavanoloinen kertomus tytöstä, joka elää isoisän ja tädin kanssa, äiti ompelee yöt ja suree kuollutta miestään. Tyttö toivoo pääsevänsä loitsuoppiin isoisänsä apteekkiin, mutta tyrii jotenkin aina. Hän niin toivoo olevansa jotain. Hmm.. ja sitten astuu kuvaan kirjan makein puoli eli loistavat kuvat ja sopivasti pelottava goottimainen tyyli.
Ei mitään ihmeellistä, mutta menevä tarina, sopiva jännitys ja varmasti innostava taikuus. Kolmosista vitosiin, sen mukaan, kuka jaksaa lukea. Vinkkausreppuun. Seuraavaa osaa odotellessa.
Ei mitään ihmeellistä, mutta menevä tarina, sopiva jännitys ja varmasti innostava taikuus. Kolmosista vitosiin, sen mukaan, kuka jaksaa lukea. Vinkkausreppuun. Seuraavaa osaa odotellessa.
March 22, 2012
This is a Gothic fairytale about a girl, Martha Grimstone, who tries really hard to find her special talent and be magnificent, although often her attempts end in disaster. The book is in diary form, is illustrated with photos of the Goth puppets as well as drawings. This story had many humorous moments and Martha came alive in the story even though she is a puppet. This is a great book for children aged about 9 to 14.
February 20, 2016
My employer was selling these books for a while, but it wasn't until they were packed away that I decided to pick up this first book and read it. The books are based on a stage production featuring Gothic puppets which are a little like the Addams Family with a bit of Neil Gaiman dark humour and Potteresque magic thrown in. Poor Martha just wants to find her magnificence, but seems only to cause trouble along the way. Creepy cute.
December 1, 2013
An interesting read on what seems to be taking young impressionable pre-adolescent readers interest these days - gothic literature. I was intrigued by the narrator's sharp wit, sophisticated language and mild plot. Not for 8-9 year olds in my opinion.
Currently reading
April 18, 2012So far this book has been great. It has not been as grimm as the cover made it look!
February 9, 2023
This, along with the floods is precisely what I will read to my kids
August 23, 2016
Someone spent a great deal of time on the illustration style of this book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews