Saving the Griffin

by Kristin Wolden Nitz

For Kate, life back home in Minnesota is a not-so-distant memory. Her fathers work has brought the family overseas to a countryside estate in Tuscany. Kate spends much of her time with her younger brother, nine-year-old Michael, roaming the beautiful estate grounds, filled with moss-covered statues, cypress trees, and olive groves. But when Kate and Michael find a lost baby griffin--a strange, fantastical creature with colorful downy feathers and tufts of fur-- they enter into a magical adventure marked by danger, fear, and a sinister, beckoning presence named Prince Eduardo. The two try to keep Grifonino safe and his existence a secret, but pursuit by greedy paparazzi and eager scientists threatens the creatures safety. Now, with the help of their older brother Stephen, the siblings set out to solve the mystery of where the magical creature came fromand how to get him back there once and for all.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Italy, Childrens

184 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2007

About the author

I am a chronic tourist, armchair and otherwise, from Connecticut to Washington State, from Italy to Malaysia, from Attolia to Middle Earth.
Give me caves and castles, tombs and temples, mountains and museums.

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this to my 6 year old boy and 3 year old girl for bedtime story over several weeks. When we were done we asked the 6 year old how many stars he would give it an his answer was "5 because it was the coolest book ever". So I guess I have to give his rating because we read it for him.

[Pamela Bronson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little fantasy, for preteens.

I had buyer's remorse after I brought it home from a library sale, but when I finally got around to reading it, I liked it a lot. I think I will even keep it, though if I were not hoping for grandchildren, I probably would not.

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this when I was in grade school and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. So cute. The pictures were adorable and the children’s behavior believable. So much to recommend this book.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com

Kate, Michael, their older brother, Stephen, and their parents are living in Italy for a few months. Lately, Stephen seems to think he's too old for them, so Kate and Michael have been spending a lot of time together.

Kate's favorite thing to do is tell stories. Sometimes she forgets that Michael is young and gullible, and he believes her stories. Sometimes she does it a little bit on purpose.

Playing ball in the garden one day, Kate and Michael find what seems to be a baby griffin. Neither of them are sure if he's real or if they're both imagining things. But day after day, Grifonino, the name they give him meaning "little griffin" in Italian, returns. Kate and Michael are sure he's real, but they're not sure where he came from or what to do with him.

Kate thinks Stephen might be able to help, or at least he would have back when he liked them. Michael convinces her to keep it a secret. But when the story Kate is writing starts writing back, they know their secret is out. And they better figure out something fast because Prince Eduardo seems pretty unhappy!

Italian villas, a cuddly baby griffin, and a story that literally comes to life. I absolutely love it! Who hasn't let their imagination run wild from time to time? But who ever thinks that it might be wild enough to come true? And I never thought about having a pet griffin before, but I'm starting to wonder where I might be able to find one.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

With their father working in Italy for a few months, 11-year-old Kate and her brothers are enjoying the Italian way of life. Their mother makes sure they see every historical and tourist sight. Kate is full of stories and her journal is full of magical people, places, and things. So, when Kate and her little brother, Michael is an odd creature out in the garden, they are not sure what to think. Was is something out of Kate's imagination?

Slowly, the creature, who resembles a baby griffin, acclimates himself. Kate and Michael find a way to communicate with the friendly creature. Their older brother, Stephen doesn't believe anything they say, so their attempts to fill him in are fraught with frustration.

Quickly their days in Italy are coming to a close and they as a family will head back to Minnesota. But, whether being careless or trusting, Kate and Michael let the griffin be seen by adults. Now they are fearful for his life and must find a way to get him back to the magical world where he belongs.

Saving the Griffin is full of wonderment and curiousity. Slipping back and forth between fantasy and realism, the siblings catch a glimpse of something only imagination can conjure...or is it?

[Jaleh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many of the MG books I read tend to be the upper end of MG, gearing towards the pre-teens. This one feels more towards the younger end. It's less complicated plot wise, though it still has plenty of risk.

Kate and her younger brother Michael discover a baby griffon while her family is visiting Italy. While trying to keep his presence a secret, Kate is also receptive to the call of the mysterious Prince Eduardo who started off as a story she'd made up in her journal and turned sinister during her free-writing. Prince Eduardo wants her to bring Grifonino to him, but she fears why. When Grifonino's existence is leaked to a newspaper and reporters/researchers come hunting for him, Kate and Michael with the help of their older brother must figure out whether to trust Prince Eduardo in order to get Grifonino home.

[Kristin Lenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kudos to Michigan author Kristin Nitz! This review comes from 9 year old Maya. She gave it 4 1/2 stars, so I upped it to 5. She said she loved everything about the book except for the ending. Yet she couldn't tell me how she would have ended it differently! Now she's got me curious; I'll need to read it for myself. She was delighted with the Griffin on the cover and immediately absorbed in the story. I asked if she knew what a Griffin was, and she said, "Of course, Buckbeak is a Griffin." Me: Buckbeak from Harry Potter? Maya: "Yes, a Hippogrif and a Griffin are the same thing." Of course, I had to look it up. Wikipedia says "a Hippogrif is a legendary creature, supposedly the offspring of a griffin and a mare." Who knew!

[White-paw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book, I really did. I love griffins and this is the first one about a baby griffin I have found. It is a short story, and very magical. Best for children, I give this book an A. The only thing is that part of the book was a tad creepy... But nothing for the X-Files, I assure you. I liked this book, but my reading level is high above the ones in this. All other feelings towards this story must be stated in two words: GO GRIFFINS!!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to my nephews. It was a fun story about three siblings staying in Italy during a summer with their parents while their father was doing research. Just a few weeks before it was time to return home to Michigan, Michael and Kate found a young real-life griffin while playing ball. They try to keep it a secret and keep it safe. Later, their older brother, Stephen sees it too. How will they keep it safe from others?

[Nancy Mccorkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me a little of ET and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a Georgia Book Nominee and the author is my instructor. It makes you think it could be possible. I think children will really like the excitement and the intertwining of fantasy and real life characters.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for younger Y/A or children. A fun read. I liked how the Italian setting was incorporated into the story--it was there, but not overwhelmingly so. And the story of the relationship between the siblings was interesting too.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fun book about a baby griffin that gets lost in Italy. I've enjoyed reading the Italian words that are thrown into the mix.

[Saige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I could imagine me being in the book. I love the picture. The griffing is so cute! I reccomend this to anyone!

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

exciting and adventurous. I really need to finish soon

[Wendy A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet, great for the animal lover for sure. :)

[Evie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice introduction to Italian, and a good story. Definitely recommend for the young middle-graders.

[Karen]

Boring