A Tale Dark & Grimm discussion

A Tale Dark & Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz kept me guessing at every turn. Not only did I wonder what horror would happen next, but how would the characters get out of their predicament, or how unrealistic is their predicament in the first place? It was a whirlwind journey. It introduced me to a characters, left them, and then quite unexpectedly brought them back to me again. It made me feel a little insane or hyper active. I read it in one day. By the end of it I felt like my mind needed a break, and I am still digesting it. Maybe it blew my mind. The stories are gruesome which is not something that I enjoy, but I do appreciate how it might appeal to and shock a young reader. There are lessons to be learned about: understanding others, loving your family, being aware of dangers, being brave, strong, forgiving, and doing the right thing even when sometimes you don't...
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under 12. The author and promoters of the book claim it is humorous. The stories were more disturbing than funny. The commentary, on the other hand, had a humor to it. The storyteller joked with the reader by telling them it was the end when it wasn't, or warning the children to leave the room because it was going to get nasty. He also chimed in with his own opinion about story. When for example Johannes was trying not to show the young king a certain room. He told him he could not show him because he was afraid it would lead to his death. The story teller called this out. He asked why he didn't just say it was a broom closet or bathroom? The lightheartedness of the story teller felt like the commercial break in the middle of a horror movie. Something to bring me out of the darkness and set me back in my "happy" reality.
The story circled about two children named Hansel and Gretel. It was them growing up in a harsh world and coming back home again. It is perfect and scary for that young imagination. Great for asking questions and exploring philosophy. Who are children? Are they important? To think about the darkness. To question it, and embrace it. I know that if I read this book to my children, with their innocent minds, they would cry. It might not be for every child. It does speak to the hard realities of life because not everything is "happy", but with some under-standing there can be happy endings. With that I wonder if they can handle it, if by reading it their minds will be better prepared to face "a predicament" when it comes?