Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

Reviewed by Lori
Breadcrumbs
Title: Breadcrumbs

Author: Anne Ursu

Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 72009

Description: Once upon a time, Hazel and Jack were best friends.  But that was before he stopped talking to her and disappeared into a forest with a mysterious woman made of ice. Now it's up to Hazel to go in after him.

Rubric Rating: Level 4: Love It

Why I Read It: I'm a fan of reimagined Fairy Tales.  I liked the pink skies of the cover -- it reminds me of the saying "Pink Skies at Night, Sailor's delight; Pink skies at Morning, Sailor's take Warning" so my question became -- what is this book's warning.

 Lori's Notes:  I loved this book.  I love that the main character Hazel has been adopted from India (so she has brown skin, brown hair and brown eyes - not the atypical blue-eyed blond-haired girl of most fairy tales).  Living with her mother, her father is soon to be remarried and is absent in her life.  Her best friend Jack lives next door with his father and mother (who is "absent" because of her struggles with depression).  When Jack leaves with the White Witch, Hazel takes it upon herself to rescue him.  (Hazel the Heroine).  However, this proves a quest she never quite envisioned.  I love the relationship between Hazel and Jack, and how Hazel struggles to fit in with the other children at school.  I like that there are potential other friendships for her in Mikaela, Adelaide, and Tyler.  Entering into the woods Hazel finds herself in another world where everything is not as it seems.  The ending might be difficult for some readers as it's not perfectly happy, it's real life, people change and things can't always stay the same and it's Hazel's realization of this lesson which helps her grow up.  I like all of the references to more modern fairy tales as well such as Narnia, Harry Potter, and Star Wars.

Recommended Reader: I would highly recommend this title.  It is a good book for girls and would be appropriate for grades 3 and up for read aloud or grade 5 and up for individual reading.

Themes: Fairy Tales Retold, Family, Friendship, Lost and Found, Reality vs. Fantasy, Peer Pressure, Growing Up, Rescue, Magic Mirrors, Changing.

Cross-Genre Links: 
Fairy Tale: The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen
Movie: Frozen (2013)
TV Episode: Faerie Tale Theatre (Season 4, Episode 17): The Snow Queen
Music: Under Ice by Kate Bush

Possible Essay or Discussion Topics: 

  • Compare and Contrast Hazel as a heroine to other girls in fairy tale literature (ex. Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Merida etc)  What are her strengths, what are her faults, what makes her unique, etc.
  • How does "Absence" affect Hazel and Jack.  Discuss in relation to parents, feelings, or friendship.
  • Discuss the relationship between ice and feelings in this novel.  
  • What did you think of the ending?  
  • What other fairy tales can you identify in this novel?
  • Would you like to be like Hazel?  Why or why not.

Other Titles by Anne Ursu: 

Cronus Chronicles:

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