Starred review from July 8, 2013
Lewis makes wonderfully clever use of the “Three Blind Mice” nursery rhyme to illustrate nearly 100 elements of writing and literature—plot, dialogue, flashbacks, coincidence, and more. The concept of sentimentality is framed as a publisher’s rejection letter, picking apart a mouse’s mawkish manuscript; “Wow, that’s sharp!” remarks another mouse, gingerly touching a kitchen knife on a page about foreshadowing. Lewis expands on each term in brief “Snip of the Tale” summaries and an extensive appendix. “It’s not just the idea, but the author’s way of putting it,” she writes of style, following samples from the likes of Dickens Mouse and Hemingway Mouse (“Three mice. Woman with knife. No tails”). Swarte’s clean-line b&w cartoons ramp up the energy and comedy. For writers of any age, it’s a very funny and useful resource. Ages 12–up.
Starred review from July 15, 2013
From allegory to verisimilitude, the three blind mice demonstrate a wealth of literary terms. Named Pee Wee, Oscar and Mary, the famous mice start with their basic "Story" and ring the changes on it using a variety of literary tools. "Vocabulary and Syntax" renders the first line of the familiar nursery rhyme four different ways: "Trinity of myopic vermin / Eyeless murine trio / Triumvirate of sightless rodents / Three blind mice." Under "Style," readers encounter "Hemingway Mouse": "Three mice. Woman with knife. No tails." "Oxymoron" is exemplified by "It was a dull knife that caused their soundless wails." Lewis covers every imaginable possibility, including "F--k," a section on the use of expletives, and "Sex in the Story." Clever line drawings by Swarte enliven every page, and Lewis' own comments add graceful explanation. Under "Repetition," for example, she writes, "The pleasure of repetition from the acoustic to the unconscious is ubiquitous." Treatment of each topic is brief, though artful, but an exhaustive glossary--intelligent, witty, thoughtfully referential and written in a voice as distinctive as William Strunk's--provides further elucidation and heft (it also doubles as an index). A sparkling celebration of the craft of writing that easily rises to the level of belles lettres itself. (Nonfiction. 12 & up)
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Starred review from September 1, 2013
Gr 8 Up-Lewis offers a witty and whimsical guide for burgeoning scribes that includes definitions of common literary terms as well as writing advice. With a page or two devoted to each, elements such as intertextuality, farce, foreshadowing, and leitmotif are explained using the nursery rhyme about three blind mice. The author has created a background story for the mice and developed distinct personalities for each one as she uses their tale to define the selected literary elements. Concepts are succinctly summarized at the end of each page. Playful black-and-white illustrations of the mice in action add visual interest. Other writing advice includes topics such as how to build suspense, how and when to incorporate sentimentality, and how to effectively include potentially distracting content such as sex or expletives. Explanations are interesting and clever, turning formerly lackluster definitions of literary terms into entertainment. Useful for readers who want to hone their writing skills as well as creative-writing classes.-Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, NY
Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
September 15, 2013
Grades 5-8 How many ways can one tell or write the nursery rhyme Three Blind Mice? That depends on how many literary tricks one uses! Lewis has created an excellent resource guide that introduces a multitude of literary elements aimed at teachers, budding writers, or those students who just want to impress their instructors. Readers will learn about plots and epilogues, yes, but also lesser-known elements, such as sentence diagrams (some of us remember these with pleasure or disdain) and bildungsromanin each case, she names the element and then gives an example of its use. With Swarte's humorous and irreverent little illustrations, this slim volume could become a prized possession for middle- and high-school teachers and part of their classroom or school libraries. However, its appeal as a stand-alone read for teens is limited. The glossary and index were not available for review, but should enhance the benefit even further.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2014
Lewis uses the nursery rhyme "Three Blind Mice" to briefly demonstrate an extensive list of literary terms. With each new concept, the familiar story takes a different shape (e.g., under Short-Short Story: "Woman wields knife; three tailless mice"). Swarte's artful line illustrations capture the gradually developing personalities of each mouse. This playful exploration of craft is well suited as a refresher or an introduction to deeper explanation. Glos., ind.
(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)