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Shrek

[the novel]

Ellen Weiss

136 pages

A playful twist on the classic rescue quest where the hero is grumpy, the princess is full of surprises, and the adventure is delightfully swampy.

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What it feels like

This briskly paced children's adventure offers a playful and irreverent twist on traditional fairy tales. The mood is lively and delightfully swampy, immersing readers in a quirky world of ghouls, ogres, and displaced magical creatures. At its heart, the story explores themes of reluctant heroism and subverted expectations, as a grumpy protagonist seeking only peace and quiet is thrust into a chaotic rescue mission. The prose is energetic and accessible, perfectly suited for juvenile fiction, keeping the momentum high as the quest unfolds. It is an ideal read for young fans of fractured fairy tales and monster-led adventures, offering a humorous emotional arc where saving a surprisingly challenging princess turns out to be more rewarding than isolation.

Mood: swampy
adventurous
quirky
lively
Tone: playful
irreverent
lighthearted
wry
Pace: brisk
Themes: unexpected connections · subverting expectations · reluctant heroism · seeking solitude
The writing: Accessible and energetic, tailored to keep young readers engaged on a fast-paced fairy-tale quest.
The arc: A grumpy desire for isolation gives way to unexpected challenges and surprising companionship.
Who it's for: Young readers who enjoy fractured fairy tales, reluctant monster heroes, and humorous rescue adventures.

Content notes

monsters
mild peril

About the book

"All Shrek wants is a little peace and quiet. So when Lord Farquaad promises to clear Shrek's swamp of fairy-tale creatures in exchange for Princess Fiona, Shrek embarks on a quest to rescue her. But Fiona is not as sweet as she appears, and saving her turns out to be more of a challenge than Shrek expected."--Cover p. [4].

Description from Open Library.

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