Saving the Griffin

I purchased this book in order to introduce books WITHOUT pictures to my 6-year old daughter. I would read a chapter each night and it would have her begging for more night after night until we finished. The story itself is exciting without being gory or scary - just suspenseful and fun. The relationships and interactions between the various family members were on par with something she could relate to - making it seem like a "Big Girl" book and therefore all the more enjoyable for her. She can read parts of it on her own as a beginning reader - I would say that an ambitious Third Grader who is already an avid reader, would eat this up! This author is currently working on another similar book that is to take place in Maadi, Cairo, Egypt - we are waiting with much anticipation!

Saving The Griffin is a wonderful tale of how three American siblings deal with finding a baby griffin while they are living in Italy. Kristin Nitz uses humor and mystery to tell an original story. The two youngest children, Kate and Michael are especially well-drawn. Their bouts of jealousy paired with devotion will bring a smile to anyone with a sibling. This adventure will have kids thinking that maybe, if they look hard enough, they too can find an enchanted creature right in their own back yard.

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. Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

Written by griffon lover and mother of three Kristin Wolden Nitz, Saving the Griffin is a charming young adult novel about three siblings who discover a lost baby griffin in a modern-day Italian garden. Their efforts to keep young "Grifonino" safe, find out where he came from, and return him safely take them on a whirlwind of adventure and even danger, as they are at cross purposes with greedy paparazzi, eager scientists, and the lurking menace of Prince Eduardo. A delightfully fantastic story, highly recommended for young griffin lovers everywhere.

This "typical" American family temporarily in Italy is well drawn - but the dilemma the kids face after finding a mythical baby griffin is far from "typical." I was happy to read a book that involved some fantasy creature besides dragons for a change and the characterization of the griffin is terrific. The human characters are very likeable too yet have enough conflict between them dealing with how to get the griffin back to it's rightful place and keeping multiple secrets to keep you turning the pages. The details from the Italian landscape and architecture are really interesting. I think this is a great-length book as a challenge for some elementary age readers and quick romp for older kids. Check it out!