Far Far Away

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal  371 pages

'What Follows is the strange and fateful tale of a boy, a girl, and a ghost." 

This is how the tale of Jeremy Johnson Johnson and the ghost of Jacob Grimm begins.  A National Book award finalist, this young adult novel is described as a contemporary fairy tale that readers of Neil Gaiman would like.  I found it to be an enjoyable read, especially for young adults.

Jeremy is able to hear the voice of Jacob Grimm, one of the Brothers Grimm who compiles the famous catalog of fairy tales.  Jacob mentors Jeremy and tries to protect him from an unknown evil.  When Jeremy starts to hang out with Ginger Boultinghouse, Jacob finds himself unable to protect Jeremy from the evil intentions of a shadowy figure known as the Finder of Occasions.  Jacob must face his past if he wishes to save Jeremy and Ginger.