Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses Book Review

 Author: Ron Koertge. Illustrator: Andrea Dezsö. Release date: 2012. Publisher:  Candlewick. ISBN: 9780763644062.

Annotation: This short collection of free verse poems  and creepy illustrations features macabre retellings of classic fairy tales from “Hansel and Gretel” to “Rumpelstiltskin.”

Personal thoughts: I am a fan of fairytale retellings, so when I heard about this creepy collection, and saw the very grim cover, I made sure to pick it up. Although I did enjoy the book, I found myself thinking as I was reading it, “Wow. This isn’t really for teens.” A lot of the stories are based on more obscure fairy tales, there is definitely some very adult language and imagery in them, and a lot of the humor and irony is very subtle. That’s not to say that I don’t think many teen readers would be able to understand the poems, they just seem to me that they would appeal much more to an adult audience. I would have trouble recommending this collection to teens who are simply interested in reading fairy tale retellings, as I feel there are many more appropriate and enjoyable books for the age group. To older teens and adults who want a taste of the macabre, however, I would suggest giving this one a try.  

Plot summary: Written in free verse, this macabre collection of poems and creepy illustrations includes twenty-three retellings of classic fairy tales. Featured tales range from “Cinderella,” told from the perspective of the stepsisters, “Hansel and Gretel,” who want revenge against the father that allowed them to be abandoned in the woods, and a monologue from “Red Riding Hood” who is relaying what happened to her mother once she is home safe from Grandma’s house.  

Review: Seasoned young adult author and poet Ron Koertge delivers a chilling set of retold fairy tales in Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses. The collection is brief and can easily be read in one sitting, although many readers might want to go through some of the chapters twice so as not to miss any gruesome details. In terms of enjoyment, some of the tales fare better than others. Although the book is marketed for the young adult audience, only some of Koertge’s retellings will appeal to teen readers. Teens will likely enjoy tales like “Red Riding Hood, Home at Last, Tells Her Mother What Happened,” “Hansel and Gretel,”  and “Memoirs of the Beast,” all grim but witty retellings of stories that younger readers will undoubtedly be familiar with. Other chapters, such as “Godfather Death,” “The Little Match Girl” and “The Robber Bridegroom” are taken from tales that aren’t as well-known, and are far more grisly, making them less likely to resonate with the young adult audience. In fact, when factors like language, characterization and imagery are taken into account, this collection seems more appropriate for an adult audience. At most, it will entertain very sophisticated teen readers who will understand all the nuances in each retelling and be familiar with the original tales they are derived from. Overall, Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses is an enjoyable and entertaining journey into the creepiness of fairy tales, but one that is likely to appeal more to adults than to teens.

Genre:  Short Stories/Poetry

Reading level: Grade 9+

Similar titles: Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross, Sweetly and Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, Twisted: Tales to Rot Your Brain Vol. 1 by Nora Thompson, A Wolf at the Door and Other Retold Fairy Tales by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling.   

Themes:  Fairy tales, poetry, macabre, irony, humor.   

Awards/Reviews:  Starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and The Horn Book, positive review from School Library Journal.

Series Information: N/A  

Discussion questions:

-        What is your favorite chapter in this collection? Why?

-       Were there any fairy tales featured in this collection that you weren’t familiar with? Which ones?

-        Do you think that the illustrations enhance the collection? Why or why not?

-         The author describes this collection as being written in “free verse.” What is free verse? Have you ever read anything else in this style of writing?

-        If you had to create your own creepy retelling of a classic fairy tale, which story would you choose?

 

 

 

Kill Me Softly Book Review

Author: Sarah Cross. Release date: 2012. Publisher:  Egmont USA. ISBN: 9781606843239.

Annotation: After fifteen-year-old Mirabelle Lively runs away from the home she shares with her two godmothers, she finds herself in Beau Rivage, the town where she was born and where her parents died in a fire at her christening party years earlier. Mira doesn’t know what she will find in the strange town, only that she’s hoping to locate her parents’ graves. Instead, she learns that in Beau Rivage, fairy tales are a reality, and that her’s began the night her parents were killed.

Personal thoughts: I love twists on classic tales, so Kill Me Softly was the perfect book to delight me! I really liked the author’s writing style, I loved how the story had elements of sweetness but also serious creepy undertones as well, and I enjoyed the plot quite a bit. My only small (kind-of) complaint was that I found the sexual relationship between Mira, who is fifteen, and Felix, who is twenty-one, to be strangely accepted by the other characters in the story (save for one mention of her being underage by the guy described as a “beast” throughout the novel.) Are there no police in Beau Rivage who wonder why a fifteen-year-old is buying slinky nightgowns to attract her pedophile boyfriend? I wish this aspect of the story had been either avoided by making the characters different ages, or explained a little bit better. Other than that, however, I really did enjoy the novel and would easily recommend it to older teen readers (and adults!) who want something original and fun!   

Plot summary: All of her life, Mirabella “Mira” Lively was told by her two godmothers, Elsa and Bliss, that her parents died when she was a baby. Now Mira is fifteen, and the story of her mom and dad perishing in a terrible fire at her christening party isn’t adding up. Elsa and Bliss have forbidden Mira from ever returning to Beau Rivage, the town where she was born and where her parents were killed, but Mira is determined to learn the truth. Mira runs away from home and finds herself in Beau Rivage without any money or anywhere to stay. Chance brings her to The Dream, one of Beau Rivage’s many elegant casinos, where she meets the handsome Felix Valentine and his younger brother, Blue. Blue quickly warns Mira that Felix is dangerous and that she should stay away from him, but Mira is enchanted by Felix’s kindness and the mutual attraction between them, so when he offers her a room at the Dream while she searches for her parents’ graves, she jumps at the opportunity to spend more time with him. As Mira gets to know Beau Rivage, she quickly learns that there is something very strange about the town. It seems that in Beau Rivage, fairy tales are a reality, and most of the inhabitants have been cursed to live out the fates of their literary ancestors. Mira has always wondered what the strange wheel shaped birthmark on her back means, and begins to suspect that she, like the rest of Beau Rivage, has a curse of her own. But what does her fate have to do with her blossoming relationship with the seductive Felix, and why does Blue, and everyone else in town, keep insisting she is in danger?

Review: Set in the beautifully creepy town of Beau Rivage, where living a fairy tale isn’t necessarily a good thing, Kill Me Softly, the latest novel from author Sarah Cross, offers a new take on the classic “stories” we thought we all knew. As many readers who pick up Kill Me Softly might already know (or will soon find out), the original versions of most of the well-known fairy tales tend to be quite grim. From Cinderella’s stepsisters slicing off parts of their feet to fit into the glass slipper, to the little mermaid suffering agonizing torture from splitting her tail into legs to be with her prince, there is usually very little that can be identified as “Disney” in these tales. What is, in a morbid way, so enjoyable about Kill Me Softly, is that the town of Beau Rivage operates on the gruesome versions of the fairy tales. After Mira arrives in town, she soon spots a set of sisters walking around with bandaged feet, one of her new friends is constantly coughing up flower petals and jewels, and the guy she finds herself falling in love with seems to have a very dark and deadly secret of his own. Readers will find much to relish in this book, from identifying the incarnations of their favorite fairy tales, to Mira’s quest to find out the truth about her parents. Be advised, however, that while this book is based on tales for children, it is suitable for the older teen audience, as there is a fair amount of cursing and sexual situations (particularly the romance between twenty-one-year-old Felix Valentine and the very underage fifteen-year-old Mira.) For adventurous readers, however, Kill Me Softly is an entertaining read that is sure to satisfy in many ways. A companion novel set in Beau Rivage is set to be released in the near future.

Genre:  Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Reading level: Grade 9+

Similar titles: Sweetly and Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore, Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay, Snow in Summer: Fairest of Them All by Jane Yolen.   

Themes:  Fairy tales, romance, danger, orphans, death, murder, secrets.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Booklist and Kirkus.

Series Information: First novel in Beau Rivage series. Companion novel set to be released in 2013.       

Discussion questions:

-        Do you think Mira running away to Beau Rivage was the right thing for her to do? Why or why not?

-       What do you think Blue meant when he told Mira that Felix “loves orphans?”

-       Do you think Felix truly loved Mira? Blue? Freddie?

-      Who was your favorite character in the novel? Why?

-        If you could choose your Beau Rivage “curse,” what would you pick? Why?

-       Sarah Cross has said that she’s writing a companion novel to Kill Me Softly that will contain Viv’s story. What do you think this book will be about? Do you plan to read it? What other characters from Kill Me Softly would like to know more about?

 

 

 

Cinder Book Review

Author: Marissa Meyer. Release date: 2012. Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends. ISBN: 9780312641893.

Annotation: Cinder Linh is a cyborg, part human, part machine, living in the futuristic commonwealth of New Beijing with her cruel stepmother and two stepsisters. A mechanic, Cinder supports her family by fixing androids, while trying to improve her own metal parts. Cinder’s life changes forever when Prince Kai, the heir to the throne of New Beijing, visits her shop with a broken android, one that holds information vital to the survival of the commonwealth.  

Personal thoughts: After reading many novels that have a great premise but poor execution, I was worried after reading what Cinder was about that, with such a strong and interesting idea, it might fall victim to the same fate. Fortunately, this is far from the case! Cinder is a truly enjoyable story and I was very impressed with Marissa Meyer’s skills as a writer after diving into the intricate world she created. The part of the novel that I found the most intriguing was her descriptions of the Lunars. Their back story and the character of Queen Levana are very interesting, and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with that the most as the series continues. I am chomping at the bit for the next novel!

Plot summary: Sixteen-year-old Cinder Linh is a cyborg. Part human, part machine, she lives as a second class citizen in the commonwealth of New Beijing, hundreds of years after the end of World War IV. Her stepmother, Adri, and stepsister, Pearl, are cruel. Constantly berating her and reminding her of her place as a metal monstrosity, Cinder’s only comfort is in the affection of her kind stepsister, Peony, and the family’s quirky but loving android, Iko. After her stepfather’s death years earlier left the family penniless, Cinder works as a mechanic in the New Beijing marketplace, fixing broken androids, hovers, and portscreens. Cinder is shocked one day when Prince Kai, the only son of New Beijing’s emperor, visits her shop with an old android that has stopped working. Cinder is puzzled as to why Kai would not take the droid to a royal mechanic, but suspects that it contains confidential information and agrees to fix it for Kai. What Cinder doesn’t know is that letumosis, a deadly plague that has killed hundreds of thousands in New Beijing alone and has infected Kai’s father, Emperor Raikan, is going to claim another victim: Peony. Inexplicably blaming Cinder for Peony’s contracting the disease, Adri sends Cinder to the palace to be a part of research conducted on cyborgs to find a cure for letumosis. As part of the antidote experimentation, Cinder is infected with letumosis so that her body’s reaction can be studied. What happens changes her life forever: it appears that Cinder is the only citizen of New Beijing who is immune to the plague.

Review:  Fun and inventive, this first installment in debut author Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles is an entertaining start to what is sure to be a popular series for young adults. Set in the futuristic commonwealth of New Beijing, Cinder weaves a complex but engrossing plot, creating a cast of characters and story that is sure to last through the remaining novels in the series. As the title implies, the story is a very loose interpretation of the classic Cinderella tale. The evil stepmother and stepsister are present, as is the ball, and the handsome prince. Cinder herself, however, is far from the beautiful yet demure servant in the Disney version. A tough cyborg mechanic, Cinder doesn’t swoon at the feet of Prince Kai, nor does she take the abuse she is subjected to lying down. Cinder is determined to escape her stepmother’s house, even going so far as to restore an “ancient” gas-powered car to do so. The addition of the plague to the novel also veers the plot away from the traditional fairy tale. The fear of letumosis is something that permeates the story, creating tension that readers who have experienced a chronic illness in themselves or a family member will certainly identify with. Danger from the Lunars, the inhabitants of the moon lead by the beautiful but evil Queen Levana , adds another intriguing element to the plot. Overall, Cinder is a thoroughly enjoyable debut novel and can be easily enjoyed by a variety of young adult readers. The second installment in the Lunar Chronicles, Scarlet, is set to be released in 2013.

Genre: Science-Fiction

Reading level: Grade 7+

Similar titles: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting, Legend by Marie Lu, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, The Chemical Garden trilogy by Lauren DeStefano.

Themes:  Cinderella, cyborgs, plague, fairy tales, war, royalty, dystopian.

Awards/Reviews:  Starred review from Publishers Weekly. Positive reviews from Horn Book Magazine, VOYA, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Kirkus and Booklist.

Series Information: First installment in the Lunar Chronicles. Second installment, Scarlet, set to be released in 2013, third installment, Cress, in 2014, and fourth installment, Winter, in 2015.

Discussion questions: 

-     Why do you think Adri and Pearl were so cruel to Cinder?

-     Why did Kai bring his broken android to Cinder?

-     Do you think Dr. Erland is a protagonist or antagonist? Why?

-      How would you explain the “magic” of the Lunars?

-     How does letumosis compare to any real-life diseases?

-     What would you like to see happen in Scarlet?  

-     Who was your favorite character in Cinder? Why?

Snow in Summer: Fairest of Them All Book Review

 Author: Jane Yolen. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Philomel. ISBN: 9780399256639.

Annotation:  Snow-in-Summer Morton was seven when she lost her mother, and her father has been inconsolable ever since. After years of grieving, Summer’s father meets and quickly weds a mysterious woman who Summer can only call “Stepmama.” At first, Summer is hopeful that she will finally be able to have a normal family like in the fairy tales, but soon realizes that what she has gotten instead is a wicked Stepmother.

Personal thoughts:  I picked this novel up by chance after seeing that Jane Yolen was the author (I am very familiar with her books for younger children.) I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this quiet but intriguing version of Snow White! One of my favorite parts of the novel was the setting. It is clear that Yolen has a passion for the area, it being the home of her husband’s family, and I thought that all of the local names for plants, customs of the people of Addison, and the time period were very charming. I would highly recommend this novel to tweens, teens, or adults. It is short but excellent!   

Plot summary: Snow-in-Summer Morton’s life changed forever at age seven when her mother died in childbirth, leaving her alone and her father, Lemuel, with a broken heart. Cousin Nancy, the widow of Summer’s father’s favorite cousin who was recently killed in World War II, helps to care for Summer after her father slips into a deep, dark grief unable to cope with the death of his beloved wife.  One day, four years later, now eleven-year old Summer is shocked when Lemuel returns with a mysterious but beautiful woman. Cousin Nancy and the rest of the townsfolk in Addison, West Virginia fear that Lemuel has become bewitched by the enchanting woman. When Lemuel quickly marries her, Summer hopes that she, her father and her new Stepmama will be able to form the family she’s longed for. As the years pass, however, Summer begins to realize that Stepmama is far from loving. Stepmama seems to have Lemuel in some kind of spell causing him to become withdrawn and unaware. In the meantime, Summer is subjected to abuse and eerie behavior at the hands of the woman, while Cousin Nancy can only look on in worry about her goddaughter. One day, Summer happens into Stepmama’s room where she encounters a strange mirror that seems to speak to her. The mirror warns of danger, danger that threatens to end in Summer’s death. Will Summer ever be able to escape the clutches of the woman that has appears to have bewitched the entire town and save her father’s life?

Review:  From award-winning author Jane Yolen comes this enchanting re-telling of the classic Snow White story set in 1940s Appalachia. The author is clearly a masterful storyteller as Snow in Summer flows easily and quickly from start to finish. Although it is relatively short, the characters are well-thought out and effective in allowing the reader to venture into the world of Addison, West Virginia. Yolen’s enthusiasm for the town, which she states in the beginning was the birthplace of her late husband’s family, is evident throughout the book. The rolling mountains, lush greens, and simple way of life all play an important role in setting the tone of the novel. Although Summer’s story is based on a very well-known tale, Yolen’s interpretations make for a fresh take on the classic. Summer’s creepy Stepmama as well as her kindly Cousin Nancy help narrate the plot, allowing the reader to see exactly what is going on inside the mind of the “wicked stepmother.” Overall, an excellent novel for tweens, teens or anyone who is a fan of Snow White or the American south.

Genre: Fairy Tale/Historical Fiction

Reading level: Grade 6+

Similar titles: Sweetly and Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, Entwined by Heather Dixon.   

Themes:  Snow White, fairy tales, West Virginia, 1940s, death, grief, stepmothers, magic, witches.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive review from Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus.

Series Information: N/A

Discussion questions: 

- How does Snow in Summer compare with the classic fairy tale Snow White written by the Brothers Grimm? How about the Disney movie version?

- Why was Lemuel unable to sing to the plants after his wife’s death? Do you think people change after someone they love dies? Why or why not?

- What do you think Stepmama was referring to when she said “the Craft”?

-  How did Summer’s knowledge of plants help her in the novel?

- Were you happy with the ending of the novel? Why or why not?

Sweetly Book Review

Author: Jackson Pearce. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Little Brown and Company. ISBN: 9780316068659.

Annotation:  Brother and sister Ansel and Gretchen are thrown out by their stepmother and find that memories of the sister who was stolen by a witch in the woods years earlier haunt them even in their new home across the country.

Personal thoughts:  I am a huge fan of fairy tale spin-offs and this is definitely one of my favorites. The whole concept of the creature lurking in the woods, waiting and watching really creeped me out, but also increased my enjoyment of the novel even more. Pearce really knows how to set the stage for a dramatic climax in the story. I also found myself genuinely caring about the fates of Ansel, Gretchen and Sophia, which made the novel that much more engrossing. I hope Pearce continues to write novels like this! I will certainly be reading them!  

Plot summary: One sunny afternoon in the forest turns into a nightmare for Ansel and Gretchen when Gretchen’s twin sister is stolen by a witch. When the girl never returns, Ansel and Gretchen’s parents both eventually die from grief, leaving them to the care of their stepmother who throws them out of the house shortly after Gretchen turns eighteen. Not sure what the future holds, the pair head cross country in hopes of starting a new life. When they make it to South Carolina, Ansel’s Jeep gives out, and the pair find themselves in the town of Live Oak with only a few dollars to their name. Soon, they find themselves working for Sophia, a beautiful and charismatic candymaker who’s house and shop are on the outskirts of town. Ansel and Gretchen are useful in the chocolatier, and the three become fast friends. Gretchen is still haunted by the memories of her sister, however, and is plagued with fear of the woods surrounding Sophia’s house. Her fears are worsened when she learns that Live Oak has a terrible secret that seems to involve Sophia, a secret that sounds eerily similar to what happened to her sister years before. Could the witch have followed Ansel and Gretchen to their new home in Live Oak?

Review: This clever spin-off of the classic tale of Hansel and Gretel makes for a very entertaining and unique read that is scary at times but always enjoyable. The novel opens with Ansel and Gretchen as children playing in the woods with their sister, Gretchen’s identical twin. When their sister is stolen by a witch with golden eyes, Gretchen is haunted not only by memories of the terrible incident, but with guilt over the fact that she survived but her sister did not. When the pair wind up in Live Oak, South Carolina, the author does an excellent job of slowly building up the suspense over what will inevitably be another encounter with the witch from their past. One of the major ingredients in the sense of foreboding that the novel invokes are the forests surrounding the small town. Anyone with any sense of trepidation over forests will undoubtedly find what lurks within the trees unsettling and sometimes downright creepy. Pearce does an excellent job of taking the novel to some scary places, but never pushing it over the edge into pure horror. Overall, an original take on an old tale that readers are sure to enjoy.

Genre: Fairy Tale/Horror

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, Entwined by Heather Dixon.  

Themes:  Hansel and Gretel, siblings, death, witches, werewolves, small towns, candy.   

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from VOYA.

Series Information: Companion novel to Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, but not a sequel.

Discussion questions:

- This novel is a spin-off of the classic tale of Hansel and Gretel. What is your version of the old tale, and how would you create your own spin-off?

- Why do you think Ansel was not as consumed by the loss of his sister as Gretchen?

- Do you think that Sophia was the “patron saint of candy” or the “sign of Live Oak’s last days”? Did your perception change throughout the story?

- Why do you think Gretchen was so afraid of the woods? Was it more than just her fear of the witch?

- Were you surprised to learn the truth about the witch?

Entwined Book Review

Author: Heather Dixon. Release date: 2011. Publisher: Greenwillow Books. ISBN: 9780062001030.

Annotation:  Azalea promises she will take care of her eleven younger sisters after their mother dies, but it is difficult to keep the rambunctious girls happy in a castle full of rules and regulations. When the girls discover a secret passage in their room that leads to a magical pavilion, they are able to dance to their hearts’ content every night. But everything is not as it seems, and Azalea begins to fear that their nightly haven might be dangerous.

Personal thoughts: I have always been a fan of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale, and adored this new take on the story. Azalea is an excellent lead character, and I loved the mysterious workings of the palace. Dixon does a wonderful job of building suspense and a sense of dread as Azalea discovers the truth behind the magical pavilion. I highly recommend this book!

Plot summary: Azalea is the Princess Royale of her father’s kingdom in Eathesbury, but being in line for the throne is far from easy. She has eleven rambunctious little sisters and, after their mother’s tragic death, she becomes responsible for raising them. Her relationship with her father, the King, is distant as he struggles to cope with his wife’s death. The palace is fraught with rules and regulations, specifically a ban on dancing following in the wake of the queen’s death, which makes Azalea and her sisters very unhappy. One night, Azalea discovers a magical passageway in the girls’ room that leads to a beautiful silver pavilion. The girls discover that the pavilion is run by Keeper, a mysterious but incredibly handsome and charming man who informs them that he was imprisoned in the walls for betraying the evil High King who terrorized the country centuries before. In the pavilion, the girls discover a sanctuary from the rules of the palace, and make a nightly habit of dancing to their hearts’ content. Soon, however, Keeper’s behavior becomes more sinister, and Azalea begins to fear that he is not as kind as he seems. Can Azalea protect her sisters, and her kingdom, from the danger that lurks in the walls of the palace?

Review:  Wonderfully written and thoroughly entertaining, Entwined is an excellent novel for anyone who is a fan of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale. Dixon does a superb job of adding onto the tale, giving it twists and turns that are very enjoyable. The relationship between Azalea, her sisters, and their distant father is at the forefront of the novel. Each girl has her own unique personality, and are all likable as well. Their love for dancing and its subsequent ban after the death of their mother is reminiscent of The Secret Garden. The magical pavilion housed inside a forest of silver is beautifully described, and the character of Keeper is intriguing as well. Overall, an excellent novel and quick read despite it’s 450+ page length.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading level: Grade 7+

Similar titles: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Coraline by Neil Gaiman.

Themes:  Story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, sibling relationships, father/daughter relationships, dancing, grief.   

Awards/Reviews:  Positive review from Booklist, Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews.

  

Series Information: N/A

Discussion Questions:

- Have you read the fairytale that this story is based on, The Twelve Dancing Princesses? How does it compare to this adaptation?

- Why do you think the King is treating Azalea and her sisters the way he is?

- What were your first impressions of Keeper? How did they change throughout the novel?

 

- Can you think of a way that you would adapt another famous fairytale?