 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Red Riding Hood
- By Sarah Blakley-Cartwright
- Genre: Fairy Tale
Common Sense Media says
Violent, romantic fairy tale retelling is based on movie.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this mature retelling of the "Little Red Riding Hood" story is a novelization of the movie starring Amanda Seyfried. It centers on a red-cloaked heroine who's being stalked by a werewolf; there's lots of violence, including animal sacrifice, the torture of a mentally disabled boy who's suspected of witchcraft, a wolf's attacks on a village, the severing of an arm, and more. Valerie and Peter share some steamy kisses and do ultimately "give in to each other," though sex is pretty much undescribed.
What's the story?
The villagers in Valerie's rough hometown have always sacrificed animals to appease the Wolf, but when it brutally kills a human being -- Valerie's sweet older sister -- the truce ends and the village men hunt the creature they've long feared. They think they've killed it, but when a famous werewolf hunter comes to town, he reveals to them an unbelievable truth: the wolf they killed is an ordinary lupine -- but the werewolf they seek roams among them every day in human form ("The real killer could be your neighbor. Your best friend. Even your wife.") Suspicion grows between neighbors, and circles around Valerie, who can understand the wolf's growls -- and that it wants her to come away with it. Meanwhile, Valerie finds herself suspecting the wolf could be either her kind fiance or the dark mysterious man she really loves -- she even suspects her own grandmother.
Is it any good?
This book is based on the same screenplay that inspired the recent movie, and it's full of cinematic images. Readers will be able to easily picture Valerie and her friend running from the wolf in the dye maker's alley, "their feet throwing up a spray of petals in their wake," or when during a snow storm, red-cloaked Valerie and her would-be lover Peter "gave in to each other, finally... Enveloped in a shelter of white, standing out in black and red, were just the two of them."
While the book relies on some stock characters -- including saintly Henry, who loves Valerie, and Peter, her dark soul-mate -- it does find clever ways to stay true to the original fairy tale (When Valerie comes face to face with the wolf, she is entranced: "'What...big...eyes...you...have...' she said faintly"). Some readers may find the open ending frustrating, but those who want a more certain conclusion can read a more conclusive final chapter online. In the end, this is not literature, but there are enough fun twists to keep readers engaged as they hunt the true werewolf stalking Daggorhorn -- and Valerie.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about fairy tales. Stories like "Little Red Riding Hood" have been around for hundreds of years and been through many different versions. Why do you think they hold so much power?
How do the more modern retellings, like this book or Beastly, differ from previous iterations you've heard?
The book's website
includes a "bonus chapter," which concludes the story in a much more
definite way. Why do you think the publisher decided not to print this
chapter with the book, but to allow readers to download it online
instead? Why could readers only access this chapter after the movie's
release?
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
I haven't actually read this book.. but the movie is good
I haven't actually read this book.. but the movie is good
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Kid, 11 years old
April 7, 2011
AGE
GREAT!
This book is ah-mazing! Best book of the year.
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Kid, 12 years old
June 24, 2011
AGE
UGH
stupid boring movie so much talking hardly any action dont bother to watch!
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AGE
Violent, but otherwise fine
Not many positive messages-plot is intent on killing the wolf. Very violent in the parts where the wolf attacks the town. Some disturbing parts. Overall it is really well written and it ties in Valerie's love life well.
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AGE
Death
I loved this book.Everything about it was amazing.Its whole story.I think the only bad parts are the death by the wolf,other then that it is a great book for teenage kids to read during their free time.
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AGE
I knew what it would be when I watched it.
Really interesting movie. I loved it. Original. I enjoy the whole romance, horror, fantasy genre with pleasing endings. My husband figured out who the wolf might be before I did. Very pleased with the ending. The PG 13 is an appropriate rating. Be aware of violence and gore and some sexual references but typical. It is a little more intense than the Twilgiht films as far as violence, realtionships and drinking goes. It could frighten children.
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Kid, 12 years old
July 27, 2011
AGE
From book to movie.
It was alright. I haven't seen the movie but heard it was very good in comparison to the movie itself. After reading it I was a bit frightful of what exactly the movie would be like. The reading content is perfect for 12 and up but I would say the movie more like 15 and up. Depends on maturity level too.
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AGE
back to reality after fairytale
absolutely amazing!
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| Author: | Sarah Blakley-Cartwright |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fairy Tale |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown and Company |
| Publication date: | January 25, 2011 |
| Number of pages: | 353 |
| Paperback price: | $9.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 14 |
| Read aloud: | 15 |
| Read alone: | 15 |
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