 | 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 Spikes
- By Margo Lanagan
- Genre: Short Stories
Common Sense Media says
Dark, brutal, otherworldly stories for mature readers.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is a very mature story collection. There is plenty of violence, including a horrifying scene of souls trapped in Hell, a semi-graphic rape scene between monkeys, portrayed with human thoughts and emotions, and a giant who makes his clothes -- and even new eyelids -- out of the bodies of kidnapped children. The language and ideas mark it for older teens as well. The stories do impart subtle messages about what it means to love someone or
to do the right thing. And the author notes in her acknowledgements what inspired her stories, and
some readers may be interested in following up on some of this source
material.
What's the story?
This is a collection of 10 short stories, many involving the supernatural or other worlds. A sampling: When the leader of a monkey tribe dies, males fight for power and the females are raped; a man is led to Hell by a group of dead teens trapped in Limbo; and when witchcraft is banned, an old witchy woman unleashes a plague of mice.
Is it any good?
There is no doubt that this is a mature collection: both the language and gritty details mark it for older teens and up. As with most story collections, some installments will resonate better with readers than others. But the author's language and dark imagery will transport readers time and time again, leaving them with haunting images -- and much to think about both in terms of our universal fears -- and also what it means to love someone, or be a hero.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about short story collections. What is appealing about reading them? Do you often find that you like some of the stories better than others? What did you think of this one?
These stories are otherworldly and read like very dark fairy tales (one is even based on the nursery rhyme Wee Willie Winkie). But they are definitely for mature readers. If you were the publisher, would you have marked this as a young adult book?
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| Author: | Margo Lanagan |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Short Stories |
| Publisher: | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Publication date: | October 1, 2007 |
| Number of pages: | 167 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 14 |
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