Little Miss Red

January 11, 2010
Sophie is obsessed with the Devon Devoreaux romance series, imagining herself as the heroine in such novels as Lassoed by Lust
and Battered by Betrayal
, in which Devon meets millionaire playboys or dates South American dictators. Sophie’s real-life love life pales in comparison, as she’s stuck in a listless relationship with her boyfriend, Michael. But after Michael “push the pause button” on their relationship, Sophie, on a flight to Florida, meets Jack, a boy who seems ripped from the pages of her beloved romances (“Not only was he the hottest guy I had ever seen in person, but as I stood up to let him get to his seat, our arms touched and I immediately knew we were soul mates”). Unfortunately, both of Palmer’s (Geek Charming
) romantic leads are rather unlikable, with Sophie portrayed as awkward and naïve and Jack as clueless and cheesy. The humor tends toward the corny, and Sophie’s character can be summed up through her observation: “There was only so much a girl could focus on when a hot guy was holding her hand and scrambling her brain.” Ages 12–up.

February 1, 2010
Gr 6-9-When Sophie Greene flies to Florida to spend spring break with her grandmother, she meets Jack, a stand-in for the Big Bad Wolf, on the plane. She devours romance novels about Devon Devoreaux, a jet-setter with a boyfriend in every port whose soul mate, Dante, resembles Jack. Sophie would like to believe that Jack is her soul mate, especially when he calls her "Red" because of the cowgirl hat she's bought on a whim and because he's more rebellious than her last boyfriend, Michael. Sophie takes most of the novel to realize what readers get right away: Jack is nothing but a charming moocher who isn't all that exciting. Unrealistically, he's able to schmooze her grandmother and worm himself into a place to stay, unlimited television, and homemade meals. Michael shows up in Florida and shares an amusing miniature-golf duel with Jack over Sophie, and she decides against both rivals. By story's end, though, she admits there's something to be said for steadfast Michael as long as she can spice up her life on her own. Neither hilariously funny nor weighty enough to be taken seriously, this third title in Palmer's series of fairy-tale variants seems like a parody of itself. Readers don't know whether to root for Sophie or to shake her, and her constant references to the "Devon" books get annoying."Tina Zubak, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2010
Grades 7-11 Palmers latest fairy talebased romance focuses on 17-year-old Sophie Greene, a nice Jewish girl from Studio City, California. A voracious reader of romance novels who seeks parallels in her own life, Sophie is bored with her steady but unexciting boyfriend of three years and ready for a new adventure. She gets sent to grandmothers house (in Florida), bearing lox and whitefish. While on the plane, she meets charming 19-year-old Jack, whos all sweet talk and clearly bad news. Little Red Riding Hood, anyone? Palmer offers some clever twists and characterizations in what turns out to be a morality tale (stick with the steady known quantity rather than the unreliable charmer). This quick, predictable read may not challenge much, but its frequently entertaining, and readers will enjoy watching Sophie break free of some of her habits and learn to appreciate not only her long-suffering boyfriend but her grandmother as well. Though its not as deep as the books of Gail Carson Levine, Shannon Hale, or Ad'le Geras, theres still plenty of room for this frothy addition to the modern fairy-tale genre.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)