Red

January 15, 2016
In another of her fairy-tale mashups, Shurtliff brings inventive new dimensions to Granny and Red, whom readers met in the companion book, Rump (2013). Granny, a witch, is none other than Rose Red, whose sister, Snow White, married a bear-prince. Red has powers, too, but she's been afraid to practice after a particularly disastrous spell almost killed Granny years ago. So when Granny becomes deathly ill, Red sets off to find the strongest magic: eternal life. Red's narration is dry and sassy, her mishaps colorful, her quest eventful and populated with other denizens of fairy-tale land. Accompanied by new friends Goldie and Wolf, Red follows directions provided by a disgruntled dwarf: there are three ways to stop death. What he fails to reveal are the pitfalls, allowing Red to debate the advisability of immortality as she witnesses the effects of each method. The most grotesque is The Magic Hearts, offered by the Huntsman--the same who saved the other Snow White (the one with the dwarfs) from her jealous stepmother and was cursed as a result. The adventures are thrilling, even frightening, and, while good and bad magic abound, what is most heartening is how Red and Goldie grow and brave it all together, selflessly helping each other. Fairy-tale fun with resonant depth makes for another solid outing. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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January 1, 2016

Gr 4-7-The third in Shurtliff's collection of fairy tale-inspired spin-offs, Red takes readers on a wild roam through story land, with plenty of magic and danger around every corner. The title character is entrusted by her parents to make her way through the woods and mountains to find a cure for her ailing Granny. Storybook characters pop up unpredictably to help (and hinder) her along the way. She learns quickly that "beautiful" and "good" are not synonymous and how to take risks in the face of fear. Shurtliff deftly weaves familiar characters and subplots into an original jaunt through the fairy tale genre. The protagonist is plucky and determined but unsure of her own powers of decision-making. Goldie, Red's less-than-stellar sidekick, adds an innocence that Red lacks, as well as a perfect possible protagonist for a future installment. The dialogue between characters is contemporary and humorous. Every secondary character leaves a lasting impression on Red, setting up readers to anticipate each new encounter with dwarfs, sprites, or beasts. As moralizing as fairy tales can be, the author wisely lets Red make mistakes and draw her own conclusions. VERDICT This is pure fun for fans of classic stories cleverly retold.-Jane Miller, Nashville Public Library

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