 | Red hood Author: Arnold, Elana K. | |
| Price: $9.01 | ||
Summary:
Since her grandmother became her caretaker when she was four years old, Bisou Martel has lived in a little house in Seattle. She's kept mostly to herself. She's been good. But then comes the night of homecoming, when she finds herself running for her life over roots and between trees, a fury of claws and teeth behind her. A wolf attacks. Bisou fights back.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: UG Reading Level: 5.80 Points: 12.0 Quiz: 509056 |
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 11/15/2019 *Starred Review* In the wake of her Printz Honor–winning Damsel (2018), Arnold blazes a new and equally powerful trail through toxic masculinity by way of a fairy tale. This time it’s the mythology of Little Red Riding Hood that pulsates through the narrative, setting primal instincts loose in modern times, where wolves wear the clothes of men and the faces of teen boys. The mortifying arrival of Bisou’s first period sends her running from her boyfriend and the homecoming dance into the nearby woods, where she quickly senses she is being stalked. Her lupine pursuer attacks with a single-mindedness that leaves Bisou no choice but to fight back, and she finds her unusually heightened senses assure her victory—the body of the dead wolf morphing, bewilderingly, into the naked form of a male classmate. Eventually, Bisou confides in her grandmother, with whom she lives, who reveals their lot as hunters of the wolves who would force themselves on women. This alone would make for an enthralling story, but Arnold ekes out the grandmother’s history and the circumstances of Bisou’s mother’s death in tantalizing increments, while also spinning an emotionally complex high-school drama. It is a book of blood, where menstruation empowers, predators bleed out, sisterhood is forged, and genetics bestow unasked for responsibilities. So read, shed your pelt, and be transformed—for blades are being sharpened. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 12/01/2019 Gr 10 Up—Since Mémé took over guardianship from her Mama 12 years ago, Bisou Martel has lived a relatively normal life in Washington State. However, as new moon rises and junior year homecoming arrives, everything changes. Bisou finds herself running through the woods with a bloodthirsty wolf at her heels. The struggle that ensues ends with Bisou walking away victorious and full of questions. Her quest for answers unleashes truths about Mémé, Mama, and other women in her supposedly quiet town, leading Bisou to reclaim her tenacity while safeguarding those she holds dear. It's unsettling how seamlessly Arnold incorporates dark fantasy elements of beastly wolves and cunning hunters into her all-too-realistic tale. Broken into three parts, the narration moves between second- and first-person, with a sprinkle of poetry, all of which perfectly fleshes out Bisou, Mémé, and Mama's histories. This dynamic mix of narration beautifully enriches the mirrored hopes, fears, and overwhelming love that drives each woman. As Bisou draws closer to the women in her life, she begins to grasp the toxic culture that permeates her modern world, a lethal society where many have silently sacrificed a part of themselves because of fear, shame, or doubt. With an author's note at the start, be aware that a few scenes dive into intimate, often uncomfortable moments. VERDICT A fantastic novel in the #MeToo era, empowering women to share their stories by reaching out, speaking up, and demanding a change.—Emily Walker, Lisle Library District, IL - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
