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(Fairly) True Tales Series
Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood
Red is not afraid of the big bad wolf. She’s not afraid of anything . . . except magic.
But when Red’s granny falls ill, it seems that only magic can save her, and fearless Red is forced to confront her one weakness.
With the help of a blond, porridge-sampling nuisance called Goldie, Red goes on a quest to cure Granny. Her journey takes her through dwarves’ caverns to a haunted well and a beast’s castle. All the while, Red and Goldie are followed by a wolf and a huntsman—two mortal enemies who seek the girls’ help to defeat each other. And one of them just might have the magical solution Red is looking for. . . .
But when Red’s granny falls ill, it seems that only magic can save her, and fearless Red is forced to confront her one weakness.
With the help of a blond, porridge-sampling nuisance called Goldie, Red goes on a quest to cure Granny. Her journey takes her through dwarves’ caverns to a haunted well and a beast’s castle. All the while, Red and Goldie are followed by a wolf and a huntsman—two mortal enemies who seek the girls’ help to defeat each other. And one of them just might have the magical solution Red is looking for. . . .
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2016
357 people are currently reading
3117 people want to read
About the author
Liesl Shurtliff
15 books684 followersLiesl Shurtliff is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of books for young readers. Her books include RUMP, JACK, RED, and GRUMP, all part of the (Fairly) True Tales series from Knopf/Random House, and the TIME CASTAWAYS trilogy from Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins.
Liesl was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the mountains for her playground. Before she became a writer, Liesl graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in music, dance, and theater. She now lives in Chicago with her husband and four children. Visit her online at www.lieslshurtliff.com and @lieslshurtliff everywhere.
Liesl was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the mountains for her playground. Before she became a writer, Liesl graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in music, dance, and theater. She now lives in Chicago with her husband and four children. Visit her online at www.lieslshurtliff.com and @lieslshurtliff everywhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 529 reviews
February 22, 2016
I'm always curious to see how an author can change a beloved classic and spin it in a new way, yet leaving the best, lovable parts intact. Ms. Shurtliff does a fantastic job in doing just that--weaving a familiar tale with unique twists that makes it new and fresh.
In a lot of re-tellings, Red almost seems like an oblivious, spoiled child, yet in this one, there is depth to the reasons why she does what she does and it makes sense. She's actually brave, fearful, charming, and brash, all rolled up into one great character. I love the way Red figures things out with her situation and doesn't just sit back, waiting for things to fall into her lap.
One of my favorite things about this book (and I have read Rump, so I'm not sure if it's similar, but I'm guessing it is), is that there are so many different snippets into other fairy tales. I loved seeing how they're all interconnected. I loved the friendships that are formed and the character lessons learned are fantastic. I'm excited to pass this series on to my almost ten year old daughter because the adventure, danger, fun, and magic is very exciting and perfect for anyone who loves middle grade fiction.
Content: mild moments of peril and violence. Clean!
*I received a copy to review through the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
In a lot of re-tellings, Red almost seems like an oblivious, spoiled child, yet in this one, there is depth to the reasons why she does what she does and it makes sense. She's actually brave, fearful, charming, and brash, all rolled up into one great character. I love the way Red figures things out with her situation and doesn't just sit back, waiting for things to fall into her lap.
One of my favorite things about this book (and I have read Rump, so I'm not sure if it's similar, but I'm guessing it is), is that there are so many different snippets into other fairy tales. I loved seeing how they're all interconnected. I loved the friendships that are formed and the character lessons learned are fantastic. I'm excited to pass this series on to my almost ten year old daughter because the adventure, danger, fun, and magic is very exciting and perfect for anyone who loves middle grade fiction.
Content: mild moments of peril and violence. Clean!
*I received a copy to review through the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
February 26, 2016
I couldn’t help but think of the word “family reunion” as I read this new tale by Liesl Shurtliff. There are new things to learn about Red Riding Hood, but there also are reminders of her past adventures with Rump, good memories touched on. Red has inherited the strength of magic from her Granny, but early in the book we learn that Red stays away from it because of disasters that happened in her young life. Once she tried a small spell or two, which never worked, and one nearly became the end of Granny. To Red’s dismay, one day she arrives to find Granny in bed, very ill, and sends Red off to find the ingredients for a strong medicine. The ingredients are not all found, and Red’s path turns to a new idea: she begins to look for the spells that would mean eternal life so that Granny would never die. This leads to an adventure with dwarves, being followed by a wolf and a hunter, and conflicting experiences with a beast. There is also a new unwanted companion, the familiar one with blonde curls, Goldie. Goldie’s on a search too, and that porridge-loving girl we all love is both an irritant and a help to Red. Does this sound complicated? It is, wonderfully. I was surprised whenever I rounded a corner with Red, worried when she was in danger, commiserated with her feelings, admired her courage and rooted for her success. I loved every bit.
December 22, 2017
Some children will love this. I probably would have, as a child. But it's just a wee bit superficial and I can't give it the full four stars.
I do like lots of the elements, for example Granny's table has her favorite recipes etched right into it (I considered that on our old table, in fact).
The Beauty and the Beast tale twist was especially interesting. Do not read this spoiler if you think you'll read the book.
Now I'm off to read the first book in the series. (Oops.)
I do like lots of the elements, for example Granny's table has her favorite recipes etched right into it (I considered that on our old table, in fact).
The Beauty and the Beast tale twist was especially interesting. Do not read this spoiler if you think you'll read the book.
Now I'm off to read the first book in the series. (Oops.)
November 15, 2015
Liesl Shurtliff has done it again! This book is fabulous! It tells the true story of Red Riding Hood, while taking readers on quite an adventure. As we go on a journey with Red, we find several other characters, places, and events that we know through familiar fairy tales. I felt a quick connection with Red, and was cheering her on very early in the book. Don't miss this one in the spring of 2016!
I received an ARC at the AASL Conference.
I received an ARC at the AASL Conference.
October 25, 2015
I loved Red! Great twists and turns to this story! Look for it in April of 2016!
October 24, 2019
Bugüne kadar okuduğum en güzel Kırmızı Başlıklı Kız hikayesiydi. Editlendi, dizgiye gönderildi, yakında bizlerle buluşması dileğiyle :')
October 2, 2016
I liked this one more than her other book Rump. I would rate it a 3.5 stars. It was cute and had more going for it then I expected.
Review to come.
Review to come.
February 10, 2016
I want to thank Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give an honest review. Receiving this book for free has in no way altered my opinion or review.
I love a good fairy tale retelling. And I don't see many on the Middle Grade level. So when I was contacted about reviewing this book I jumped at the chance. I love the story of Red Riding Hood, though many of the versions we tend to see are quite a bit more fluffy than what was originally written.
Red is an interesting character. It took me a bit to start to like her. I loved the background about the magic that her family has, as we don't get to see anything like that when we read the actual fairy tale. She had a fierce independence I was not expecting. And she's quite a bit of a loner who has a hard time letting anyone in. I will be honest and say when her age was revealed I was a bit surprised. She really did seem much older than what she was.
The secondary characters are fun. I know this is not the only book in this series and Red does reference Rump, her best friend who she misses terribly. I would love some more background on their relationship. We also get to meet Goldie, and yes, it's that Goldie you are thinking of. I liked how Shurtliff incorporated a bit of that story into this one. And then there's the Huntsman who, of course, is not quite what he seems. The Beast is quite the twist in this story. I would like to see that story play out more as it's not exactly what we expect from Beauty and the Beast!
The book is filled with magic and fun. Red takes on many adventures in the woods with her friends. And you'll be surprised who are the actual friends and enemies in this book.
My only issue with the book was that the main character, who is only 12, speaks like an adult, or even a older young adult. The words she chooses to use are not something I would hear coming from a 12 year old (and I have a 12 year old at home as a reference point). It's not to say that perhaps being so independent has forced her to grow older before her time, but I was surprised at how she at times seemed like such an adult and then other times was so much more naive than I thought she would be. It was a bit of a conflict for me.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and can see my middle son picking this one up. I'd like to take a look at the other books in this series and see the other character's stories. I think it would be interesting to see how they all intertwine. Fans of the show Once Upon a Time will definitely fall right into this. A great read for anyone who loves fairy tales!
I love a good fairy tale retelling. And I don't see many on the Middle Grade level. So when I was contacted about reviewing this book I jumped at the chance. I love the story of Red Riding Hood, though many of the versions we tend to see are quite a bit more fluffy than what was originally written.
Red is an interesting character. It took me a bit to start to like her. I loved the background about the magic that her family has, as we don't get to see anything like that when we read the actual fairy tale. She had a fierce independence I was not expecting. And she's quite a bit of a loner who has a hard time letting anyone in. I will be honest and say when her age was revealed I was a bit surprised. She really did seem much older than what she was.
The secondary characters are fun. I know this is not the only book in this series and Red does reference Rump, her best friend who she misses terribly. I would love some more background on their relationship. We also get to meet Goldie, and yes, it's that Goldie you are thinking of. I liked how Shurtliff incorporated a bit of that story into this one. And then there's the Huntsman who, of course, is not quite what he seems. The Beast is quite the twist in this story. I would like to see that story play out more as it's not exactly what we expect from Beauty and the Beast!
The book is filled with magic and fun. Red takes on many adventures in the woods with her friends. And you'll be surprised who are the actual friends and enemies in this book.
My only issue with the book was that the main character, who is only 12, speaks like an adult, or even a older young adult. The words she chooses to use are not something I would hear coming from a 12 year old (and I have a 12 year old at home as a reference point). It's not to say that perhaps being so independent has forced her to grow older before her time, but I was surprised at how she at times seemed like such an adult and then other times was so much more naive than I thought she would be. It was a bit of a conflict for me.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and can see my middle son picking this one up. I'd like to take a look at the other books in this series and see the other character's stories. I think it would be interesting to see how they all intertwine. Fans of the show Once Upon a Time will definitely fall right into this. A great read for anyone who loves fairy tales!
October 15, 2017
Lần đầu tiên mình đọc câu chuyện về Cô bé quàng khăn đỏ có phép thuật đấy, và thực sự là rất hay. Red là tên của cô bé, đúng với màu chiếc áo choàng kỳ diệu mà cô bé luôn mặc trên người. Bà ngoại của Red, thú vị lắm nhé, chính là nàng Red Rose trong truyện cổ Grimm nổi tiếng “Bạch Tuyết và Hồng Hoa” (câu chuyện về hai chị em gái giải cứu một chàng hoàng tử khỏi lời nguyền lốt gấu do một tên thần lùn gây ra và giúp chàng đòi lại số châu báu bị thần lùn lấy cắp. Sau đó Bạch Tuyết lấy hoàng tử, còn Hồng Hoa lấy anh của hoàng tử ^^. Đọc full truyện ở đây nha: https://www.grimmstories.com/vi/grimm...)
Cuộc phiêu lưu của Red là chuyến hành trình của một cô cháu gái sợ hãi thứ phép thuật diệu kỳ nhưng chưa thể kiểm soát được của chính mình, lên đường cùng người bạn Goldie tìm kiếm phương cách giúp bà ngoại Rose Red sống bất tử (vì bà ngoại đang bị bệnh khá nặng, mà Red thì lại không muốn bà phải chết). Chuyến hành trình ấy trái ngược hoàn toàn với những gì chúng ta từng biết về câu chuyện “Cô bé quàng khăn đỏ”, khi mà Sói thì lại là một sinh vật đáng yêu, trung thành, can đảm và gắn bó với Red vô cùng. Thế giới phép thuật màu nhiệm bao bọc chuyến hành trình của Red và Goldie, nơi thần lùn, tiên tí hon, tiên cây cùng tồn tại. Và trên chuyến hành trình ấy, Red đã phải rất nhiều lần đối mặt với nỗi sợ hãi về việc sẽ mất bà, về việc tin tưởng vào khả năng điều khiển phép thuật của mình, về cái giá phải trả cho sự bất tử. Cô bé dần dần học được những bài học quý giá để biết cách trân quý cuộc sống hữu hạn, hiểu được sức mạnh của tình bạn và ý nghĩa của việc đối mặt với những nỗi sợ hãi của bản thân.
Một câu chuyện hấp dẫn diệu kỳ với những điều bất ngờ ở những thời điểm mà bạn không thể nào ngờ được. Hãy chuẩn bị tinh thần để đón nhận một cú twist với câu chuyện của Giai nhân và Quái vật, cũng như sự thật về bác thợ săn trong câu chuyện “Bạch Tuyết và bảy chú lùn”. Thực sự không biết bằng cách nào mà tác giả Liesl Shurtliff lại có thể nghĩ ra được cách biến hóa câu chuyện cổ tích nổi tiếng muôn đời “Cô bé quàng khăn đỏ” trở thành một chuyến phiêu lưu tràn đầy sự tươi mới, thú vị và khác biệt như thế. Cô quả là một nhà văn có trí tưởng tượng vô song!!!
P.S.: Cuốn này hay vậy mà hình như ít người đọc nhỉ? Lên Goodreads không thấy bản tiếng Việt luôn, nên mình phải lật đật add vào đó...
Cuộc phiêu lưu của Red là chuyến hành trình của một cô cháu gái sợ hãi thứ phép thuật diệu kỳ nhưng chưa thể kiểm soát được của chính mình, lên đường cùng người bạn Goldie tìm kiếm phương cách giúp bà ngoại Rose Red sống bất tử (vì bà ngoại đang bị bệnh khá nặng, mà Red thì lại không muốn bà phải chết). Chuyến hành trình ấy trái ngược hoàn toàn với những gì chúng ta từng biết về câu chuyện “Cô bé quàng khăn đỏ”, khi mà Sói thì lại là một sinh vật đáng yêu, trung thành, can đảm và gắn bó với Red vô cùng. Thế giới phép thuật màu nhiệm bao bọc chuyến hành trình của Red và Goldie, nơi thần lùn, tiên tí hon, tiên cây cùng tồn tại. Và trên chuyến hành trình ấy, Red đã phải rất nhiều lần đối mặt với nỗi sợ hãi về việc sẽ mất bà, về việc tin tưởng vào khả năng điều khiển phép thuật của mình, về cái giá phải trả cho sự bất tử. Cô bé dần dần học được những bài học quý giá để biết cách trân quý cuộc sống hữu hạn, hiểu được sức mạnh của tình bạn và ý nghĩa của việc đối mặt với những nỗi sợ hãi của bản thân.
Một câu chuyện hấp dẫn diệu kỳ với những điều bất ngờ ở những thời điểm mà bạn không thể nào ngờ được. Hãy chuẩn bị tinh thần để đón nhận một cú twist với câu chuyện của Giai nhân và Quái vật, cũng như sự thật về bác thợ săn trong câu chuyện “Bạch Tuyết và bảy chú lùn”. Thực sự không biết bằng cách nào mà tác giả Liesl Shurtliff lại có thể nghĩ ra được cách biến hóa câu chuyện cổ tích nổi tiếng muôn đời “Cô bé quàng khăn đỏ” trở thành một chuyến phiêu lưu tràn đầy sự tươi mới, thú vị và khác biệt như thế. Cô quả là một nhà văn có trí tưởng tượng vô song!!!
P.S.: Cuốn này hay vậy mà hình như ít người đọc nhỉ? Lên Goodreads không thấy bản tiếng Việt luôn, nên mình phải lật đật add vào đó...
March 16, 2016
I do love a retelling that’s entertaining and different than what you’re used to. Shurtliff defies much of what you’d expect from Red’s tale and turned it into a funny and thought-provoking story for young readers. Take what you thought you knew about Red and the big bad Wolf, add a bit of a magic to her Grandma as well, and you’ve got only a tip of this interesting tale. Red’s story not only includes her Granny and the Wolf, it also includes other well-known fairy-tale characters such as Goldilocks, the Huntsman (from Snow White), and the Beast. You also see creatures such as nymphs, dwarfs, sprites, and more. The author’s spin was twisty with a touch of dark, and there’s a ton of magic involved.
Red goes on an adventure to save her grandma, who is really sick, and through this, learns to face her fears of magic and discovers just how strong and strong-willed she is. I liked the sense of empowerment the story gives the reader, telling them that looking for the easy way out, through magic and stuff, isn’t the best thing, and that you’ve got to look inside yourself to find the true magic. I’m definitely curious about the other books in this series and if they’re anything like this one, I’m sure I’ll have fun reading it.
Red goes on an adventure to save her grandma, who is really sick, and through this, learns to face her fears of magic and discovers just how strong and strong-willed she is. I liked the sense of empowerment the story gives the reader, telling them that looking for the easy way out, through magic and stuff, isn’t the best thing, and that you’ve got to look inside yourself to find the true magic. I’m definitely curious about the other books in this series and if they’re anything like this one, I’m sure I’ll have fun reading it.
February 13, 2016
**An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
A fun hodgepodge of fairytales, focusing on Little Red Riding Hood, obviously, but with appearances from Beast, the Huntsman, Goldielocks, and more! What I specially liked is how my expectations of these well-known and often loved fairytale characters were turned on their head - I do love a good twist!
Full review to come closer to publication.
A fun hodgepodge of fairytales, focusing on Little Red Riding Hood, obviously, but with appearances from Beast, the Huntsman, Goldielocks, and more! What I specially liked is how my expectations of these well-known and often loved fairytale characters were turned on their head - I do love a good twist!
Full review to come closer to publication.
March 10, 2016
I have enjoyed all of Liesl Shurtliff's "True Story" series that tell a little bit of a twist to a very familiar fairy tale. But I think Red may be my favorite. I loved the themes of friendship and destiny that were woven through the story.
March 13, 2016
I don’t read a lot of Middle Grade. But the few I’ve read so far have been epic! And Red was no exception! I loved the mingling of fairy tales, as well as the world and the rules. I love twisted fairy tales and this book was the perfect combination of twisty and fun!
It takes a little while to warm up to Red. In the beginning, she’s a bit snippy, bossy and rude. But she was also fierce, brave and determined. I don’t know if it’s just because their stories stem from the same fairy tale or what, but Red reminded me a LOT of Scarlet from The Lunar Chronicles! She definitely had a LOT of character growth from beginning to end!
Goldie was really chipper and kind, but also incredibly innocent (borderline naive) and just a touch annoying – especially in the beginning. She definitely means well, she just doesn’t seem to know how to express certain things. By the end of the book, though, I adored her and the friendship between her and Red!
I loved the wolf. From the very beginning, we were led to believe he was the bad guy. But I refused to believe it. You can judge for yourself when you read the book, but I loved his character and the way his story ended.
There were a LOT of secondary characters that I adored, but it’s hard to discuss them all without spoilers. So I’m just going to encourage you – again – to read this epic book!
There were also a LOT of life lessons in this book. Maybe I just noticed it more because I’m older, but it felt like each one was not-so-subtly shoved at the reader; however, this was a good thing because the life lessons taught were VERY important! The biggest life lesson this book teaches – in my opinion – is about fearing death and that you actually shouldn’t. Death is a part of life. It’s good to feel sadness in times of loss because it means we have loved and lost, but we’re truly alive. That death isn’t the end because we live on in the memories of others. Another important life lesson is that you should trust yourself and be confident in your abilities. The other life lessons I noticed are a bit more spoilerish, so I won’t share them – You’ll just have to read the book to discover them!
Red is a companion to Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin and Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk, but it can be read on its own. There were a few moments when Red mentioned Rump and I could see how reading Rump first might help, but I never felt lost or confused or like I HAD to read them.
My biggest issue with this book? I wanted maps! The land was described in such detail and Red and Goldie traveled to such amazing places, I just wanted maps of EVERY place they went! Desperately! (Dear Knopf Books for Young Readers: Please give me maps! In the book or as swag for the book.. I’m not picky! Just please give me maps!!!)
There were some epic twists and turns in this book. Some I expected, some I didn’t. But all of them kept me intrigued and dying to find out how things would end. I read it in a matter of hours because it was a quick, fun book and I just didn’t want to put it down!
Overall, if you couldn’t tell, I adored this book! If you love fairy tale retellings, I highly recommend it, especially if you’re a fan of middle grade! And if you don’t read much middle grade, I still highly recommend it – it just might change your mind!
You can also find more from me on my blog: Pandora's Books
It takes a little while to warm up to Red. In the beginning, she’s a bit snippy, bossy and rude. But she was also fierce, brave and determined. I don’t know if it’s just because their stories stem from the same fairy tale or what, but Red reminded me a LOT of Scarlet from The Lunar Chronicles! She definitely had a LOT of character growth from beginning to end!
Goldie was really chipper and kind, but also incredibly innocent (borderline naive) and just a touch annoying – especially in the beginning. She definitely means well, she just doesn’t seem to know how to express certain things. By the end of the book, though, I adored her and the friendship between her and Red!
I loved the wolf. From the very beginning, we were led to believe he was the bad guy. But I refused to believe it. You can judge for yourself when you read the book, but I loved his character and the way his story ended.
There were a LOT of secondary characters that I adored, but it’s hard to discuss them all without spoilers. So I’m just going to encourage you – again – to read this epic book!
There were also a LOT of life lessons in this book. Maybe I just noticed it more because I’m older, but it felt like each one was not-so-subtly shoved at the reader; however, this was a good thing because the life lessons taught were VERY important! The biggest life lesson this book teaches – in my opinion – is about fearing death and that you actually shouldn’t. Death is a part of life. It’s good to feel sadness in times of loss because it means we have loved and lost, but we’re truly alive. That death isn’t the end because we live on in the memories of others. Another important life lesson is that you should trust yourself and be confident in your abilities. The other life lessons I noticed are a bit more spoilerish, so I won’t share them – You’ll just have to read the book to discover them!
Red is a companion to Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin and Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk, but it can be read on its own. There were a few moments when Red mentioned Rump and I could see how reading Rump first might help, but I never felt lost or confused or like I HAD to read them.
My biggest issue with this book? I wanted maps! The land was described in such detail and Red and Goldie traveled to such amazing places, I just wanted maps of EVERY place they went! Desperately! (Dear Knopf Books for Young Readers: Please give me maps! In the book or as swag for the book.. I’m not picky! Just please give me maps!!!)
There were some epic twists and turns in this book. Some I expected, some I didn’t. But all of them kept me intrigued and dying to find out how things would end. I read it in a matter of hours because it was a quick, fun book and I just didn’t want to put it down!
Overall, if you couldn’t tell, I adored this book! If you love fairy tale retellings, I highly recommend it, especially if you’re a fan of middle grade! And if you don’t read much middle grade, I still highly recommend it – it just might change your mind!
You can also find more from me on my blog: Pandora's Books
March 6, 2016
This was an incredibly well done continuation of the fairy tale retellings Shurtliff has been writing. Shurtliff also wrote Jack (which I enjoyed) and Rump (which I absolutely loved). This is the third book in her series of fairy tale retellings; it can be read stand alone but also starts off where Rump left off. There are some characters that are in all three books and some that are new.
Red isn’t afraid of the Deep Dark Woods or the Big Bad Wolf; however she is afraid of her own magic. When Granny gets sick Red realizes that magic may be the only cure and sets off on a quest to save Granny. Along the way she meets Goldie, a girl who can seek and find anything gold and is quite the perky nuisance. Goldie and Red end up on quest to find a dwarf that grants wishes, magical healing wine, and roses that grant immortality.
This was a very fun read. Parts are laugh out loud funny and you never know what crazy magical creature you will run into next. Parts are also very heartfelt as Red and Goldie become friends and Red meets a particularly huge wolf.
I also really enjoyed how the story blended in other fairy tales. This is definitely a Red Riding Hood retelling, but we also run into other fairy tales. The stories of Beauty and the Beast, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Red Rose and Snow White, and Snow White and the Huntsman are all present there in one form or another. All of the fairy tales included have very clever twists to them and I enjoyed how they were woven into Red’s story.
Red is one of my favorite characters from the previous books so I was thrilled to see her get her own story. It really was my favorite of the three fairy tale retellings Shurtliff has done so far. I loved all of the adventure and magic in here.
Overall this is a spectacular middle grade fairy tale retelling full of adventure, magic and lessons about friendship and family. It was fast-paced, hilarious, and heartfelt and I really loved it. I can’t wait to see what Shurtliff writes next!
Red isn’t afraid of the Deep Dark Woods or the Big Bad Wolf; however she is afraid of her own magic. When Granny gets sick Red realizes that magic may be the only cure and sets off on a quest to save Granny. Along the way she meets Goldie, a girl who can seek and find anything gold and is quite the perky nuisance. Goldie and Red end up on quest to find a dwarf that grants wishes, magical healing wine, and roses that grant immortality.
This was a very fun read. Parts are laugh out loud funny and you never know what crazy magical creature you will run into next. Parts are also very heartfelt as Red and Goldie become friends and Red meets a particularly huge wolf.
I also really enjoyed how the story blended in other fairy tales. This is definitely a Red Riding Hood retelling, but we also run into other fairy tales. The stories of Beauty and the Beast, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Red Rose and Snow White, and Snow White and the Huntsman are all present there in one form or another. All of the fairy tales included have very clever twists to them and I enjoyed how they were woven into Red’s story.
Red is one of my favorite characters from the previous books so I was thrilled to see her get her own story. It really was my favorite of the three fairy tale retellings Shurtliff has done so far. I loved all of the adventure and magic in here.
Overall this is a spectacular middle grade fairy tale retelling full of adventure, magic and lessons about friendship and family. It was fast-paced, hilarious, and heartfelt and I really loved it. I can’t wait to see what Shurtliff writes next!
April 16, 2016
Although Red is close to her beloved grandmother, she doesn't seem to have her talent for casting spells and spinning magic. In fact, every time Red tries her hand at magic, things go very wrong. But with Granny ailing and her parents away, she must find a way to save her grandmother. Her journey takes her deep into the woods where she meets up with a most annoying Goldilocks and a wolf that is determined to be her friend. She also is tricked by a dwarf and meets Beast who has lost her beauty because of Red's grandmother. Readers familiar with the original story won't be surprised that there's also a woodcutter in the tale, but he is quite different from the original one. Filled with magic and plenty of self-realizations about beauty and the perils of wishing to stave off growing old or dying, this book provides plenty of entertainment for all ages, particularly because of the liberties the author takes with Red Riding Hood's story, sprinkling in all sorts of other characters and revealing the identity of Red's Granny, a revelation which will surprise readers. It's fun to see how much humor, pathos, and excitement the author packs into this book. Fans of Rump will find this one quite delightful.
June 27, 2019
Albert Einstein once said, "If you want intelligent children, read them fairy tales. If you want your children more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." This saying could not be more true for this fractured fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood that Liesl Shurtliff wrote. Red is afraid. Her fear overcomes her so much, everything she tries just spirals downward. The reader/Red learns one must not be afraid. It is fear that ruins. Many in this country can learn from reading this fractured fairy tale. With all the turmoil/prejudices/anger in the world--it all stems from fear and people's fear is making our country spiral downwards.
This story is the third in Shurtliff's fractured fairy tale "series". I thought Rump was fabulous and so creative. But when I read her second book, Jack, I was somewhat disappointed. It wasn't bad, but the story didn't flow liked Rump did. So I was not expecting much from this book. Well, Shurtliff is back in action. Red is not only fabulous, but the story, the writing, the message--it all beats Rump. This is Shurtliff's best work yet.
This story is the third in Shurtliff's fractured fairy tale "series". I thought Rump was fabulous and so creative. But when I read her second book, Jack, I was somewhat disappointed. It wasn't bad, but the story didn't flow liked Rump did. So I was not expecting much from this book. Well, Shurtliff is back in action. Red is not only fabulous, but the story, the writing, the message--it all beats Rump. This is Shurtliff's best work yet.
September 1, 2018
Audience: Upper Elementary/Middle School
The first time I tried my hand at magic, I grew roses out of my nose.
- First sentence
Red's granny is sick (maybe dying) and she is determined to find a way to save her. She sets off on an adventure that brings understanding, knowledge, fear, excitement and even unexpected friendships.
Other books in this series include Rump, Jack, and Grump. They all come from the same world, but see it from different perspectives.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series so far. I haven't read Grump, but I'm sure it won't disappoint. Red is a great character though a bit naive and sheltered. She learns a great deal during her adventure and grows into a stronger person.
Bottom line: A fresh take on the story of Red Riding Hood that will take you on an exciting adventure filled with danger and unexpected friendships.
The first time I tried my hand at magic, I grew roses out of my nose.
- First sentence
Red's granny is sick (maybe dying) and she is determined to find a way to save her. She sets off on an adventure that brings understanding, knowledge, fear, excitement and even unexpected friendships.
Other books in this series include Rump, Jack, and Grump. They all come from the same world, but see it from different perspectives.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series so far. I haven't read Grump, but I'm sure it won't disappoint. Red is a great character though a bit naive and sheltered. She learns a great deal during her adventure and grows into a stronger person.
Bottom line: A fresh take on the story of Red Riding Hood that will take you on an exciting adventure filled with danger and unexpected friendships.
Read
June 14, 2019Well, this was utterly delightful from start to finish! Fresh, inventive, confident, expertly paced, full of action and pathos and girl power and soul...I’m just completely charmed. (I feel like I did when I finished the first Harry Potter book a million years ago: like I’d just read something that perfectly accomplished what it’d set out to do.) I can’t wait to read the rest of Shurtliff’s fairytale books. (I read this aloud with my 6yo, but my 10yo read two of them in two days and is onto the third.)
October 31, 2015
Out of the three so far in the series, I liked this one the best. Enjoyed the way Shurtliff weaved other fairytale characters into Red's story.
Red has magic, but is afraid of it. She can never get the spells right and often has disastrous results.When she goes to visit her grandmother and finds her ill, Red has to go out into the woods to find ingredients to make her better. Her adventure teaches her about friendship and overcoming her fears.
Digital review copy from Edelweiss
Red has magic, but is afraid of it. She can never get the spells right and often has disastrous results.When she goes to visit her grandmother and finds her ill, Red has to go out into the woods to find ingredients to make her better. Her adventure teaches her about friendship and overcoming her fears.
Digital review copy from Edelweiss
March 13, 2016
For fans of fractured fairy tales! Took me a bit to get into this-probably my own mindset-but I loved the ending and all the threads that came together to make it very satisfying! Good messages about growing up & becoming who you are meant to be!
Read
November 19, 2016You know when you check something out but you can't finish it before the due date? But it was a really good book, and I want to finish it! (I hate it when people request books so you can't renew them)
Read
October 23, 2016Another amazing book by Liesl. Read this out loud to my boys and they loved it.
November 14, 2019
Interesting take on Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks
November 9, 2025
Red: The Fairly True Tale of Red Riding Hood is a story that winds, twists, and turns as often as the path Red walks to her destiny. This version contains adventure, friendship, and some surprises.
"Red" is the granddaughter of Rose Red ("Granny"), the Enchantress (or The Witch of the Woods, as the kingdom's inhabitants describe her). Granny is a spry and mischievous woman, unlike the frail counterpart in the familiar children's fairytale. Red shares a special relationship with her grandmother. But while Granny embraces her magical gift ("She makes the world better"), Red shuns hers, as it often led to disasters of one sort or another, including fires and a terrible accident that nearly claimed the life of her beloved grandmother. Fearing she would do only harm with her gifts (gifts Red considers curses), she vows never to wield her magic again. Granny becomes gravely ill however, and as she lay on the brink of death, Red decides she will venture forth to search for a remedy.
This book has its moments, and the themes are certainly evident (friendship, loyalty, loss, fear, and more). It is also cautionary in a different sense, as it reminds us to refrain from judgement based on outward appearances. For example, the wolf in this story is a helpful guide, whereas the huntsman serves a much darker purpose.
That said, the pacing of this book is arduous, and muddled with copious references to other fairy tales, which detracts from the plot in my opinion. In other words, the plot does thicken, but not in a terribly enticing way. The characters are not as well-developed as I would have preferred, given the very long journey Red, Goldie (yes, THAT Goldie), and Red's lupine companion take. They encounter a plethora of mythical creatures (fairies, sprites, dwarves, gnomes, gargoyles, beasts), and there were some interesting inversions of well-loved characters from other stories (I was especially partial to the Beast). Still, this was not the page turner I had hoped it would be. I appreciated the creative effort of this fantasy-laden spin on a traditional children's classic, but it did not suit my taste overall.
This novel would be appropriate for middle school readers, and could be used as a comparison and contrast to the traditional tales. It could serve as a mentor text to inspire other students to create their own fairy tale versions, or students could create 3 dimensional representations (such as dioramas) of the story and sequence them (this would be challenging, considering the length and multiple plot twists and characters). It could also serve as the basis for a script adaptation for a school play.
"Red" is the granddaughter of Rose Red ("Granny"), the Enchantress (or The Witch of the Woods, as the kingdom's inhabitants describe her). Granny is a spry and mischievous woman, unlike the frail counterpart in the familiar children's fairytale. Red shares a special relationship with her grandmother. But while Granny embraces her magical gift ("She makes the world better"), Red shuns hers, as it often led to disasters of one sort or another, including fires and a terrible accident that nearly claimed the life of her beloved grandmother. Fearing she would do only harm with her gifts (gifts Red considers curses), she vows never to wield her magic again. Granny becomes gravely ill however, and as she lay on the brink of death, Red decides she will venture forth to search for a remedy.
This book has its moments, and the themes are certainly evident (friendship, loyalty, loss, fear, and more). It is also cautionary in a different sense, as it reminds us to refrain from judgement based on outward appearances. For example, the wolf in this story is a helpful guide, whereas the huntsman serves a much darker purpose.
That said, the pacing of this book is arduous, and muddled with copious references to other fairy tales, which detracts from the plot in my opinion. In other words, the plot does thicken, but not in a terribly enticing way. The characters are not as well-developed as I would have preferred, given the very long journey Red, Goldie (yes, THAT Goldie), and Red's lupine companion take. They encounter a plethora of mythical creatures (fairies, sprites, dwarves, gnomes, gargoyles, beasts), and there were some interesting inversions of well-loved characters from other stories (I was especially partial to the Beast). Still, this was not the page turner I had hoped it would be. I appreciated the creative effort of this fantasy-laden spin on a traditional children's classic, but it did not suit my taste overall.
This novel would be appropriate for middle school readers, and could be used as a comparison and contrast to the traditional tales. It could serve as a mentor text to inspire other students to create their own fairy tale versions, or students could create 3 dimensional representations (such as dioramas) of the story and sequence them (this would be challenging, considering the length and multiple plot twists and characters). It could also serve as the basis for a script adaptation for a school play.
October 12, 2025
The writing is well, and the book is about accepting death. I’m sure it makes sense to the author as their own grandma was passing away as they wrote this book, but I cannot understand the message Shurtliff is trying to portray. Maybe because I still am trying to process the death of my own grandma, and the deep fears inside me of what getting old and dying entails.
It was a hard read because of the meaning behind it, I still feel lost. But I like the friendship between Goldie and Red, I like when they went underground to meet the dwarves, and the little snippits of other fairytales like beauty and the beast, and Snow White.
I really did not like Horst, his whole storyline felt like a SA/R. It felt so creepy and disgusting, and I really did not like it. I didn’t like how wolf was portrayed to be a human either. I don’t know why, I just didn’t like how he and red could feel the same memories and be one in their actions of running through the woods and such.
I don’t like how the story ended either, with wolf randomly starting a family with a new pack even though this whole time there was no pack. That he didn’t come back and stay with red. I don’t like the convo between granny and red at the end. I wish we got more of red’s mom and dad. More characters.
This was a very hard book to read for so many reasons. I don’t think this is for me, but I did enjoy reading Rump although that also gave SA/R vibes when he and the miller’s dad were forcing the miller’s daughter to give Rump the baby. It just feels so gross and disgusting in a sexual way. For both of these books.
I will try reading Jack and Grumpy’s tale by Liesl Shurtliff next.
It was a hard read because of the meaning behind it, I still feel lost. But I like the friendship between Goldie and Red, I like when they went underground to meet the dwarves, and the little snippits of other fairytales like beauty and the beast, and Snow White.
I really did not like Horst, his whole storyline felt like a SA/R. It felt so creepy and disgusting, and I really did not like it. I didn’t like how wolf was portrayed to be a human either. I don’t know why, I just didn’t like how he and red could feel the same memories and be one in their actions of running through the woods and such.
I don’t like how the story ended either, with wolf randomly starting a family with a new pack even though this whole time there was no pack. That he didn’t come back and stay with red. I don’t like the convo between granny and red at the end. I wish we got more of red’s mom and dad. More characters.
This was a very hard book to read for so many reasons. I don’t think this is for me, but I did enjoy reading Rump although that also gave SA/R vibes when he and the miller’s dad were forcing the miller’s daughter to give Rump the baby. It just feels so gross and disgusting in a sexual way. For both of these books.
I will try reading Jack and Grumpy’s tale by Liesl Shurtliff next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2025
Liesl Shurtliff’s “Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood” (2016) is a fractured fairy tale inspired by the classic fairy tale. In this story, Little Red Riding Hood is a brave, strong-minded young girl named Red. Red is a witch who was born with magic powers, like her grandmother, or Granny (“Rose Red”). Granny’s magic is powerful, but she is now sick, so Red sets out on a journey to find the cure. Red’s character is bold and what I would call snotty; she makes rude and condescending comments and thoughts about Goldie, a character who joins her on her journey through the dangerous and enchanted forest. Goldie is a clumsy, talkative, but friendly, young girl. Along their journey, they meet many magical creatures (sprites, dwarves, and nymphs). Characters are woven into the story from the original tale (the wolf and the huntsman, for example) and other tales (Snow White, Goldilocks and the Bears, a “Beast,” and Rumpelstiltskin).
Within the story, Red learns compassion and empathy through her friendship with Goldie. We learn that Red’s ultimate fear is death, and losing Granny is scary. Through her adventures and relationships with characters from the journey, Red courageously overcomes this fear and realizes that death is a natural part of life, and love and the memory of those past are essential. Ultimately, Red gains a clearer understanding of herself and the value of friendship and love.
Shurtliff's story could be read by middle schoolers along with the classic story to compare and contrast the story components. Also, using a character map, students may cite the portions of the book digging in to analyze her traits.
I did not start enjoying the book until about halfway through. I was initially annoyed by Red’s snippy and hurtful demeanor, but I now understand why she is portrayed this way to develop her character into a kinder and more thoughtful girl. This book was written for middle-school children, but teens (and even adults) can appreciate the deeper, woven meanings of the book.
Within the story, Red learns compassion and empathy through her friendship with Goldie. We learn that Red’s ultimate fear is death, and losing Granny is scary. Through her adventures and relationships with characters from the journey, Red courageously overcomes this fear and realizes that death is a natural part of life, and love and the memory of those past are essential. Ultimately, Red gains a clearer understanding of herself and the value of friendship and love.
Shurtliff's story could be read by middle schoolers along with the classic story to compare and contrast the story components. Also, using a character map, students may cite the portions of the book digging in to analyze her traits.
I did not start enjoying the book until about halfway through. I was initially annoyed by Red’s snippy and hurtful demeanor, but I now understand why she is portrayed this way to develop her character into a kinder and more thoughtful girl. This book was written for middle-school children, but teens (and even adults) can appreciate the deeper, woven meanings of the book.
December 15, 2018
This was fun. I loved how some of the familiar elements of the original Little Red RIding Hood story are woven in...with a twist. For example, rather than finding a wolf in her Granny's bed...she finds her granny dressed up as a wolf to get rid of unwanted visitors. And her meeting of the actual Big, Bad Wolf.
Red's granny is sick, perhaps dying, so Red sets off to try to cure her Granny. Red has magical power like her granny, but as a young child she made some mistakes in her use of magic and is afraid to use magic again. But while she won't use her own magic, she has no qualms about trying to find a magical way to save her granny. Her search for a longer life for granny is filled with adventure and with interactions with a variety of fairy tale characters. This DOES depart quite a bit from the original stories. And it is a bit predictable. But it was a fun, quick read at a busy time of year.
Red's granny is sick, perhaps dying, so Red sets off to try to cure her Granny. Red has magical power like her granny, but as a young child she made some mistakes in her use of magic and is afraid to use magic again. But while she won't use her own magic, she has no qualms about trying to find a magical way to save her granny. Her search for a longer life for granny is filled with adventure and with interactions with a variety of fairy tale characters. This DOES depart quite a bit from the original stories. And it is a bit predictable. But it was a fun, quick read at a busy time of year.
October 3, 2020
I wanted to like this as much as I liked Rump but I just didn't. I was listening to the audio and I would find myself zoning out nearly every time I listened. It just wasn't engaging to me and I can't really tell you why.
I loved that it was about Red and Goldie and their friendship, and there were some fun twists on fairy tales. You'd think the whole thing would be right up my alley, but I did not find it engaging at all. Maybe it was the time, maybe it was the audio, I really don't know. I can't point to the one thing that made it nearly impossible for me to care.
Based on the reviews, a lot of people liked it, and I'm glad. I still gave it three stars, because while I didn't love it, there was nothing that made me hate it. That's why I kept listening. I just didn't care about it.
I loved that it was about Red and Goldie and their friendship, and there were some fun twists on fairy tales. You'd think the whole thing would be right up my alley, but I did not find it engaging at all. Maybe it was the time, maybe it was the audio, I really don't know. I can't point to the one thing that made it nearly impossible for me to care.
Based on the reviews, a lot of people liked it, and I'm glad. I still gave it three stars, because while I didn't love it, there was nothing that made me hate it. That's why I kept listening. I just didn't care about it.
January 9, 2023
I think the story was okay.
It didn’t hook me in like how the first two installments did. I did still enjoy it but not overtly so. I don’t know how to articulate it more than I could but I just found it a little less enticing.
The first part was meh. I wasn’t completely enrapt the middle parts started picking up and I thought wow this is it. Then at the end it was done a little too abruptly. A little too bland for the build-up it did.
The characters were a certain type of chaotic. The worked and didn’t work at the same time. It took what I knew about fairy tales and the characters on its head and I think that’s what Liesl has done so far.
I just couldn’t get into this one. Hopefully, I would form a better liking on the next.
It didn’t hook me in like how the first two installments did. I did still enjoy it but not overtly so. I don’t know how to articulate it more than I could but I just found it a little less enticing.
The first part was meh. I wasn’t completely enrapt the middle parts started picking up and I thought wow this is it. Then at the end it was done a little too abruptly. A little too bland for the build-up it did.
The characters were a certain type of chaotic. The worked and didn’t work at the same time. It took what I knew about fairy tales and the characters on its head and I think that’s what Liesl has done so far.
I just couldn’t get into this one. Hopefully, I would form a better liking on the next.
January 14, 2019
Red: The (Fairly) True Tale of Red Riding Hood by [Shurtliff, Liesl]I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Different versions of fairy tales intrigue me. This one has Red being fearless, unless there is magic involved. Now she has to turn to it to try to help her granny, who is ill.
She asks Goldie to help her. Goldie is blond and likes trying porridge. Together they go through the dwarves' caverns to come to a haunted well and a castle that belongs to a beast. Unbeknownst to them a wolf and a huntsman are on their heels.
I love this take on the story. I know my grandchildren would take to it right away. There are enough surprises to keep them reading to the end.
.
Different versions of fairy tales intrigue me. This one has Red being fearless, unless there is magic involved. Now she has to turn to it to try to help her granny, who is ill.
She asks Goldie to help her. Goldie is blond and likes trying porridge. Together they go through the dwarves' caverns to come to a haunted well and a castle that belongs to a beast. Unbeknownst to them a wolf and a huntsman are on their heels.
I love this take on the story. I know my grandchildren would take to it right away. There are enough surprises to keep them reading to the end.
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