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Dark Fusion #2
Red Rider's Hood
In this second entry in Neal Shusterman s Dark Fusion series he twists the familiar fairy tale Red Riding Hood into a brooding story about a city plagued by gangs Red a boy famous for cruising around in a bloodcolored Mustang takes on the Wolves after they rob his grandmother He decides to beat them by joining them to learn their weaknesses After a while however he finds himself drawn to the pack At the next full moon will Red take up their murderous ways or will he take them down Ingenious twists and turns come fast and furious in this urban thriller
181 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 20, 2005
27 people are currently reading
997 people want to read
About the author
Neal Shusterman
90 books30k followersAward-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”
Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.
Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.
Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."
And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.
Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”
Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.
Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.
Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."
And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.
Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
March 28, 2011
Red Rider's Hood is not your ordinary Red Riding Hood parody.
Sure there is a Red Riding Hood, there is a grandma, there is a big bad wolf... but there's a twist!!
Red Rider is a boy!!!! Gasp gasp gasp!!
I adored that.
He is called Red Rider (he never tells us his real name) because of child childhood love for Radio Flyer wagons. He's been called that ever since he can remember. His family mainly calls him RED throughout the story.
Red is 16 years old and has outgrown his little red wagon but he has a new set of wheels. A restored antique mustang that he has been rebuilding.
On a trip to visit his grandma and drop off some bread (I thought this was really clever -- Grandma is an old hippy who doesn't believe in banks and calls money bread. Everyone in Red's family keeps their money in Grandma's safe) Red Rider runs into trouble along the way.
The story picks up from there. Red and his Grandma get caught up with a gang called the Wolves and we learn later that Grandma and the Wolves have crossed paths before. 30 years ago the town was being overrun by a band of werewolves and Grandma is a retired werewolf hunter who is now having to get back in the game.
It's really cute the way things were done.
Wait...I probably shouldn't say. I mean... It was very manly and actiony.
This book would be PERFECT for little 11-14 year old werewolf fans. (plus, there are maybe 5 little tame curse words in it) And moms who just love retelling of fairy tales.
I loved how it was done, I loved the idea, and the cover made me squee.
This book totally gets 5 howls at the moon!!!
Sure there is a Red Riding Hood, there is a grandma, there is a big bad wolf... but there's a twist!!
Red Rider is a boy!!!! Gasp gasp gasp!!
I adored that.
He is called Red Rider (he never tells us his real name) because of child childhood love for Radio Flyer wagons. He's been called that ever since he can remember. His family mainly calls him RED throughout the story.
Red is 16 years old and has outgrown his little red wagon but he has a new set of wheels. A restored antique mustang that he has been rebuilding.
On a trip to visit his grandma and drop off some bread (I thought this was really clever -- Grandma is an old hippy who doesn't believe in banks and calls money bread. Everyone in Red's family keeps their money in Grandma's safe) Red Rider runs into trouble along the way.
The story picks up from there. Red and his Grandma get caught up with a gang called the Wolves and we learn later that Grandma and the Wolves have crossed paths before. 30 years ago the town was being overrun by a band of werewolves and Grandma is a retired werewolf hunter who is now having to get back in the game.
It's really cute the way things were done.
Wait...I probably shouldn't say. I mean... It was very manly and actiony.
This book would be PERFECT for little 11-14 year old werewolf fans. (plus, there are maybe 5 little tame curse words in it) And moms who just love retelling of fairy tales.
I loved how it was done, I loved the idea, and the cover made me squee.
This book totally gets 5 howls at the moon!!!
March 30, 2022
This is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, and you can tell as bits and pieces of the tale are woven into the story but it has its original twist to it. You are drawn to a world of hunters and gangs, very cool story.
July 24, 2019
This was a good second novel in the Dark Fusion trilogy, but sadly I didn't like it as much as Dreadlocks. Maybe because I couldn't connect with Red, or gang warfare has never really interested me (though I love the fact that it's a gang of werewolves vs. an all-female gang of vampires), or maybe it seemed a little rushed, I don't know. It was still good and if others are reading this trilogy I do recommend picking it up even though it doesn't connect with Dreadlocks.
Here's what I did like: Red's dilemma over who's side to be on (especially when power and freedom are involved), Shusterman's signature writing, and the ending. Holy shit, that ending was AMAZING. It's also super short so it's not like it'll take long to finish it.
Not as good as the first, but still enjoyable, now I'm off to read the final book!
Here's what I did like: Red's dilemma over who's side to be on (especially when power and freedom are involved), Shusterman's signature writing, and the ending. Holy shit, that ending was AMAZING. It's also super short so it's not like it'll take long to finish it.
Not as good as the first, but still enjoyable, now I'm off to read the final book!
July 27, 2019
I was surprised that this was not Shusterman's usual high quality writing. Dread Locks was much better and I am hoping Duckling Ugly is more like his style.
Red Rider's Hood felt a bit juvenile, and the characters lacked development and depth.
Love Shusterman, didn't love this book.
Red Rider's Hood felt a bit juvenile, and the characters lacked development and depth.
Love Shusterman, didn't love this book.
February 5, 2012
"'Which side are you on?'
'I...I...'
'The truth!'
'I...I don't know,' I told her. 'I don't know which side I'm on.' I had no choice but to admit it now."
Red is a high school teen growing up in an urban area plagued by the Wolves, a local street gang. On his way to his grandmother's house with a bag full of "bread" (money), Red unexpectedly runs into Marvin, an old football star from his high school who supposedly left town and went to college, when he jumps out and washes Red's car windows while he's stopped at a red light. Marvin tells Red that his sister, Marissa, works nearby at an antique shop and could use some company; plus, she likes him! Red decides to make a detour, despite his parents' warning to go straight to grandmother's house. When he finally gets to his grandmother's a few hours later, Red is attacked by members of the Wolves gang and thrown into the basement, where his grandmother is smoking some strange cigarettes she claims are made from wolfsbane. There Red learns that the gang of Wolves are more than just tough street thugs...they're actually werewolves who terrorize the city every full moon. More importantly, his grandmother is one of the few remaining wolf hunters left. When Cedric, the leader of the Wolves, goes so far as to steal red's Mustang, he vows to get revenge by any means necessary, even if that means going undercover as a Wolf-in-training. But as Red grows closer to the people he is plotting to destroy, he starts to wonder: whose side am I on?
This fast-paced novel by Neal Shusterman is part of Shusterman's Dark Fusion series, which fuses traditional fairy tales with mythology and other legends, creating a sinister new hybrid. Red Rider's Hood is sure to get the attention of even reluctant readers with its fast-paced action, suspense, and plot twists on the well known Little Red Riding Hood story. Similar to The Shadow Club , Red Rider's Hood has a central conflict focused on fighting the darkness inside of all of us--the need to feel important and powerful. What makes the novel so successful is the fact that it is urban without being gritty, and believable, despite its forays into the realm of werewolves and vampires. Best suited for middle school students and older (grades 7 and up), Red Rider's Hood is a clever and imaginative new version of the fairytale that everyone knows.
'I...I...'
'The truth!'
'I...I don't know,' I told her. 'I don't know which side I'm on.' I had no choice but to admit it now."
Red is a high school teen growing up in an urban area plagued by the Wolves, a local street gang. On his way to his grandmother's house with a bag full of "bread" (money), Red unexpectedly runs into Marvin, an old football star from his high school who supposedly left town and went to college, when he jumps out and washes Red's car windows while he's stopped at a red light. Marvin tells Red that his sister, Marissa, works nearby at an antique shop and could use some company; plus, she likes him! Red decides to make a detour, despite his parents' warning to go straight to grandmother's house. When he finally gets to his grandmother's a few hours later, Red is attacked by members of the Wolves gang and thrown into the basement, where his grandmother is smoking some strange cigarettes she claims are made from wolfsbane. There Red learns that the gang of Wolves are more than just tough street thugs...they're actually werewolves who terrorize the city every full moon. More importantly, his grandmother is one of the few remaining wolf hunters left. When Cedric, the leader of the Wolves, goes so far as to steal red's Mustang, he vows to get revenge by any means necessary, even if that means going undercover as a Wolf-in-training. But as Red grows closer to the people he is plotting to destroy, he starts to wonder: whose side am I on?
This fast-paced novel by Neal Shusterman is part of Shusterman's Dark Fusion series, which fuses traditional fairy tales with mythology and other legends, creating a sinister new hybrid. Red Rider's Hood is sure to get the attention of even reluctant readers with its fast-paced action, suspense, and plot twists on the well known Little Red Riding Hood story. Similar to The Shadow Club , Red Rider's Hood has a central conflict focused on fighting the darkness inside of all of us--the need to feel important and powerful. What makes the novel so successful is the fact that it is urban without being gritty, and believable, despite its forays into the realm of werewolves and vampires. Best suited for middle school students and older (grades 7 and up), Red Rider's Hood is a clever and imaginative new version of the fairytale that everyone knows.
October 30, 2014
I like Neil Shutterman as an author. Sof far, I have found all his books to be fun, interesting, and thought provoking. While I have also read some of his comedic works, I find that he seems to Excell at books that have some darker roots. "Red Rider's Hood" is definately one of those dark books. It takes the story of little red riding hood and changes it into something completely different with a guy as the main character and werewolves and vampires thrown in. I found the book a easy read and a fun take on the story. Unfortunately, I have to just put it as a three because I have read his other works and know he writes better.
November 8, 2021
To be honest, I didn’t care for the first-person narrative at first, but just like Red was drawn into the Wolves’ spell, Shusterman drew me into the story. It’s what he does. Jiminy. Red Rider’s Hood is a freaking great, spooky, monster tale.
Read
December 11, 2023Red Rider's Hood is about a boy named Red and a gang named the wolves are the antagonists. One part about this book is when Red is going to his grandma's house to give her money, and when he gets there he gets robbed in his grandma's house. But for some reason, they just put them in the basement. Another thing is when they find a former member of the gang's skull and the skull changes under moonlight.
Spoilers Ahead
A part I like about this book is when they start preparing to hunt the gang down and try to kill them. Finally they start fighting and it starts to get violent. My opinion of this book is it is a very good book and very well written because of all of the action involved. It is a page-turner and makes you want to read more and more. Another thing I like about this book is it is like good vs. evil because you have the humans vs. the werewolves. Also I like this book because good wins in the end and puts a stop to the werewolves and stops them from expanding. One other thing I like about this book is that his family is involved and his grandma is really a werewolf hunter and wiped a whole generation of werewolves before he was alive and his grandma helps wipe out the werewolves now. Finally, one more thing I like about this book is that only a small number of people know that the gang the wolves are actually werewolves. If you like fairy tales for adults you would like this book.
Spoilers Ahead
A part I like about this book is when they start preparing to hunt the gang down and try to kill them. Finally they start fighting and it starts to get violent. My opinion of this book is it is a very good book and very well written because of all of the action involved. It is a page-turner and makes you want to read more and more. Another thing I like about this book is it is like good vs. evil because you have the humans vs. the werewolves. Also I like this book because good wins in the end and puts a stop to the werewolves and stops them from expanding. One other thing I like about this book is that his family is involved and his grandma is really a werewolf hunter and wiped a whole generation of werewolves before he was alive and his grandma helps wipe out the werewolves now. Finally, one more thing I like about this book is that only a small number of people know that the gang the wolves are actually werewolves. If you like fairy tales for adults you would like this book.
January 17, 2019
I feel bad rating this as low as I did, because it is a very good book, but I just don't think it's up to Mr. Shusterman's usual standard. I know, I know. That's not really fair, but it's true. I did like the book (I'm a sucker for retellings!) and making Red a boy was fabulous. And the ending? Hold the presses, folks, because it was creepy! The problem wasn't that the book was bad, and there were plenty of awesome elements here. I just had more trouble getting into it than I normally do. By the end, I was turning pages as fast as I possibly could, though, so that's something. I'm giving it a solid 3 1/2 stars, but rounding down because I don't think it's up to the author's usual glorious standards. Still deliciously creepy, though, with plenty of tragedy and triumph. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
Content Advisory: creatures of the night, violence, death, discussions of gangs and urban violence
Content Advisory: creatures of the night, violence, death, discussions of gangs and urban violence
September 9, 2024
This was my least favorite of the Dark Fusion books, mostly because it abandons its fairy tale retelling pretty quickly beyond surface level names. I did think that the girl who distracts Red from going to his grandmother's having the last name "Flowers" was very clever.
September 3, 2017
I like the twist that Shusterman give to the Red Riding Hood tale!
March 31, 2018
I love these re-tellings. The first one was about Medusa and this one obviously is Little Red Riding Hood. Only Red is a boy. Loved the wolves and the vampires too. Great book
June 8, 2018
2.5? Rounding down because compared to the others in the series, this one was a bit of a let down... This story was much more forward than the others and a bit more stereotypical.
November 7, 2019
it was a good book
December 22, 2020
Interesting twisted story line, very loosely based on the fairy tale red riding hood. A big fan of Shusterman and I definitely wasn’t disappointed.
December 28, 2020
An interesting take on Little Red Riding Hood but definitely not as good as Duckling Ugly
March 10, 2021
is an ok book b/c werewolves in not cool b/c is not good riding
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2021
Onderhoudende bewerking, met weerwolven en vampieren. Wat wil een mens meer? Iets minder interessant uitgewerkte personages dan in het eerste deel van de reeks wel. Op naar deel drie...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2022
I first read this book in 2015. It's not as good as I remember, but I was younger then, so my point of view was different.
December 27, 2025
Wanted my man to turn into a werewolf
July 27, 2015
This book was a solid 4/5 up until the very end where it fell short.
At the start of everything, Red has good reason to suspect Marissa’s brother is a werewolf. So, what happens? A lesser book (many lesser books) would drag out this plot point endlessly by not having Red tell Marissa about his suspicions, but no that bandage is ripped off as soon as it’s put on –and THANK GOODNESS. Instead, when Marissa chooses not to believe, it isn’t because the facts had been denied her, but rather she chooses not to believe because of who she is as a person. Whatever she does from there on out –including testing her brother- is done because of who her character is. This does significantly more for character development than the alternative. Please, other writers, take note. This is how you deal with characters and information they may not like.
So, right off the bat you know that characterization is going to be spot on. Red, our main character starts off humorously sarcastic and is forced to confront his own conflicting loyalties and personal desires as he’s embedded among the enemy ranks. At every step his personal struggles and reactions to the peer pressure surrounding him from both angles leads him to figure out what he really wants and who he is. He’s very proactive about wanting to be involved in the satiation, stating at one point, “If they don’t want us to be part of the problem, then they’d better find a way to make us part of the solution.”
While his grandmother, the resident werewolf expert, does not grow as much in the course of the story, she is a funny and very cool mentor figure, and learning about her past was quite intriguing.
The pacing was also fantastic. Not a moment was wasted, and things were never slowing down. The moment one plot point ended, Red was smart enough to jump to the next one before getting caught up in the situation at hand. Sure enough it starts to unravel on top of him later, but his quickness and even his impulsiveness keep the story on its toes. Even towards the end of the story when we think we have all the facts, the world building continues to keep pace and reveal how much larger the threat actually is.
However, it’s also the ending that makes this story fall short of a 4 for me. In the end what we know or think we know about werewolves starts to fall apart. Grandma says that werewolves are evil, but suddenly we have a werewolf on the protagonist’s side helping to take down his fellow pack . Werewolves are supposed to be rage-filled beasts, but in the end we see them clearly using at least human-level intelligence and reasoning. All through the story Red struggles reconciling the friendships he’s forming among the wolves and the need to take them down. We start to see them as humans, and Red has a moment where he needs to reconcile these two distinct viewpoints.
I was expecting a more complex solution than what we got. I was hoping that when Red tried to stop the mass murder of the remaining wolves, he was doing it to at least protect the one on the good guy’s side. But instead the solution was more black and white.
Nevertheless, this is a good book with great world-building even if the plot’s resolution leaves something to be desired.
At the start of everything, Red has good reason to suspect Marissa’s brother is a werewolf. So, what happens? A lesser book (many lesser books) would drag out this plot point endlessly by not having Red tell Marissa about his suspicions, but no that bandage is ripped off as soon as it’s put on –and THANK GOODNESS. Instead, when Marissa chooses not to believe, it isn’t because the facts had been denied her, but rather she chooses not to believe because of who she is as a person. Whatever she does from there on out –including testing her brother- is done because of who her character is. This does significantly more for character development than the alternative. Please, other writers, take note. This is how you deal with characters and information they may not like.
So, right off the bat you know that characterization is going to be spot on. Red, our main character starts off humorously sarcastic and is forced to confront his own conflicting loyalties and personal desires as he’s embedded among the enemy ranks. At every step his personal struggles and reactions to the peer pressure surrounding him from both angles leads him to figure out what he really wants and who he is. He’s very proactive about wanting to be involved in the satiation, stating at one point, “If they don’t want us to be part of the problem, then they’d better find a way to make us part of the solution.”
While his grandmother, the resident werewolf expert, does not grow as much in the course of the story, she is a funny and very cool mentor figure, and learning about her past was quite intriguing.
The pacing was also fantastic. Not a moment was wasted, and things were never slowing down. The moment one plot point ended, Red was smart enough to jump to the next one before getting caught up in the situation at hand. Sure enough it starts to unravel on top of him later, but his quickness and even his impulsiveness keep the story on its toes. Even towards the end of the story when we think we have all the facts, the world building continues to keep pace and reveal how much larger the threat actually is.
However, it’s also the ending that makes this story fall short of a 4 for me. In the end what we know or think we know about werewolves starts to fall apart. Grandma says that werewolves are evil, but suddenly we have a werewolf on the protagonist’s side helping to take down his fellow pack . Werewolves are supposed to be rage-filled beasts, but in the end we see them clearly using at least human-level intelligence and reasoning. All through the story Red struggles reconciling the friendships he’s forming among the wolves and the need to take them down. We start to see them as humans, and Red has a moment where he needs to reconcile these two distinct viewpoints.
I was expecting a more complex solution than what we got. I was hoping that when Red tried to stop the mass murder of the remaining wolves, he was doing it to at least protect the one on the good guy’s side. But instead the solution was more black and white.
Nevertheless, this is a good book with great world-building even if the plot’s resolution leaves something to be desired.
October 21, 2011
"(B)ut when you spend your days with evil, some of it is bound to soak into your clothes, like cigar smoke in a closed room."
—Red Rider's Hood, P. 91
There's always a deeper theme permeating Neal Shusterman's novels, an underlying message that challenges us in some profound way to examine ourselves and ask if how we're living is in line with what we seem to believe. For Red Rider's Hood, that challenge presents itself as we see Red trying to infiltrate a dangerous neighborhood gang called the Wolves; as he gets closer and closer to the real inside of the group, though, his perspective changes, almost as if against his will. The mad pull of unchecked power begins to gnaw at the fabric of his conscience, weakening his original resolve to stand firm against the Wolves and eliminate them as a threat once and for all. This internal war is something that we all will recognize from some time in our lives when what we wanted more than anything else clashed with the ideals that we held most dear, and forced us to choose between the fulfillment of our deepest desires and holding on to a life of worthwhile character. What choice does one make when tipping the scales in either direction feels as if one has instigated a devastating betrayal, either to oneself on the first side or to others on the second?
In Red's case, the gang that he wants to render extinct isn't your average group of hoodlums from off the street. Their identity as the Wolves is an accurate one, for this particular gang is actually made up of real-life werewolves just like in the myths. Under the virgin halo of the full moon they morph from human beings into ravenous, lupine creatures, only far bigger and more unstoppable than regular wolves. However, Red's got a couple of aces up his sleeve. His grandmother was an A-list werewolf killer back in the day, and worked with Red's grandfather years ago to exterminate the alpha male of the pack, whose grandson happens to be the new leader of the Wolves. Red's grandmother is older now, but she hasn't forgotten the tricks of her trade, and her knowledge of how to destroy werewolves is the only chance that Red has in winning this battle with the forces of evil. The other hole card that Red has in the war is his alliance with a girl named Marissa, whose brother is one of the Wolves and may be the weak spot that they can take advantage of to bring about the undoing of the entire malevolent organization.
Fact and fiction, reality and legend about werewolves all get sorted out as Red daringly puts into action his plan of infiltrating the current incarnation of the Wolves to see if he might be able to bring them down from the inside. However, the call of the wild is stronger than he ever anticipated, and soon he finds himself secretly questioning his original mission of putting an end to the Wolves—and wondering deeply about the integrity of his own motives—as crunch time arrives and the showdown with the Wolves becomes a final struggle of life or death.
Neal Shusterman never fails to produce thoughtful storytelling, and you'll find some of that in Red Rider's Hood. It is without question better than your average book, which is why I would rate it at two and a half stars and came very close to rounding that rating up instead of down. Quite simply, I have to say that anything Neal Shusterman ever writes is worth reading, and I recommend Red Rider's Hood to anyone who finds his writing style as irresistible as do I.
—Red Rider's Hood, P. 91
There's always a deeper theme permeating Neal Shusterman's novels, an underlying message that challenges us in some profound way to examine ourselves and ask if how we're living is in line with what we seem to believe. For Red Rider's Hood, that challenge presents itself as we see Red trying to infiltrate a dangerous neighborhood gang called the Wolves; as he gets closer and closer to the real inside of the group, though, his perspective changes, almost as if against his will. The mad pull of unchecked power begins to gnaw at the fabric of his conscience, weakening his original resolve to stand firm against the Wolves and eliminate them as a threat once and for all. This internal war is something that we all will recognize from some time in our lives when what we wanted more than anything else clashed with the ideals that we held most dear, and forced us to choose between the fulfillment of our deepest desires and holding on to a life of worthwhile character. What choice does one make when tipping the scales in either direction feels as if one has instigated a devastating betrayal, either to oneself on the first side or to others on the second?
In Red's case, the gang that he wants to render extinct isn't your average group of hoodlums from off the street. Their identity as the Wolves is an accurate one, for this particular gang is actually made up of real-life werewolves just like in the myths. Under the virgin halo of the full moon they morph from human beings into ravenous, lupine creatures, only far bigger and more unstoppable than regular wolves. However, Red's got a couple of aces up his sleeve. His grandmother was an A-list werewolf killer back in the day, and worked with Red's grandfather years ago to exterminate the alpha male of the pack, whose grandson happens to be the new leader of the Wolves. Red's grandmother is older now, but she hasn't forgotten the tricks of her trade, and her knowledge of how to destroy werewolves is the only chance that Red has in winning this battle with the forces of evil. The other hole card that Red has in the war is his alliance with a girl named Marissa, whose brother is one of the Wolves and may be the weak spot that they can take advantage of to bring about the undoing of the entire malevolent organization.
Fact and fiction, reality and legend about werewolves all get sorted out as Red daringly puts into action his plan of infiltrating the current incarnation of the Wolves to see if he might be able to bring them down from the inside. However, the call of the wild is stronger than he ever anticipated, and soon he finds himself secretly questioning his original mission of putting an end to the Wolves—and wondering deeply about the integrity of his own motives—as crunch time arrives and the showdown with the Wolves becomes a final struggle of life or death.
Neal Shusterman never fails to produce thoughtful storytelling, and you'll find some of that in Red Rider's Hood. It is without question better than your average book, which is why I would rate it at two and a half stars and came very close to rounding that rating up instead of down. Quite simply, I have to say that anything Neal Shusterman ever writes is worth reading, and I recommend Red Rider's Hood to anyone who finds his writing style as irresistible as do I.
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August 28, 2020Good tale about Grandma and werewolves!
January 12, 2009
Red lives in an modern urban city: full of crime and saddness. He drives around in his red mustang he has repaired, in order to find a place of piece. The land is rugged and run down. There are 2 gangs: the cripts and the wolves, both of them bad. Red has a hippie grandmother. One day, he is given money to give to his grandma. The wolves get word of this, so they send one of their gang members, Marvin, to tell Red that his sister likes him, so they can gag grandma and throw her in the basement. Well, Red meets up with the sister, Marissa, and schedules a date for that night. When he gets to the grandma's house, the wolves gag him and throw him in the basement, after stealing the thousands of dollars he had. Grandma says to let this concoction to go into his clothes, wolfbane smoke. Red decides to take a chance and goes to Marissa's house. The girl gags him and ties him up and ties him up, while taking out a human scull. As the full moon rose, the scull warped into a wolves head, and Red was completely astonished; Marissa was astonished at Red. She quickly said that he should go home and forget all about this ordeal. Red refused and demanded to hear the tale. Marissa said that as you know Cedric, the lowest guy around, is the Leader of the wolves. This scull of Xaviar is his grandfather. Cedric seems to have enherited the werewolf genes. The whole gang is a pack of werewolves. The disease is spread by siliava. They try to track down the two famous werewolf hunters: grandma gave them a little piece of information, that one of them had a gold medalion. Red goes to get his car when he finds that it has been stolen. He rides around the city on his bike when the werewolf knockes him over with his motorcycle and says stay out of this. He memorized the license plate-- he and marissa went to a license plate company and the trails went to grandma! Grandma decides to tell the truth. She and grandpa were the two werewolf hunters and the money, which they didn't ask for was from wherewolf victims. After all this, she decided that they wern't going to give up and makes them her apprentices. She tells that only silver would kill a vampire. There is no antidote. For three days, the moon is full enough to boil blood, to make a man turn wolf. In human form, they can eat anything, but in wolf form, thwy eat fresh meat. There is a slim chance oof surviving a werewolf. Red decides on his own to "join" the werewolves, staying true to the saying, "Have your friends close, but keep your enemies closer." After a while, he proves himself in the pack and pretty much becomes a second hand man. But the weirdest thin is that Red findes that he likes the wolves and being with them, but especially the chance to become wild and powerful. Which will Red choose, his family and Marissa, or his newly made friends, the wolves.
October 10, 2012
In this fantasy story of crime, werewolves, and betrayal, written by Neal Shusterman, Red, a 16 year-old adolescent, finds himself living in a city permeated by teen gangs. When his Grandmother is robbed by the predominate gang, The Wolves, he develops a thirst for revenge. But when he joins the Wolves to destroy them from the inside out, Red wonders if he might have misjudged them. As the story goes on, Shusterman warps Red's view of the Wolves from a scum-filled, no-good group of criminals, to powerful and darkly fascinating teens with the choice to do whatever they want. There to make sure he doesn't turn sides are his newly-found girlfriend and his tough-as-nails Grandmother. While they start crafting silver bullets to assassinate these vicious creatures, Red is feeding his new friends intel on their actions. When I first started reading this book I wasn't expecting Red to have such an ambivalent view of the antagonist. I was expecting just a regular old story where some werewolves attack the main character and then he fights back and wins. Shusterman writes objectively, never showing which group he believes to be the protagonists. He tells the story as if each side has their own strengths, pointing out that the good guys could be the bad because they believe they can just take justice into their own hands and wipe out an entire race. After leaving Red behind, Red's girlfriend and granny go on the Hunt and take out as many as they can before their lives are put into great danger and Red is forced to intervene. Red's choice of silver-tipped arrows over silver bullets illustrates the theme of his fear of guns throughout the story. The writer also uses strong imagery to describe the battle in which the werewolves are informally executed, one by one. Many faint-of-heart might find the tone to be ghoulish but I did not. While the main character is greatly pressured to join the "dark side" in both this book and the Harry Potter series, one difference is that in this one he actually considers it. This story keeps a theme about decision-making while hooking you on and never letting go.
July 22, 2014
Red rides around his tough urban neighborhood in his blood red Mustang. It satisfies his urge to wander, and it usually keeps him safe from the gangs in town, the Wolves and the Crypts. But when Red's grandmother is mugged by some members of the Wolves, Red can no long sit on the sidelines. He decides to join the Wolves as a pledge so he can learn how to defeat them. Soon he uncovers their terrible secret: they are werewolves with a thirst for human blood. Instead of feeling horrified, Red envies the Wolves' freedom and power. Even as he trains to kill them- under an unlikely but cunning werewolf hunter-he has come to see them as packmates. Finally he is faced with a choice at the next full moon: take up the Wolves' murderous ways, or take them down.
I really enjoyed this dark modern twist on Little Red Riding Hood. The story is told from the perspective of a male main character, and is a mash-up of the classic fairytale with the legends of Werewolves. Schusterman has an amazing ability to taken a well-known story and completely flip it on its head. This story was interesting and fast paced. I think boys would really enjoy this story because Red is a male, and it has deals with a darker, more violent version of fairy-tales. It is an easy enough read with a plot line most can understand. I would recommend ages 10-ish and up simply because the legends of werewolves could possibly scare younger children.
I really enjoyed this dark modern twist on Little Red Riding Hood. The story is told from the perspective of a male main character, and is a mash-up of the classic fairytale with the legends of Werewolves. Schusterman has an amazing ability to taken a well-known story and completely flip it on its head. This story was interesting and fast paced. I think boys would really enjoy this story because Red is a male, and it has deals with a darker, more violent version of fairy-tales. It is an easy enough read with a plot line most can understand. I would recommend ages 10-ish and up simply because the legends of werewolves could possibly scare younger children.
October 31, 2014
Red Rider took his name from his car, a shiny red Mustang he cleaned up and cruises in around his 'hood. But after the Wolves, a local gang, steal his car and terrorize his grandmother, he swears revenge. The Wolves are a gang of werewolves, and he plots to gain their trust even as he sets them up for defeat. But Red likes the Wolves. He likes the idea of them. He's not so sure, after he joins, that he does want to get them all killed.
I think the fairy tale angle actually works more against this story than for it. At least, it's not nearly as downplayed as it was in Dread Locks, and that really hurts the story. The first chapter is basically a summary of Little Red Riding Hood, with the appropriate asides added every now and then to remind the reader that this is taking place as an urban fantasy. It feels stiff, stupid, and takes out all the suspense. After that, once Red joins the Wolves, the story improves tremendously.
Red wants revenge, no questions asked. But Red also wants what the Wolves have: power. Being a werewolf. Maybe running his own gang someday. He's a traitor that betrays both sides.
I was much happier with the end of this book, though again I wish Shusterman had pushed it farther. At least eventually the monsters win, and Red will get exactly what he wanted. Somehow I don't think he's going to make his grandfather's choice.
If you can get past the beginning, this is a great book. Recommended.
I think the fairy tale angle actually works more against this story than for it. At least, it's not nearly as downplayed as it was in Dread Locks, and that really hurts the story. The first chapter is basically a summary of Little Red Riding Hood, with the appropriate asides added every now and then to remind the reader that this is taking place as an urban fantasy. It feels stiff, stupid, and takes out all the suspense. After that, once Red joins the Wolves, the story improves tremendously.
Red wants revenge, no questions asked. But Red also wants what the Wolves have: power. Being a werewolf. Maybe running his own gang someday. He's a traitor that betrays both sides.
I was much happier with the end of this book, though again I wish Shusterman had pushed it farther. At least eventually the monsters win, and Red will get exactly what he wanted. Somehow I don't think he's going to make his grandfather's choice.
If you can get past the beginning, this is a great book. Recommended.
February 5, 2013
This is not your traditional little girl in a red cape, but rather a 16 year old boy who has traded in his red Radioflyer for a red Mustang. Red, as he is called in the book, drives his red Mustang to drop off the “bread” (cash) at his Grandmother’s house when they are both attacked by the “Wolves”, a local gang of hard-knocks who turn out to be so much more. This story inter-mixes characteristics of the classic Red Riding Hood tale, mythical werewolves, and inner-city life. Though the reading level is fourth grade, the content would be more appropriate for a middle school age because of violence and gang related issues. This book would be best used as a “for-pleasure” read for reluctant middle school, boy readers. The book is suspenseful and fast paced resulting in a high interest level. Keep in mind that the book does involve physical violence that may not be acceptable for younger grades. This book would fit well into a middle school fairytale unit that analyzes how different cultures and generations change fairytales to fit their lifestyles.
October 28, 2013
Neil Shusterman’s entirely new spin on the Red Riding Hood tale considerably ratchets up the danger level. As in Jackson Pearce’s Sisters Red, these wolves are more than wolves and the danger they pose is far greater than chomping on little girls wandering off the beaten path.
Cloaking old lore with modern trappings, Mr. Shusterman gives his werewolves a gritty, urban feel. His werewolves are full of macho posturing, their cocky bro swagger accentuated by the fierceness of the beast crawling just beneath the skin. Their presence in a gang signals a yearning for power as well as the need to display dominance. However, the presence of a girl gang even more lethal than the werewolves seems a bit over the top and an unnecessary addition in a story already brimming with menace. But it is also a sly commentary on gang rivalry and a tongue-in-cheek bit of wordplay and therefore forgivable.
Fairy tales are ever old and ever new and Mr. Shusterman’s talent shows that there is still a place for them in the mundane world.
Cloaking old lore with modern trappings, Mr. Shusterman gives his werewolves a gritty, urban feel. His werewolves are full of macho posturing, their cocky bro swagger accentuated by the fierceness of the beast crawling just beneath the skin. Their presence in a gang signals a yearning for power as well as the need to display dominance. However, the presence of a girl gang even more lethal than the werewolves seems a bit over the top and an unnecessary addition in a story already brimming with menace. But it is also a sly commentary on gang rivalry and a tongue-in-cheek bit of wordplay and therefore forgivable.
Fairy tales are ever old and ever new and Mr. Shusterman’s talent shows that there is still a place for them in the mundane world.
November 23, 2016
Traditional Tales - Book 1
Red tries to keep himself out of trouble even though he lives in a neighborhood suffering from gang influence and violence. He is known for driving his blood-red muscle car. Once his grandmother becomes the target of his rival and his gang, Red finds himself falling deeper and deeper into the gang life. Shusterman fills his novels with twists and turns that keep you on your feet.
I enjoyed the adaptation to "Little Red Riding Hood," and thought that having a male protagonist was an interesting twist. The allusions are very explicit in the beginning of the story and help students make concrete connections to the fairy tale. This novel would be appropriate for intermediate and middle school students. I don't think that I would use this novel for whole class instruction, but would give this to students who are looking for a suspenseful and action packed book. I think it would work well for reluctant readers because they might already have background knowledge on "Little Red Riding Hood."
Red tries to keep himself out of trouble even though he lives in a neighborhood suffering from gang influence and violence. He is known for driving his blood-red muscle car. Once his grandmother becomes the target of his rival and his gang, Red finds himself falling deeper and deeper into the gang life. Shusterman fills his novels with twists and turns that keep you on your feet.
I enjoyed the adaptation to "Little Red Riding Hood," and thought that having a male protagonist was an interesting twist. The allusions are very explicit in the beginning of the story and help students make concrete connections to the fairy tale. This novel would be appropriate for intermediate and middle school students. I don't think that I would use this novel for whole class instruction, but would give this to students who are looking for a suspenseful and action packed book. I think it would work well for reluctant readers because they might already have background knowledge on "Little Red Riding Hood."
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