What do you think?
Rate this book
Whatever After #12
Seeing Red
The enchanting New York Times and USA Today bestselling series continues with installment number twelve! I really want the magic mirror in my basement to take me to my friend's sleepover party. But of course, I end up falling into a fairy tale -- Little Red Riding Hood! When my brother, Jonah, and I bump into Little Red in the forest, we try to warn her about the big, bad (and hungry) wolf who's coming after her and her grandmother. But at Little Red's grandma's house, there's a BIG surprise in store . . . Now we have to: avoid becoming a wolf snack-- hide out in the most epic tree house ever-- teach Little Red to stand up for herself-- and discover a secret about our own family. Otherwise, we'll be in a HOWL lot of trouble!
176 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2018
209 people are currently reading
1102 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Mlynowski
161 books3,353 followersSarah was born in Montreal, Canada. After graduating with an honors degree in English literature from McGill University, she moved to Toronto to work for Harlequin Enterprises. While she never met Fabio, she used her romance publishing experiences to fuel her first novel Milkrun.
Since then, Sarah has written four additional novels for adults: Fishbowl, As Seen on TV, Monkey Business, and Me vs. Me; the New York Times bestselling middle grade series Whatever After; the middle grade series Upside-Down Magic (with Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins); and the teen novels Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions (all in the Magic in Manhattan series), as well as Gimme a Call, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have), Don't Even Think About It, Think Twice, and I See London, I See France. Along with Lauren Myracle and E. Lockhart, Sarah also wrote How to Be Bad, and along with Farrin Jacobs, she wrote See Jane Write, a guide to writing. Sarah also co-edited two bestselling charity collections (Girls' Night In and Girls' Night Out), and has contributed to various anthologies (American Girls About Town, Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, 21 Proms, First Kiss (Then Tell), Fireworks, and Vacations from Hell).
Sarah is also a co-founder of OMG BookFest, a celebration of books aimed at the early to middle grade reader (ages 7-12) that brings together commercial and award-winning authors with underserved local communities for an exciting experience of books, games and activities.
Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and optioned to Hollywood. She now lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
Since then, Sarah has written four additional novels for adults: Fishbowl, As Seen on TV, Monkey Business, and Me vs. Me; the New York Times bestselling middle grade series Whatever After; the middle grade series Upside-Down Magic (with Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins); and the teen novels Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions (all in the Magic in Manhattan series), as well as Gimme a Call, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have), Don't Even Think About It, Think Twice, and I See London, I See France. Along with Lauren Myracle and E. Lockhart, Sarah also wrote How to Be Bad, and along with Farrin Jacobs, she wrote See Jane Write, a guide to writing. Sarah also co-edited two bestselling charity collections (Girls' Night In and Girls' Night Out), and has contributed to various anthologies (American Girls About Town, Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, 21 Proms, First Kiss (Then Tell), Fireworks, and Vacations from Hell).
Sarah is also a co-founder of OMG BookFest, a celebration of books aimed at the early to middle grade reader (ages 7-12) that brings together commercial and award-winning authors with underserved local communities for an exciting experience of books, games and activities.
Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and optioned to Hollywood. She now lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
January 6, 2023
I loved this book. I have read every single book in this series. I am so excited because the next book is where Jonah has wanted to go since the beginning!! I am so excited! I almost forgot...Nana was in the fairy-tale!!! She traveled through the magic mirror too. The magic mirror runs in the family but skips a generation. I really want a magic mirror. I am so proud of Abby for realizing that family is more important than a sleepover.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2024
➳ 4 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
it’s been a while since i read this series but i remember loving it as a kid and it kind of got me into fantasy, specifically fairytale retellings and i definitely want to reread soon 🩰
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
it’s been a while since i read this series but i remember loving it as a kid and it kind of got me into fantasy, specifically fairytale retellings and i definitely want to reread soon 🩰
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
November 8, 2018
A good book, but VERY easy to read!
July 1, 2020
This was so cute. Probably my favorite so far which maybe I shouldn't be saying because I didn't read this when I was ten, oops.
February 26, 2025
a cute, quick read
January 7, 2020
Great book but a little cheesy
December 27, 2018
Another great installment in the series. I like how the fairy tales aren't ever black-and-white as one would think they were from the 'original' stories. I love how Abby and Jonah change them, and the growing Abby does as she learns why this fairy tale was chosen. My daughter and I always enjoy reading this series - I just wish the books would be published sooner. Waiting for the next release is always so long. Sigh.
July 21, 2023
This is the fourteenth title I have read a book in this series. I have been reading these stories with my girls for over 8 years now. I read a few of these stories with my oldest starting in 2016. Now my youngest is reading them to me. Last year for Christmas her older brother even bought her the next 3 titles she needed because he enjoys listening to the stories. My youngest now insists we review everything that we read together, so this review from 2023 is part of that effort. And my youngest has been writing her own reviews of the books she has finished for the last year and is planning on starting her own book blog. Between reading with my oldest and youngest this is the twentieth time I have read a book in this series. The stories have great staying power. Even as an adult I enjoy these books, not only the first time but rereading them again and again.
Mlynowski as always does a wonderful job with the story in this book, and all we have read in the series so far. The whole family loves these stories from 8-years old to 80 years old. For they have been read to grandma in the car on road trips by both the girls. This is another great read in a fantastic series. The stories are always fun and extremely entertaining, but they also have some valuable lessons and insight.
My youngest daughter and I both give this story a solid 5/5 stars, she says this is a not as dark as the last few, but also much more interesting. She was surprised by the turn in the story during the invasion. This story had a number of twists and turns that we had not guessed and took us by surprise. She was totally taken by what happened at the end. She also always wonders what the change in the jewellery box will be at the end of the story.
The description of this story is:
“The enchanting New York Times and USA Today bestselling series continues with installment number twelve!
The New York Times bestselling series! I really want the magic mirror in my basement to take me to my friend's sleepover party. But of course, I end up falling into a fairy tale -- Little Red Riding Hood !When my brother, Jonah, and I bump into Little Red in the forest, we try to warn her about the big, bad (and hungry) wolf who's coming after her and her grandmother.But at Little Red's grandma's house, there's a BIG surprise in store . . .Now we have - Avoid becoming a wolf snack- Hide out in the most epic tree house ever- Teach Little Red to stand up for herself- Discover a secret about our own family Otherwise, we'll be in a HOWL lot of trouble!”
Most of the stories in this series take us by surprise at some point by the twist they contain, but this one ever more so. It took as a while to get through this story, because life was very busy. We both enjoyed it greatly. I would have given it 5/5 stars but my daughter insisted on4. Sarah normally pulls some twists and flips stories on their end, but did she ever pull a number with this one. I am still surprised by who else went through the mirror with them, and the shared history with magic mirrors. It was very interesting to watch this one resolve, it was not as I expected.
As with all the other books in this series we always enjoy Mlynowski’s twists and takes on old tales. This is a great take on another familiar tale. The writing in these stories is excellent. My daughters and I love reading them together. The retelling of this story surprised both of us and I am certain it will surprise you. It is a great book in a wonderful series.
Mlynowski as always does a wonderful job with the story in this book, and all we have read in the series so far. The whole family loves these stories from 8-years old to 80 years old. For they have been read to grandma in the car on road trips by both the girls. This is another great read in a fantastic series. The stories are always fun and extremely entertaining, but they also have some valuable lessons and insight.
My youngest daughter and I both give this story a solid 5/5 stars, she says this is a not as dark as the last few, but also much more interesting. She was surprised by the turn in the story during the invasion. This story had a number of twists and turns that we had not guessed and took us by surprise. She was totally taken by what happened at the end. She also always wonders what the change in the jewellery box will be at the end of the story.
The description of this story is:
“The enchanting New York Times and USA Today bestselling series continues with installment number twelve!
The New York Times bestselling series! I really want the magic mirror in my basement to take me to my friend's sleepover party. But of course, I end up falling into a fairy tale -- Little Red Riding Hood !When my brother, Jonah, and I bump into Little Red in the forest, we try to warn her about the big, bad (and hungry) wolf who's coming after her and her grandmother.But at Little Red's grandma's house, there's a BIG surprise in store . . .Now we have - Avoid becoming a wolf snack- Hide out in the most epic tree house ever- Teach Little Red to stand up for herself- Discover a secret about our own family Otherwise, we'll be in a HOWL lot of trouble!”
Most of the stories in this series take us by surprise at some point by the twist they contain, but this one ever more so. It took as a while to get through this story, because life was very busy. We both enjoyed it greatly. I would have given it 5/5 stars but my daughter insisted on4. Sarah normally pulls some twists and flips stories on their end, but did she ever pull a number with this one. I am still surprised by who else went through the mirror with them, and the shared history with magic mirrors. It was very interesting to watch this one resolve, it was not as I expected.
As with all the other books in this series we always enjoy Mlynowski’s twists and takes on old tales. This is a great take on another familiar tale. The writing in these stories is excellent. My daughters and I love reading them together. The retelling of this story surprised both of us and I am certain it will surprise you. It is a great book in a wonderful series.
January 12, 2019
Honestly just glad her brother finally gets to go into Jack and the Beanstalk in the next installment.
August 3, 2019
i was sort of upset that Abby didn't tease Jonah at all about his little crush on lali
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2020
Another Addi book and this series is so cute and so fun!
June 5, 2021
It was excellent it was very funny and I really liked it i definitely would like to read more of this series.
July 21, 2021
pretty good a bit confusing though
October 26, 2018
{My thoughts} – This has got to be one of the most interesting Whatever After books I’ve read to date. I have always loved the story of Little Red Riding Hood. When the book begins Abby and Jonah get a visit from their Nana. She is suppose to look after them for the weekend while their parents are our of town. Abby gets invited to a sleepover and ends up with her feelings hurt when Nana says she can’t go. Abby decides that she will try to go around what her Nana has said and try to use MaryRose as a way to try and go to the sleepover. When she rushes down to the basement, Jonah and their dog Prince end up being hot on their heals. It’s one of those situations where what’s going to happen is just going to happen. They end up going through the mirror and land in the story of Little Red Riding Hood.
It takes them a little while to figure out what story they are in but once they do they get right to work. Or at least they attempt to by trying to come up with a reasonable plan for the situation. They end up with a plan and as they are following through with it they get a surprise. I really liked this surprise in the book and I am sure that other readers will as well. I am truly looking forward to seeing where the series is going after this point! It’s just, it’s incredible so far.
I really enjoy reading these books and I know that children that enjoy books about adventures and fairytales will as well. I highly recommend them if you have children that enjoy one of both. I had the pleasure of reading this book out loud to my two year old daughter and she sat on my lap listening to nearly the entire book without a peep. Even though there were no words she sat there while we rocked and read. I think that any child can learn to enjoy a good story if you start them out young. I am truly hoping that my younger two will become book lovers like myself.
It takes them a little while to figure out what story they are in but once they do they get right to work. Or at least they attempt to by trying to come up with a reasonable plan for the situation. They end up with a plan and as they are following through with it they get a surprise. I really liked this surprise in the book and I am sure that other readers will as well. I am truly looking forward to seeing where the series is going after this point! It’s just, it’s incredible so far.
I really enjoy reading these books and I know that children that enjoy books about adventures and fairytales will as well. I highly recommend them if you have children that enjoy one of both. I had the pleasure of reading this book out loud to my two year old daughter and she sat on my lap listening to nearly the entire book without a peep. Even though there were no words she sat there while we rocked and read. I think that any child can learn to enjoy a good story if you start them out young. I am truly hoping that my younger two will become book lovers like myself.
April 22, 2020
This is my very first review with my sisters. My dad sometimes writes reviews with us, and I want to do that, also. We started reading this around Easter time. Gwen started reading this with Poppy. Poppy wanted to start where they had left off, but we started over anyway. I understand why. We had been at a sister sleepover when we started it. It was a really fun sleepover activity.
*By the way, there will probably be some spoilers.*
Eleanor: are you ready to start?
Gwen : Yes, I’m ready to start.
Poppy: *Playing with the Barbies*yes, I’m ready. Professor is ready, too.
(Professor is our cat.)
Eleanor: Poppy, what was the book about?
Poppy: The book was about Abby and Jonah going into Little Red Riding Hood.
Eleanor: Gwen, how did Abby and Jonah get into Little Red Riding Hood?
Gwen: Through a magic mirror.
Eleanor: What were your favorite parts?
Poppy: My favorite part was when they thought it was the wolf, but then, it was the Nana.
Gwen: Mine was the same as Poppy’s.
Eleanor: Mine, too. How many stars do you want to give it?
Poppy: I would give it 500 million if I could.
Gwen: Five.
Eleanor: Do you have anything else you want to see about the book?
Poppy: I liked when they saved the wolf.
Eleanor: This is my favorite Whatever After book so far.
Gwen: Mine too, but I also liked Sugar and Spice.
(We all agree.)
Eleanor: Do you recommend this book to anyone?
Poppy: I recommend this to Phil Habecker and Liz Habecker.
Gwen: I recommend this book to everyone.
Eleanor: I recommend this book to everyone, as long as they’ve read some other Whatever After books first.
*By the way, there will probably be some spoilers.*
Eleanor: are you ready to start?
Gwen : Yes, I’m ready to start.
Poppy: *Playing with the Barbies*yes, I’m ready. Professor is ready, too.
(Professor is our cat.)
Eleanor: Poppy, what was the book about?
Poppy: The book was about Abby and Jonah going into Little Red Riding Hood.
Eleanor: Gwen, how did Abby and Jonah get into Little Red Riding Hood?
Gwen: Through a magic mirror.
Eleanor: What were your favorite parts?
Poppy: My favorite part was when they thought it was the wolf, but then, it was the Nana.
Gwen: Mine was the same as Poppy’s.
Eleanor: Mine, too. How many stars do you want to give it?
Poppy: I would give it 500 million if I could.
Gwen: Five.
Eleanor: Do you have anything else you want to see about the book?
Poppy: I liked when they saved the wolf.
Eleanor: This is my favorite Whatever After book so far.
Gwen: Mine too, but I also liked Sugar and Spice.
(We all agree.)
Eleanor: Do you recommend this book to anyone?
Poppy: I recommend this to Phil Habecker and Liz Habecker.
Gwen: I recommend this book to everyone.
Eleanor: I recommend this book to everyone, as long as they’ve read some other Whatever After books first.
July 5, 2020
I would have given this book a good review if it weren't for Abby being so annoying the entire book! I don't understand why she couldn't forgive her grandma for not letting her go to the sleepover for so long. Have you always gotten what you wanted your entire life? I don't get it. Also, small thing, but why did she think she'd be able to get to the sleepover from her mirror when it's only ever taken her to fairy tales in the past? I feel like the author just needed an excuse to get her into the story one way or another.
March 6, 2019
Cute! These books are so fun. Abby and Jonah’s Nana is visiting, but Abby wants to go to her frenemy’s sleepover instead of spending time with her. She learns an important lesson about family and also a family secret... I wonder if that will effect future books...
July 20, 2023
BASIC INFORMATION:
explicit scenes: 0/5 (sex: none)
violence: 0.5/5
language: 0/5
alcohol/drugs/smoking: 0/5
intense scenes: 0.5/5
age rating: 8+
MY RATING
-Plot: 4/5
-Characters: 4.5/5
-Writing: 4/5
-Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 17/20;
4.25 STARS
explicit scenes: 0/5 (sex: none)
violence: 0.5/5
language: 0/5
alcohol/drugs/smoking: 0/5
intense scenes: 0.5/5
age rating: 8+
MY RATING
-Plot: 4/5
-Characters: 4.5/5
-Writing: 4/5
-Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 17/20;
4.25 STARS
Read
August 16, 2025it was really fun having nana along!
lali means red in hindi. ok so hindi exists in this fake world... I was okay with everyone speaking English no matter where they went cuz who knows if they're even actually speaking English, cuz it's magic, right? They could be speaking anything but magic can translate seamlessly so who cares? but the existence of a real world language in a fake place? weirds me out a bit.
if she'd said my name's lali it means red ok. I would not question it. oh there's my grandma I call her dadi it means father's mother. ok, I believe you. the moment it was explicitly said to be hindi, by a fake girl in a fairy tale... you live in a world of anthropomorphic wolves, how do you know about real Earth languages????
also jonah's crush was stupid
also are we really just gonna ignore the fact that like ik he didn't want to do it and also he's bby but "I didn't wanna and I'm bby" doesn't free you from all legal responsibility....
lali means red in hindi. ok so hindi exists in this fake world... I was okay with everyone speaking English no matter where they went cuz who knows if they're even actually speaking English, cuz it's magic, right? They could be speaking anything but magic can translate seamlessly so who cares? but the existence of a real world language in a fake place? weirds me out a bit.
if she'd said my name's lali it means red ok. I would not question it. oh there's my grandma I call her dadi it means father's mother. ok, I believe you. the moment it was explicitly said to be hindi, by a fake girl in a fairy tale... you live in a world of anthropomorphic wolves, how do you know about real Earth languages????
also jonah's crush was stupid
also are we really just gonna ignore the fact that like ik he didn't want to do it and also he's bby but "I didn't wanna and I'm bby" doesn't free you from all legal responsibility....
March 26, 2019
Seeing Red is a good fairy tale retelling for young readers. There wasn’t anything glaringly wrong with the content. Abby’s brother does have a crush on Little Red Riding Hood with the ensuing blushes, compliments, moony eyes and all that. Abby says she can practically see cartoon hearts shooting out of Jonah’s scrawny chest. Little Red Riding Hood kisses Jonah on the cheek at the end. Abby was a brat to her Nana, but I think that gets addressed. Little Red Riding Hood’s name is in Hindi. I kind of wished Little Red Riding Hood didn’t have to tell her grandma she felt unappreciated, and that the grandma would’ve figured it out herself, or Nana would’ve told her.
There were a few instances that I felt like I got lost. Like where did Abby and Jonah’s parents go so that Nana had to visit? Why exactly did the trio of wolves not eat the humans? I might have missed explanations though. Overall, this was a light, surface read with a good message about spending time with your family. I think it would be fine for 8, maybe even 7, year olds.
There were a few instances that I felt like I got lost. Like where did Abby and Jonah’s parents go so that Nana had to visit? Why exactly did the trio of wolves not eat the humans? I might have missed explanations though. Overall, this was a light, surface read with a good message about spending time with your family. I think it would be fine for 8, maybe even 7, year olds.
May 4, 2020
This book is about a girl called Abby. She and her brother Jonah travel throughout many fairy tales with their magic mirror on a quest to save their mirror fairy, Mary Rose. This book is part of the Whatever After series. In this book, Abby and Jonah travel to the tale of Little Red Riding Hood, with a twist. This book is based around the present and is a fantasy book. The setting was pretty clear to me throughout the whole book and I could tell if the setting was in a treehouse or at their house. I would probably recommend this book to kids around the ages of 8-10 years old. I have to say that my favorite character in this book is Jonah. He is such a funny character and seems like a very annoying little brother! I really enjoyed this book. There were humor and action and overall it is a pretty good book.
Review by Alisa K. age 9, Boston Mensa
Review by Alisa K. age 9, Boston Mensa
December 31, 2023
This was a nostalgia read for me. I absolutely loved this series growing up, and this was the last book of the series that I received before I kind of grew out of the series. So, I do not want to really rate or review this book because I knew that it was a little young and was not going to do for me what the other books I have been reading do. I did have a lot of fun whipping through this novel, though. I thought that it was a lot of fun and did not make me think too hard. This is a very middle grade book, and I highly recommend this series for younger readers! This was one of my favorite series growing up, and I often credit it with being one of the ones that got me into reading. So, yeah, this was a solid read.
November 9, 2020
My 7-year-old daughter, who is obsessed with this series, picked out a few for me to read that she thought I would like. She thought I would especially like this one because I'm an English professor, and this is the first story that involves Abby and Jonah's Nana, who is an English professor at the University of Chicago, and a fairy tale expert. And you know what? She was right. I think this one, which is based on Little Red Riding Hood, is one of the best I've read in the series, along with the Hansel & Gretel story. Overall, it's a solid series for early elementary school readers.
February 15, 2023
Story about family
Abby, as usual, is being a brat about going out lol
Her grandmother came over to hang out but she "wants" to go to Penny's so she doesn't miss out, but her grandma has other plans.
Of course, she decides to use the mirror to leave hom, but of course, Mary Rose takes her to a fairytale instead!
Red Riding Hood is one of my favorite fairytales, but I didn't mind all the changes. I thought the lesson on family was sweet and loved that the wolf turned out to he a friend. Cute retelling.
Abby, as usual, is being a brat about going out lol
Her grandmother came over to hang out but she "wants" to go to Penny's so she doesn't miss out, but her grandma has other plans.
Of course, she decides to use the mirror to leave hom, but of course, Mary Rose takes her to a fairytale instead!
Red Riding Hood is one of my favorite fairytales, but I didn't mind all the changes. I thought the lesson on family was sweet and loved that the wolf turned out to he a friend. Cute retelling.
December 28, 2024
Ok…. I change my mind. This is now my favorite in the series. I loved the big twist in this one regarding the “family secret” and also finally meeting Nana as a character after being mentioned countless times. Little Red Riding Hood is one of my favorite fairy tales I remember reading growing up so this may be a lil biased on my part as well. We also got more lore on the mirror, which I loovvvveed. Will definitely be staying for the silly , goofy fun that continues to develop for the rest of the series.
November 29, 2018
This was a great story! There are so many good parts in the book that I won't spoil anything, but trust me. Anyone who reads this book or has/is read/reading/rereading the book or series is going to love it! Sarah MlynowskiSeeing Red
November 15, 2025
just as good as i remember from when i was little! i totally forgot about this series but i picked it back up after seeing the author while doomscrolling instagram reels. whatever after was literally my favorite ever and i'm glad i get to finally finish it. honestly from someone who reads mostly ya and adult novels, this wasn't even that cringey and i look forward to reading the rest of the series.
February 8, 2019
155 pages. IF you are a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed. This time Abby, her brother Jonah and nana travel into Little Red Riding Hood’s story. Good realistic situations throughout that kids can relate to. Great story line. Nice twists and turns along the way. Highly recommended for Grades 4-5.
July 15, 2019
Love the twists in this book! Red Riding Hood is one of my favorite fairy tale characters and this book makes me love her even more! I love Jonah’s crush in this book on Lali just adorable! Again I loved all the twists! How the people love in treehouses, how the Big Bad Wolf is actually super nice! Such an amazing read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2023
I absolutely love Lali (little red riding hood) and the plot twist of Nana having her own magic portal. I am in love with how the fairytale always matches something Jonah or Abby did and shows them they were wrong which develops their character in the best way possible. And it's soo adorable that Jonah has a crush on Lali!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews