What do you think?
Rate this book
Rose Sees Red
Partly based on the author's own experiences at the famous Manhattan high school for the performing arts, this novel explores friendship, freedom, and the art of challenging convention.
Set in New York in the 1980s, this story of two ballet dancers (one American, one Russian) recounts the unforgettable night they spend in the city, and celebrates the friendship they form despite their cultural and political differences.
Set in New York in the 1980s, this story of two ballet dancers (one American, one Russian) recounts the unforgettable night they spend in the city, and celebrates the friendship they form despite their cultural and political differences.
197 pages, Hardcover
First published June 24, 2010
14 people are currently reading
921 people want to read
About the author
Cecil Castellucci
221 books722 followersCecil Castellucci is an author of young adult novels and comic books. Titles include Boy Proof, The Year of the Beasts (illustrated by Nate Powell), First Day on Earth, Rose Sees Red, Beige, The Queen of Cool The Plain Janes and Janes in Love (illustrated by Jim Rugg), Tin Star Stone in the Sky, Odd Duck (illustrated by Sara Varon) and Star Wars: Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure.
Her short stories have been published in various places including Black Clock, The Rattling Wall, Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Apex Magazine and can be found in such anthologies such as After, Teeth, Truth & Dare, The Eternal Kiss, Sideshow and Interfictions 2 and the anthology, which she co-edited, Geektastic.
She is the recipient of the California Book Award Gold Medal for her picture book Grandma's Gloves, illustrated by Julia Denos, the Shuster Award for Best Canadian Comic Book Writer for The Plain Janes and the Sunburst Award for Tin Star. The Year of the Beasts was a finalist for the PEN USA literary award and Odd Duck was Eisner nominated.
She splits her time between the heart and the head and lives north and south of everything. Her hands are small. And she likes you very much.
Her short stories have been published in various places including Black Clock, The Rattling Wall, Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Apex Magazine and can be found in such anthologies such as After, Teeth, Truth & Dare, The Eternal Kiss, Sideshow and Interfictions 2 and the anthology, which she co-edited, Geektastic.
She is the recipient of the California Book Award Gold Medal for her picture book Grandma's Gloves, illustrated by Julia Denos, the Shuster Award for Best Canadian Comic Book Writer for The Plain Janes and the Sunburst Award for Tin Star. The Year of the Beasts was a finalist for the PEN USA literary award and Odd Duck was Eisner nominated.
She splits her time between the heart and the head and lives north and south of everything. Her hands are small. And she likes you very much.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
May 2, 2010
This was all right.. I'd say it is aimed at ten year olds more than young adults except for some underage drinking on the museum steps.. There isn't really a major plot. It's just about a girl that wants to have friends and has to decide if she should just be herself or be what everyone else wants her to be in order to have friends.
The girl, Rose, all of a sudden makes friends with the girl next door, A Russian that is pretty much under lock and key with the CIA and KGB watching her family. A night on the town suddenly goes awry and both chicks end up with a situation that was more than they bargained for.
Pretty simple. It wasn't until page 85 or thereabouts that the time frame became truly clear to me tho. When America's second becenntenial was mentioned, I came to the conclusion it was the late 70s. (The leg warmers also tipped me off a bit!)
Not bad, but I'm not bursting with joy or recommending it to 5000 people either.
The girl, Rose, all of a sudden makes friends with the girl next door, A Russian that is pretty much under lock and key with the CIA and KGB watching her family. A night on the town suddenly goes awry and both chicks end up with a situation that was more than they bargained for.
Pretty simple. It wasn't until page 85 or thereabouts that the time frame became truly clear to me tho. When America's second becenntenial was mentioned, I came to the conclusion it was the late 70s. (The leg warmers also tipped me off a bit!)
Not bad, but I'm not bursting with joy or recommending it to 5000 people either.
December 15, 2010
Rose is a dancer at heart. It's hard for her to fully embrace that though because chasing her dream has proved to cost her a lot. Right next door to Rose is a Russian girl. In all reality she doesn't know much about her but since she can see her into her room she feels a kind a thin line of connection with her. One day that all changes when the Russian girl, Yrena, decides to bridge the gap and climbs into Rose's bedroom. What follows is a night to remember.
In the beginning Rose is in a pretty miserable place, even if she did get into a school where she can do what she loves, it weighs heavy on her that she's alone. Her supposed best friend gets jealous and forces Rose to make a choice: Her friendship or dance. Rose obvioulsy choses dance, and I loved her for it. Anybody who would put you in a corner like that is not a friend.
Things happen fairly quickly and from the onset you know for some reason Yrena isn't suppose to go out of town. Trouble is going to follow them but they take the plunge anyways. The story takes place around the 80's, when there is some serious tension between America and Russia. I enjoyed seeing some culture references, like the cheesy songs and no cell phones in sight. Along the way Rose makes friends while showing Yrena New York City. I kind of get why people make New York such a big deal after reading this story. It really is a character itself. What really stood out to me was the great camaraderie people can have with one another, and how Rose just couldn't see that it was right in front of her. As a sidenote I had to mention her brother. He's a geeky guy, but a nice geeky guy. I could relate to that because I have a brother who is geeky, but he's a real decent guy. I was glad to see that Rose wasn't always all alone.
Towards the end I felt like the message was forced down my thoart. Don't hate just love, and how stupid the Cold War was and all of that. I don't like the message to be spelled out for me; I prefer to come up with my own conclusions. That aside the book did have a good distinct feel to it, and definitley want to read more of Cecil Castellucci stories.
In the beginning Rose is in a pretty miserable place, even if she did get into a school where she can do what she loves, it weighs heavy on her that she's alone. Her supposed best friend gets jealous and forces Rose to make a choice: Her friendship or dance. Rose obvioulsy choses dance, and I loved her for it. Anybody who would put you in a corner like that is not a friend.
Things happen fairly quickly and from the onset you know for some reason Yrena isn't suppose to go out of town. Trouble is going to follow them but they take the plunge anyways. The story takes place around the 80's, when there is some serious tension between America and Russia. I enjoyed seeing some culture references, like the cheesy songs and no cell phones in sight. Along the way Rose makes friends while showing Yrena New York City. I kind of get why people make New York such a big deal after reading this story. It really is a character itself. What really stood out to me was the great camaraderie people can have with one another, and how Rose just couldn't see that it was right in front of her. As a sidenote I had to mention her brother. He's a geeky guy, but a nice geeky guy. I could relate to that because I have a brother who is geeky, but he's a real decent guy. I was glad to see that Rose wasn't always all alone.
Towards the end I felt like the message was forced down my thoart. Don't hate just love, and how stupid the Cold War was and all of that. I don't like the message to be spelled out for me; I prefer to come up with my own conclusions. That aside the book did have a good distinct feel to it, and definitley want to read more of Cecil Castellucci stories.
December 17, 2010
When I saw the cover of this novel by YA author/diva Cecil Castellucci, I thought it was a contemporary fairy-tale retelling, a la Beastly. Instead, it's a novel set in the early 1980's about the last years of the Cold War, dance, friendship, and freedom. The main characters are two teenage girls: Rose, a talented dancer who attends the New York High School for the Performing Arts, and her neighbor Yrena, a 16-year old ballet dancer who lives right next door in a Soviet compound.
Rose has given up on friendship after being dumped by her so-called best friend Daisy when Rose keeps taking ballet even though Daisy decides "ballet is stupid." The other kids from school are not her friends either; she closes herself off to the different "galaxies of friends" that orbit around her, since she is so afraid of being hurt again.
But things begin to change for Rose when her Russian neighbor, Yrena, unexpectedly climbs through her window one night. What starts out as a simple trip in the neighborhood to get an ice cream cone while evading the KGB agents that follow Yrena everywhere turns out to be an all-night adventure that neither girl planned but neither one will ever forget--an innocent adventure that becomes "an unspecified international incident."
When I first picked up this book, I asked myself if a book set in the 1980's can be classified as historical fiction. But then I realized that for today's teens, the Soviet Union, the arms race, and the anti-nuclear rallies of the early '80's are a whole generation ago--times they never experienced. A world without texting, I-pods, the Internet, and even DVD's--practically as foreign as the Middle Ages or ancient Rome. Told in the first person by Rose, Rose Sees Red manages to keep a delicate balance of being entertaining while still putting forward a message about the universality of friendship, even in the face of nations' hating each other. It's a slim book (197 pages) that should appeal to many teens--no need to have a particular interest in U.S. Soviet relations to appreciate this book.
Rose has given up on friendship after being dumped by her so-called best friend Daisy when Rose keeps taking ballet even though Daisy decides "ballet is stupid." The other kids from school are not her friends either; she closes herself off to the different "galaxies of friends" that orbit around her, since she is so afraid of being hurt again.
But things begin to change for Rose when her Russian neighbor, Yrena, unexpectedly climbs through her window one night. What starts out as a simple trip in the neighborhood to get an ice cream cone while evading the KGB agents that follow Yrena everywhere turns out to be an all-night adventure that neither girl planned but neither one will ever forget--an innocent adventure that becomes "an unspecified international incident."
When I first picked up this book, I asked myself if a book set in the 1980's can be classified as historical fiction. But then I realized that for today's teens, the Soviet Union, the arms race, and the anti-nuclear rallies of the early '80's are a whole generation ago--times they never experienced. A world without texting, I-pods, the Internet, and even DVD's--practically as foreign as the Middle Ages or ancient Rome. Told in the first person by Rose, Rose Sees Red manages to keep a delicate balance of being entertaining while still putting forward a message about the universality of friendship, even in the face of nations' hating each other. It's a slim book (197 pages) that should appeal to many teens--no need to have a particular interest in U.S. Soviet relations to appreciate this book.
January 19, 2011
Although I am an admirer of Castellucci, I thought this modern day fable was also predictable and a bit of a yawn. It had its moments, but we really never understand why Rose is depressed at the beginning of the novel and it seemed as if the character development was sacrificed to engineering a “message” fable about peace and freedom. The 80’s setting was kind of fun, though. But it was just kind of nice and oh so predictable. You knew that Rose was going to bust out and take Yrena with her for a wild night on the town, but the freedom wouldn’t last for Yrena, and then the experience would bring Rose to some sort of epiphany about her own dreams, yadda yadda. Compare this fable to Nothing, by Jann Teller, and you will see that it is just a wisp of a novel, really.
July 30, 2010
Quick Overview: Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci is the type of book you want to read when you are in a bad mood. It's inspiring events makes you want to go and experience life.
I am very glad I read Rose Sees Red. Rose starts off being like a lot of teenage girls are: so eager to fit in that they forget themselves entirely. Rose is doing the bare minimum for life, and she is barely squeaking by. Rose really spoke to my inner insecure 14-year-old counterpart, and I know that she will speak to others. Luckily for me, I have grown to be someone very sure of herself. This book is about that transformation.
I adored Yrena. She appreciates every moment of life and it is beautiful. I want to meet and befriend this girl. The other characters encountered throughout the book were also very fun and realistic high schoolers. I could've seen myself hanging out with them after school at the local pizza place.
This book is for the inner-hippie of all of us. The overall theme is friendship, and how we are all so similar even if we are told to be different. If you haven't taken a moment to read something inspiring in a while, take a trip to your bookstore August 1st and pick up Rose Reads Red.
Plot: 16/20
Characters: 19/20
Creativity: 18/20
Writing: 18/20
Ending: 9/10
Cover: 9/10
=89/100
I am very glad I read Rose Sees Red. Rose starts off being like a lot of teenage girls are: so eager to fit in that they forget themselves entirely. Rose is doing the bare minimum for life, and she is barely squeaking by. Rose really spoke to my inner insecure 14-year-old counterpart, and I know that she will speak to others. Luckily for me, I have grown to be someone very sure of herself. This book is about that transformation.
I adored Yrena. She appreciates every moment of life and it is beautiful. I want to meet and befriend this girl. The other characters encountered throughout the book were also very fun and realistic high schoolers. I could've seen myself hanging out with them after school at the local pizza place.
This book is for the inner-hippie of all of us. The overall theme is friendship, and how we are all so similar even if we are told to be different. If you haven't taken a moment to read something inspiring in a while, take a trip to your bookstore August 1st and pick up Rose Reads Red.
Plot: 16/20
Characters: 19/20
Creativity: 18/20
Writing: 18/20
Ending: 9/10
Cover: 9/10
=89/100
April 8, 2010
It’s about a girl named Rose who goes to a performing arts school (for dance) in New York in 1982. That it took place in 1982 is great, but I wish it had been made clearer in the beginning of the book. There were some statements made (Rose lives next to a Russian family and, well, you can see where I’m going: KGB, Soviet Union, etc.) that made me raise my eyebrow, but I honestly didn’t put it together until halfway through the book. That’s a fairly minor complaint, though, and one of few that I have. Rose Sees Red is short, but packs a punch. Rose is a freshman and hasn’t made any friends at her school yet, but she’s about to.
Rose Sees Red is about that night where you suddenly feel different and you know that everything will be better, even if some things won’t change. It’s about the period of time when you go from looking in at yourself to looking out at, not just the people close to you, not just your friends and family, but the whole world. It’s about the epiphany of empathy. There’s a lot more to mention, but seeing as how I just said the most important part, I’ll end the review here.
Rose Sees Red is about that night where you suddenly feel different and you know that everything will be better, even if some things won’t change. It’s about the period of time when you go from looking in at yourself to looking out at, not just the people close to you, not just your friends and family, but the whole world. It’s about the epiphany of empathy. There’s a lot more to mention, but seeing as how I just said the most important part, I’ll end the review here.
June 8, 2017
Whenever I meet authors in person, and have the chance to talk with them, I always try to read some of their work (or more, if I've already read some of theirs). In reading the dust jacket summary, I liked that this was set in the "real" world, and not fantasy, even if a dancer doubting her friends or situation in life at the time weren't connections I had/have.
Learning that there was an actual "no nukes" gathering/protest/rally in 1982 (although my brief research shows it was in June, not October; but maybe a subtle reference to the October Revolution made for some poetic license) and the songs on the juke box or mix tape, 10-cent payphone calls (remember those?), and fashion items made for a nice nostalgic memory of a time that had too much fear over whether missiles would be fired onto people and cities who didn't want to be annihilated due to political issues.
The dialogue seemed realistic for young people, readers got a simple tour of 1980s-era NYC, and a short and easy read was nice, too.
Learning that there was an actual "no nukes" gathering/protest/rally in 1982 (although my brief research shows it was in June, not October; but maybe a subtle reference to the October Revolution made for some poetic license) and the songs on the juke box or mix tape, 10-cent payphone calls (remember those?), and fashion items made for a nice nostalgic memory of a time that had too much fear over whether missiles would be fired onto people and cities who didn't want to be annihilated due to political issues.
The dialogue seemed realistic for young people, readers got a simple tour of 1980s-era NYC, and a short and easy read was nice, too.
January 14, 2010
Set in the height of the cold war, Rose lives in NYC across from a Russian station the 'men in suits' that loiter the streets are assumed to be KGB or CIA. Rose has seen a Russian girl in the window across the street for two years. On this day, they smile and meet and have a wonderful adventure that crosses the oceans, continents and mindsets that divide.
Castellucci describes Rose's life as one dominated by her cruel 'friend' clearly showing girl bullying and alpha behavior. Rose has sidelined herself and undermined her joy in so many ways. This day with Yrena is pivotal for both the girls who want to escape the Red Scare, the nuclear doomsday clock, and the lonely expectations they have fulfilled up to now. The writing seems spare and dreamlike to me, depicting moments separate from day to day life yet producing an awareness and understanding that will change Rose's future.
Castellucci describes Rose's life as one dominated by her cruel 'friend' clearly showing girl bullying and alpha behavior. Rose has sidelined herself and undermined her joy in so many ways. This day with Yrena is pivotal for both the girls who want to escape the Red Scare, the nuclear doomsday clock, and the lonely expectations they have fulfilled up to now. The writing seems spare and dreamlike to me, depicting moments separate from day to day life yet producing an awareness and understanding that will change Rose's future.
October 12, 2014
It really was quite an interesting book.
Very insightful dialogue between the characters & being set in New York was really good.
I am familiar with some of the sights (such as the Statue of Liberty, etc) that Yuena (the Russian girl) sees before she moves back home to Moscow.
I also really enjoyed how the main character, Rose, overcame her shyness (just like me) and befriended Yuena. Yuena appreciated the new friendship with Rose as well as the friends Rose began interacting with...whom all became an amazing group [of friends]--despite the troubled tension time periods that it was back in 1982 between the USA and Russia--during the Cold War.
I definitely recommend readers to read this novel.
Very insightful dialogue between the characters & being set in New York was really good.
I am familiar with some of the sights (such as the Statue of Liberty, etc) that Yuena (the Russian girl) sees before she moves back home to Moscow.
I also really enjoyed how the main character, Rose, overcame her shyness (just like me) and befriended Yuena. Yuena appreciated the new friendship with Rose as well as the friends Rose began interacting with...whom all became an amazing group [of friends]--despite the troubled tension time periods that it was back in 1982 between the USA and Russia--during the Cold War.
I definitely recommend readers to read this novel.
July 16, 2011
I had no idea that this book was about the 80's till half way through it! Maybe I wasn't paying attention??? But the book was only was "okay". I felt like it was a little pointless (just my honest opinion, no need to get all pissy) she was your classic depressed-youth and I didn't care for her much, Rose that is.
I was confused with how suddenly Caleb was showing interest in her, I thought that she had the hots for Maurice. . . . Not Caleb. . . Oh well. It was a short book so not a huge waste of my time, but it's certainly not what I expected
I was confused with how suddenly Caleb was showing interest in her, I thought that she had the hots for Maurice. . . . Not Caleb. . . Oh well. It was a short book so not a huge waste of my time, but it's certainly not what I expected
January 12, 2023
This book gave me the most mixed emotions about it. I love the last 50% of the book it was really good and there was so much action and adventure and some REALLY good quotes but the way this book was written was so weird. There so many things that didn’t need to be said and had me thinking why that was even put in the book. Some moments as well that were super cringey because of the writing. If this was written by a different author or just with a different style it would have been 5 stars.
November 9, 2013
A nice, breezy read. Predictable but I enjoyed the 80s backdrop and the message about being true to who you are.
July 14, 2017
I want to give teen lit the benefit of the doubt. I do. I know there's a lot of it out there that straddles the line of adult and youth literature. That there's a lot of creative work in the field. That it's often more vibrant than adult work. I mean, look at Teen Vogue these days... the mag is somehow doing the Lord's work as far as fact based content is concerned. And so, in receiving this book in a stack of ARCs and other books at an adolescent lit conference a number of years ago, I set it aside as something that seemed worth checking out some day in the future.
And yet, even with a dedication mentioning her friend, 90s crush and sometime-bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur, Rose Sees Red feels beyond trite. In one day, Rose, who has felt out of place at her new school, finds a tight knit group of friends thanks to her Russian neighbor. The friends quickly couple off in the course of the night, because of course they do, what would a teen novel be without immediate romance (and for Rose, a surly, negging jerk-off, because deep down he's sweet and cute)? Rose, of course, finds herself despite her previous shyness, and many platitudes about global peace are fired off. It's interesting reading this book in the era of Trump... Caleb's waxing patriotism on the ferry becomes even more the naive jingoism of sheltered youth, and our relationship with Russia is no longer one of standoffish hatred, but of colluding, treasonous proximity.
Maybe this sort of wish fulfillment works better on younger audiences, but it's a text that decidedly doesn't cross over. It is perhaps admirable in trying to pepper politics in, but it is such a simplified state as to make the payoff slim (I don't believe Rose all of a sudden can't wait to vote). It's never a bad thing to have the "weird" and the "outcast" as the "heroes" of a book, even if that has become a trope in and of itself. There's just not a lot of meat to be had here.
And yet, even with a dedication mentioning her friend, 90s crush and sometime-bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur, Rose Sees Red feels beyond trite. In one day, Rose, who has felt out of place at her new school, finds a tight knit group of friends thanks to her Russian neighbor. The friends quickly couple off in the course of the night, because of course they do, what would a teen novel be without immediate romance (and for Rose, a surly, negging jerk-off, because deep down he's sweet and cute)? Rose, of course, finds herself despite her previous shyness, and many platitudes about global peace are fired off. It's interesting reading this book in the era of Trump... Caleb's waxing patriotism on the ferry becomes even more the naive jingoism of sheltered youth, and our relationship with Russia is no longer one of standoffish hatred, but of colluding, treasonous proximity.
Maybe this sort of wish fulfillment works better on younger audiences, but it's a text that decidedly doesn't cross over. It is perhaps admirable in trying to pepper politics in, but it is such a simplified state as to make the payoff slim (I don't believe Rose all of a sudden can't wait to vote). It's never a bad thing to have the "weird" and the "outcast" as the "heroes" of a book, even if that has become a trope in and of itself. There's just not a lot of meat to be had here.
December 13, 2018
Rose sees red is a book that is written by Cecil Castellucci. The main character in this story is Rose. She goes through a very hard time during middle school. She gets bullied by her past best friend. However, she finds a girl from the Soviet Union and travels around New-York. While traveling, they find a person to love, share their stories, and a friend. In this story, there is a lot of meanings. At first, the book said that Rose, the main character can only see black objects. The reason is the black objects means the black sides of the world. The reason for this is that she gains a lot of people that she can rely on. However, after gaining friends and real person that she needs in her life, she started to see the red part which is the bright side of her own life. On the other hand, she had a conflict, because her country and her new best friend, who is a neighbor of her is from the Soviet Union. However, the USA and the Soviet Union’s relationship was bad. Even though her best friend, Yrena had to leave, she had a positive mind thinking that they can meet again. At the start, Rose was very depressed. She had a talent on Ballet, but everyone around her had said that Ballet is Stupid and they won’t be friends with her when she continues ballet. She was afraid of not having friends, so she kept doing ballet. However, she wasn’t happy at all to have fake friends. She was happier to have real friends like Yrena while doing ballet. This book had gone over the issues that are happening now with the teenagers. The message that Cecil Castellucci wants to give us is that never ever quit something that you really want to. This book had really encouraged me and inspired me. I really appreciate the author, Cecil Castellucci.
June 12, 2017
I have almost read all of the books that Cecil Castellucci has written so far and it's pretty much a guarantee that I'll enjoy them. I also know to prepare myself because she makes such bittersweet stories.
I really liked this book because it was set in my second home NYC. I loved reading about the places I used to go and the fact that you can still do things past midnight. I could also related to how Rose feels about herself and when it comes to friends. it actually made me think that it is not an uncommon experience as a teen to feel "alone."
The only thing I would have wanted was Daisy to get told off or something. I hated her character. She was horrible to Rose and just so selfish. I suppose the fact that Rose got friends in the end was her way of moving last Daisy, but still - she was such a b*tch.
I really liked this book because it was set in my second home NYC. I loved reading about the places I used to go and the fact that you can still do things past midnight. I could also related to how Rose feels about herself and when it comes to friends. it actually made me think that it is not an uncommon experience as a teen to feel "alone."
The only thing I would have wanted was Daisy to get told off or something. I hated her character. She was horrible to Rose and just so selfish. I suppose the fact that Rose got friends in the end was her way of moving last Daisy, but still - she was such a b*tch.
June 7, 2021
Rose Sees Red is about an inspiring friendship story by Cecil Castellucci, an American-born Canadian of young adult novelist, an indie rocker, and a director.
The story took place in New York, at the end of the years of Cold War in the 80s.
A young depressed ballerina who studied at a performing arts school named Rose.Who never had a friend after her ex-best friend Daisy, that she betrayed by choosing to dance offer their friendship that left her lonely.But everything change when a Russian girl who lives next door climbed her window, and spend all night exploring the beauty of NYC despite of their nationality they created a beautiful friendship.
Rose Sees Red is a very inspiring book of friendship and a historical young adult story, that can bring you a heart warming feeling and tears!That will let you to want and appreciate friendship.
The story took place in New York, at the end of the years of Cold War in the 80s.
A young depressed ballerina who studied at a performing arts school named Rose.Who never had a friend after her ex-best friend Daisy, that she betrayed by choosing to dance offer their friendship that left her lonely.But everything change when a Russian girl who lives next door climbed her window, and spend all night exploring the beauty of NYC despite of their nationality they created a beautiful friendship.
Rose Sees Red is a very inspiring book of friendship and a historical young adult story, that can bring you a heart warming feeling and tears!That will let you to want and appreciate friendship.
May 22, 2017
Not what I expected based on the book jacket but still a pleasant read nonetheless. I think that it could have done with more development but I was also hooked. I kept thinking things would escalate and while they did, I think I was expecting certain character relationships to develop more explicitly, as opposed to the outside environment and events moving things along.
June 14, 2017
I really appreciated how the author stayed true to the story! What a great job leading us through the feelings of highs and lows of adolescence.
January 3, 2021
Great read has a lot of potential tho
January 16, 2021
The plot was very predictable and the story wasn't life changing it was just about a girl finding friends but in general it was very predictable.
April 19, 2021
Decent story and great message, but man I've discovered just how much "he said" and "she said" for conversations gets repetitive.
November 7, 2021
I love how it paints friendships, as well as the deep conversations about life and choices.
There's also parts about beliefs, how it relies on perspectives and social pressures than truth.
There's also parts about beliefs, how it relies on perspectives and social pressures than truth.
March 17, 2022
Very easy to read, the title made it sound intresting but it want honestly amazing... But it's quick and easy to read!
March 18, 2017
A quick, easy read. Just have some tissues on hand! This book was "okay." It was not my favorite read, it was slower paced than I normally read; however, the second half of the novel was my favorite part. Watching the friendships blossom; seeing teens stealing the night and defying the walls put up by adults (especially world leaders); hearing the characters discuss the political and social climate and coming to revelations that are very appropriate to situations we now face; and seeing young adults' confidence swell was heart-warming. The happy moments and the connections made between characters in this novel are sure to put a smile to your face.
December 19, 2010
It's 1982, and Rose is starting off her freshman year at an arts school in New York City. It was a rough ending to the summer as Rose's best friend, queen bee Daisy, decided they couldn't be friends anymore. Now, Rose, who has always been shy, is finding it difficult to get settled in and make new friends even in an environment when all of the other students are into the arts.
Rose has always loved art. She has taken lessons since she was a little girl. Unfortunately, she has always doubted her talent, which has meant that she has never had much of an opportunity to live up to her potential. Her confidence probably wasn't helped when she quit dancing after Daisy had told her that it was stupid, and that they should go together to the science high school.
In spite of that, something inside Rose told her that she should still go to dance tryouts to just see if she could get in to the arts high school. Despite a horrid dance session, one of the teachers decided to give her a second chance at showing her stuff. As a result, Rose found herself with the choice of two different schools, and she opted to follow her dreams. Doing so ended her friendship with Daisy, because it just didn't mesh with Daisy's well-laid-out plans.
Living in the building across the street from Rose and her family Yrena, a girl whose father is somehow tied to the Soviet government. The kids in Riverdale, the neighborhood in New York City in which they live, all debate on whether he is a diplomat or a spy, particularly in light of the mysterious men in dark suits (KGB or CIA?) who always seem to be lurking around. Yrena and Rose had never met, but they always seemed to be a little interested in each other, which is probably due on some level to their shared interest in ballet.
They do get a chance to meet one Friday evening when Yrena sneaks into Rose's home in the hopes of talking Rose into showing her what it is like to be an exciting American teenager. And thus starts an adventure that will give Yrena a chance to see a real party, some of the sights of the city, and even an anti-nuclear missile rally in Central Park. At the same time, Rose might get an opportunity to see that it is OK to make friends with some of the kids around her and that maybe her life has a lot more potential for happiness than she ever believed.
I was surprised at how quickly I was drawn into this book. The 1980's definitely seems to be attracting a lot of interest among YA authors, and I have been questioning whether the tweens and teens really care about the times, but this book does a nice job of presenting the emotions of the Cold War period while also tying in with so many of the common problems that even today's adolescents are struggling with. The result is a strong look at self-doubt and how it often dovetails with how those around us see us.
Rose is a likable person, once you get past the fact that she is constantly talking down to herself about her "mediocre" talent and lack of friends. She has a quiet inner strength that Yrena seems to have magically brought out of her. As they continue on their journey and explore New York City, Rose's world, and the people who inhabit it, Yrena gets a chance to see things for the first time, and Rose gets a clearer picture of what she has always been looking at.
I don't think that a lot of tweens and teens will run to pick this one up, but I do think that if they get sold on it, they will find a fun and pleasurable read that lives up to Castellucci's popularity. They will really end up liking this one. I know that I did ... read in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.
Rose has always loved art. She has taken lessons since she was a little girl. Unfortunately, she has always doubted her talent, which has meant that she has never had much of an opportunity to live up to her potential. Her confidence probably wasn't helped when she quit dancing after Daisy had told her that it was stupid, and that they should go together to the science high school.
In spite of that, something inside Rose told her that she should still go to dance tryouts to just see if she could get in to the arts high school. Despite a horrid dance session, one of the teachers decided to give her a second chance at showing her stuff. As a result, Rose found herself with the choice of two different schools, and she opted to follow her dreams. Doing so ended her friendship with Daisy, because it just didn't mesh with Daisy's well-laid-out plans.
Living in the building across the street from Rose and her family Yrena, a girl whose father is somehow tied to the Soviet government. The kids in Riverdale, the neighborhood in New York City in which they live, all debate on whether he is a diplomat or a spy, particularly in light of the mysterious men in dark suits (KGB or CIA?) who always seem to be lurking around. Yrena and Rose had never met, but they always seemed to be a little interested in each other, which is probably due on some level to their shared interest in ballet.
They do get a chance to meet one Friday evening when Yrena sneaks into Rose's home in the hopes of talking Rose into showing her what it is like to be an exciting American teenager. And thus starts an adventure that will give Yrena a chance to see a real party, some of the sights of the city, and even an anti-nuclear missile rally in Central Park. At the same time, Rose might get an opportunity to see that it is OK to make friends with some of the kids around her and that maybe her life has a lot more potential for happiness than she ever believed.
I was surprised at how quickly I was drawn into this book. The 1980's definitely seems to be attracting a lot of interest among YA authors, and I have been questioning whether the tweens and teens really care about the times, but this book does a nice job of presenting the emotions of the Cold War period while also tying in with so many of the common problems that even today's adolescents are struggling with. The result is a strong look at self-doubt and how it often dovetails with how those around us see us.
Rose is a likable person, once you get past the fact that she is constantly talking down to herself about her "mediocre" talent and lack of friends. She has a quiet inner strength that Yrena seems to have magically brought out of her. As they continue on their journey and explore New York City, Rose's world, and the people who inhabit it, Yrena gets a chance to see things for the first time, and Rose gets a clearer picture of what she has always been looking at.
I don't think that a lot of tweens and teens will run to pick this one up, but I do think that if they get sold on it, they will find a fun and pleasurable read that lives up to Castellucci's popularity. They will really end up liking this one. I know that I did ... read in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.
January 6, 2023
This book blew me out of the water. I quickly became obsessed with it and did not want to put it down. It is set in cold war era New York City, focusing around a girl named Rose who attends a performing arts high school. I was first interested in this book because of Cecil Castellucci's contribution and co-editing of Geektastic. The story runs the gamut of angst of learning to be, of both being and becoming. Yet mostly it revolves around what is friendship, and how do friendships begin and how do they end.
Rose is attempting to understand what friendship is and to herself she says: "What was a friend? Really? Someone you liked. Who was kindred. Who understood you. Who helped you. Who you had fun with. Who accepted you. I realized I had never really had that with anyone. Not even Daisy. And now, every time I thought about being someone's friend, hers was the friendship that haunted me."p.13. I struggle with those questions also. I want to be a good friend and I want good friends. And I too have friendships that haunt me, some I destroyed and some others abandoned, but either way they haunt me. The beginning of the book is Rose trying to evaluate how she lost her best friend and in so doing is looking at their whole friendship and the true meaning of friendship. For Rose was given a choice by her former best friend, either her or dance, and Rose realized she loved dance. "And just like that, it was supposed to be over. But I hadn't grown out of it. It was my morning and evening. It was my breathing in and my breathing out. It was my food and my water."p.15. Rose realized that she loved dance and needed to try to pursue it. And so she does.
Rose also has great insight into who she really is. She states: "I wasn't convinced that I could get into those brainy schools. I was smart, but I wasn't smart like Todd (her brother). I had a different kind of smarts, and that kind of smarts didn't do very well on tests."p.18. Rose has a deep self-understanding and she is trying to figure out friendship. Then she has a day like none before. Rose goes for pizza after school with some classmates. Then she escapes the CIA and the KGB who are following her neighbor, a diplomat's daughter from the USSR. Together this neighbor Yrena and Rose go on a whirlwind night around New York City and to a protest rally to stop Nukes.Most of the book takes place in under a day. As you're reading you will find yourself unable to put the book down. The story is very well written and captures something of the human spirit. As Rose and Yrena travel through the city with different people from the School or Arts, you will encounter people familiar to you and your life, both in high school and after. The characters are well written and will remind you of people you know or have encountered. The cliques and circles she describes are those similar to those all of us encounter at work and at school, and similar to those described by Arthur Slade in his book Tribes. Rose makes a poignant observation about someone she meets that night and on reflecting on it, it reflects on all of us. "But I noticed that about Free. He might look like he could be on a football team or date a cheerleader, but he had eyes that cared. I bet that was why he wore hippie clothes and the beard. He was trying to distance himself from who he thought the world thought he should be. Were we all like that? Were we all trying to change how we looked on the outside to match how we felt on the inside? Were we all trying to change how people saw us? … And I wanted so badly for the world to see me as a dancer." Castellucci's insight into people and their behavior is wonderful and her novel is refreshing and encouraging. This is a magnificent book, brilliant in concept, insight and execution.
Rose is attempting to understand what friendship is and to herself she says: "What was a friend? Really? Someone you liked. Who was kindred. Who understood you. Who helped you. Who you had fun with. Who accepted you. I realized I had never really had that with anyone. Not even Daisy. And now, every time I thought about being someone's friend, hers was the friendship that haunted me."p.13. I struggle with those questions also. I want to be a good friend and I want good friends. And I too have friendships that haunt me, some I destroyed and some others abandoned, but either way they haunt me. The beginning of the book is Rose trying to evaluate how she lost her best friend and in so doing is looking at their whole friendship and the true meaning of friendship. For Rose was given a choice by her former best friend, either her or dance, and Rose realized she loved dance. "And just like that, it was supposed to be over. But I hadn't grown out of it. It was my morning and evening. It was my breathing in and my breathing out. It was my food and my water."p.15. Rose realized that she loved dance and needed to try to pursue it. And so she does.
Rose also has great insight into who she really is. She states: "I wasn't convinced that I could get into those brainy schools. I was smart, but I wasn't smart like Todd (her brother). I had a different kind of smarts, and that kind of smarts didn't do very well on tests."p.18. Rose has a deep self-understanding and she is trying to figure out friendship. Then she has a day like none before. Rose goes for pizza after school with some classmates. Then she escapes the CIA and the KGB who are following her neighbor, a diplomat's daughter from the USSR. Together this neighbor Yrena and Rose go on a whirlwind night around New York City and to a protest rally to stop Nukes.Most of the book takes place in under a day. As you're reading you will find yourself unable to put the book down. The story is very well written and captures something of the human spirit. As Rose and Yrena travel through the city with different people from the School or Arts, you will encounter people familiar to you and your life, both in high school and after. The characters are well written and will remind you of people you know or have encountered. The cliques and circles she describes are those similar to those all of us encounter at work and at school, and similar to those described by Arthur Slade in his book Tribes. Rose makes a poignant observation about someone she meets that night and on reflecting on it, it reflects on all of us. "But I noticed that about Free. He might look like he could be on a football team or date a cheerleader, but he had eyes that cared. I bet that was why he wore hippie clothes and the beard. He was trying to distance himself from who he thought the world thought he should be. Were we all like that? Were we all trying to change how we looked on the outside to match how we felt on the inside? Were we all trying to change how people saw us? … And I wanted so badly for the world to see me as a dancer." Castellucci's insight into people and their behavior is wonderful and her novel is refreshing and encouraging. This is a magnificent book, brilliant in concept, insight and execution.
January 14, 2011
Summary: The year is 1982, the setting is New York, New York. Rose is in a black period. She loves ballet, but her lack of confidence holds her back, and her social life is in ruins because of her backstabbing ex-BFF. Then one night, the Soviet girl next door comes through her window and takes her on an unlikely journey into friendship and understanding.
Plot: The setup's an old favorite. Teen girl has a passion she's afraid to pursue with all her heart. She had a bossy, smothering best friend who turned on her and made everyone at her last school ignore her. She can't seem to stand up for herself. Enter the mysterious, confident new pal who changes everything, except in this case, the new pal comes complete with her own state bodyguards. Yrena isn't a defector or immigrant. Her parents work for the USSR, and she has been under strict watch during her two-year stay. She wants one chance to see how American teens live, and Rose is her chosen guide. They give the bodyguards the slip and hit a few parties, go dancing, see some New York sites. It's like "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," but with KGB instead of that creepy principal.
There's a heavy dose of anti-Cold-War, why can't we all get along? sentiment here, including a no-nuke rally, that occasionally veers toward the maudlin.
Characters: Rose starts off in a "black" period. That's not to say that she is black, although she might be. She also might be an ostrich, for all I know. She's the narrator and never gets around to fully describing herself. I got frustrated with Rose. She loves dance more than anything, but she won't put enough effort into it because she's afraid to fail. She won't make friends because she's afraid to fail. She put up with her domineering friend Daisy for literally years because she can't stick up for herself. She's a wet blanket.
But the point is for her to be a wet blanket, so that the more free-spirited and confident Yrena balances her out. Yrena is also a ballerina, with all the confidence and talent Rose needs, but none of Rose's passion for the art. Yrena's out to grab life by the scruff of the neck and wring some fun out of it, and her attitude is the wake-up call Rose needs to get on the right track.
Writing: Rose's narration is certainly not unbearable, but not memorable, either. She's not funny, not original. She is supposed to be the average teen girl, and her voice is just that: average. The writing is the same way, just extremely ordinary. The concept of the USA/USSR pair of girls carries the entire story. The time setting isn't clear enough. While the New Wave fashion movement and musical selections are correct, the dialogue is all wrong. These teens talk like it's today. I remember the slang of the 80s, and it was very different than what we have now. It's not present here. The book lacks real 80s flavor.
Ending: Predictable but wistful all the same.
What more did I want?: I wanted this book to grab me. I wanted it to have some interesting characteristic apart from the basic premise. That's not to say it was a bad book. It just wasn't that special.
If I were a poor library, would I buy this?: Actually, yes. It's an easy read, it deals with real issues that are still present in other forms today, and I think a lot of girls would relate to Rose easily.
Plot: The setup's an old favorite. Teen girl has a passion she's afraid to pursue with all her heart. She had a bossy, smothering best friend who turned on her and made everyone at her last school ignore her. She can't seem to stand up for herself. Enter the mysterious, confident new pal who changes everything, except in this case, the new pal comes complete with her own state bodyguards. Yrena isn't a defector or immigrant. Her parents work for the USSR, and she has been under strict watch during her two-year stay. She wants one chance to see how American teens live, and Rose is her chosen guide. They give the bodyguards the slip and hit a few parties, go dancing, see some New York sites. It's like "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," but with KGB instead of that creepy principal.
There's a heavy dose of anti-Cold-War, why can't we all get along? sentiment here, including a no-nuke rally, that occasionally veers toward the maudlin.
Characters: Rose starts off in a "black" period. That's not to say that she is black, although she might be. She also might be an ostrich, for all I know. She's the narrator and never gets around to fully describing herself. I got frustrated with Rose. She loves dance more than anything, but she won't put enough effort into it because she's afraid to fail. She won't make friends because she's afraid to fail. She put up with her domineering friend Daisy for literally years because she can't stick up for herself. She's a wet blanket.
But the point is for her to be a wet blanket, so that the more free-spirited and confident Yrena balances her out. Yrena is also a ballerina, with all the confidence and talent Rose needs, but none of Rose's passion for the art. Yrena's out to grab life by the scruff of the neck and wring some fun out of it, and her attitude is the wake-up call Rose needs to get on the right track.
Writing: Rose's narration is certainly not unbearable, but not memorable, either. She's not funny, not original. She is supposed to be the average teen girl, and her voice is just that: average. The writing is the same way, just extremely ordinary. The concept of the USA/USSR pair of girls carries the entire story. The time setting isn't clear enough. While the New Wave fashion movement and musical selections are correct, the dialogue is all wrong. These teens talk like it's today. I remember the slang of the 80s, and it was very different than what we have now. It's not present here. The book lacks real 80s flavor.
Ending: Predictable but wistful all the same.
What more did I want?: I wanted this book to grab me. I wanted it to have some interesting characteristic apart from the basic premise. That's not to say it was a bad book. It just wasn't that special.
If I were a poor library, would I buy this?: Actually, yes. It's an easy read, it deals with real issues that are still present in other forms today, and I think a lot of girls would relate to Rose easily.
August 14, 2010
Rose Sees Red was my first read by Cecil Castellucci- and it definitely won't be my last! This was a short read (under 200 pages), but it included so much detail and development. I was drawn into the story from the beginning. Rose was a main character I liked right away and grew to like even more as the story progressed. The other characters were all well developed and likable as well and the plot was so different than anything I've read before.
A ballerina, Rose wants nothing more than to be a fabulous dancer- and to have friends. After getting into a different school than her best friend, Rose is forced to make an entirely new set of friends. At first she doesn't have much luck. Until Callisto and Caitlin (two girls out of a set of triplets) befriend Rose. I really like Callisto and Caitlin. Each of them had distinctive personalities and added a lot to the story. They helped pull Rose out of her shell and helped her to see her true potential as a friend and dancer.
Yrena, the other main character, lived next door to Rose, and had for years. They'd never exchanged more than a smile until Yrena enters Rose's window one night. Yrena was an extremely unique character. Her feelings and emotions shown from the pages and her love of life was obvious. The problem is, Yrena is Russian and Rose, American- and the novel is taking place during the Cold War.
The plot was terrific, the majority of the novel took place over the course of one night. One night that is filled with romance, friendship, adventure, and understanding. When Yrena enters Rose's room that night, they head off to get ice cream. When they escape the "suits" following them, Yrena and Rose venture to a party on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. From there, they meet up with Callisto and Caitlin. As well as Maurice (the son of a famous actress and overall sweet guy) as well as Free- a boy who quickly steals Yrena's heart. When Yrena and Free disappear, Caitlin, Rose, Callisto, and Maurice set off to find them and this is truly the beginning of what will be an exciting adventure through the streets of New York City in the middle of the night.
When the four find Yrena they join up with the final triplet- Caleb, and I loved hearing about the different places the friends visited. Famous sights like the Statue of Liberty and some not so well known like the Russian Tea House. Each of the characters formed a strong bond while traveling around the city that never sleeps, and I enjoyed seeing which character started to fall in love with who. By the end Rose had learned a lot about both herself and what true friendship really means.
Rose Sees Red was essentially a novel of friendship and peace. It proved that no matter where someone comes from, you can befriend them and that, no matter what, freedom should always be cherished and loved. Because not everyone has it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. I enjoyed reading about dancing, NYC, and seeing how true friendships can form overnight if they're meant to be. While it had some flaws, I definitely recommend picking this up, you won't regret it!
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
A ballerina, Rose wants nothing more than to be a fabulous dancer- and to have friends. After getting into a different school than her best friend, Rose is forced to make an entirely new set of friends. At first she doesn't have much luck. Until Callisto and Caitlin (two girls out of a set of triplets) befriend Rose. I really like Callisto and Caitlin. Each of them had distinctive personalities and added a lot to the story. They helped pull Rose out of her shell and helped her to see her true potential as a friend and dancer.
Yrena, the other main character, lived next door to Rose, and had for years. They'd never exchanged more than a smile until Yrena enters Rose's window one night. Yrena was an extremely unique character. Her feelings and emotions shown from the pages and her love of life was obvious. The problem is, Yrena is Russian and Rose, American- and the novel is taking place during the Cold War.
The plot was terrific, the majority of the novel took place over the course of one night. One night that is filled with romance, friendship, adventure, and understanding. When Yrena enters Rose's room that night, they head off to get ice cream. When they escape the "suits" following them, Yrena and Rose venture to a party on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. From there, they meet up with Callisto and Caitlin. As well as Maurice (the son of a famous actress and overall sweet guy) as well as Free- a boy who quickly steals Yrena's heart. When Yrena and Free disappear, Caitlin, Rose, Callisto, and Maurice set off to find them and this is truly the beginning of what will be an exciting adventure through the streets of New York City in the middle of the night.
When the four find Yrena they join up with the final triplet- Caleb, and I loved hearing about the different places the friends visited. Famous sights like the Statue of Liberty and some not so well known like the Russian Tea House. Each of the characters formed a strong bond while traveling around the city that never sleeps, and I enjoyed seeing which character started to fall in love with who. By the end Rose had learned a lot about both herself and what true friendship really means.
Rose Sees Red was essentially a novel of friendship and peace. It proved that no matter where someone comes from, you can befriend them and that, no matter what, freedom should always be cherished and loved. Because not everyone has it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. I enjoyed reading about dancing, NYC, and seeing how true friendships can form overnight if they're meant to be. While it had some flaws, I definitely recommend picking this up, you won't regret it!
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
December 13, 2009
As much as I loved the Janes graphic novels that Castelucci created with Jim Rugg, I was thrilled when I received the ARC of this book, her first novel in some time. It's great to see Castelucci's distinctive voice back in full paragraphs.
Rose is a dancer, although by her own admission, not a very good one. She attends the School for Performing Arts in NYC, a decision which lead to the loss of her friendship with Daisy. Now relatively friendless and alone, Rose is convinced that she belongs to no group, and that no one will ever want to be her friend. Then one night, she hears a knock on the window of her Bronx home; it's Yrena, the Russian teen whose family lives next door, accompanied by heavy surveillance by the KGB and CIA. Yrena is also a dancer, and she and Rose quickly discover that they have much in common; Yrena then suddenly convinces Rose to take her out to see New York, with an urgency that Rose won't understand until later. Fans of NYC-based YA (like me) will appreciate the virtual tour of the city and its sights, including the Met, the Staten Island ferry, and the open theatre at Lincoln Center. Fans of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (again, moi) will also appreciate the frenetic pace of young people discovering and re-discovering parts of the city in which they live and play, all compressed into the span of a day or two.
I loved the fact that the book was set in 1982, and that Castelucci doesn't actually state that fact until later in the book, when flyers for a No Nukes rally start to circulate. Hints like the frequent mention of the Soviet Union and KGB, allusions to 1980s music, and the filthy state of Times Square will cue alert readers to the setting, but it's fun to see how many clues Castelucci plants in the novel. Rose's quick evolution from a painfully shy and introverted teen, to someone with a small but close circle of friends, is made entirely believable, and the way Rose and Yrena throw light on US-Soviet relations during the Cold War is interesting as well. I thought that Rose seemed to make a quick turn to the political once the No Nukes rally came, while I would have loved to hear more about her artistic awakening, the way she realized how much she loved to dance. Still, this is a very fun and touching book, one that will be well-read when it's released, and should be a great companion to Castelucci's other fantastic novels.
Rose is a dancer, although by her own admission, not a very good one. She attends the School for Performing Arts in NYC, a decision which lead to the loss of her friendship with Daisy. Now relatively friendless and alone, Rose is convinced that she belongs to no group, and that no one will ever want to be her friend. Then one night, she hears a knock on the window of her Bronx home; it's Yrena, the Russian teen whose family lives next door, accompanied by heavy surveillance by the KGB and CIA. Yrena is also a dancer, and she and Rose quickly discover that they have much in common; Yrena then suddenly convinces Rose to take her out to see New York, with an urgency that Rose won't understand until later. Fans of NYC-based YA (like me) will appreciate the virtual tour of the city and its sights, including the Met, the Staten Island ferry, and the open theatre at Lincoln Center. Fans of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (again, moi) will also appreciate the frenetic pace of young people discovering and re-discovering parts of the city in which they live and play, all compressed into the span of a day or two.
I loved the fact that the book was set in 1982, and that Castelucci doesn't actually state that fact until later in the book, when flyers for a No Nukes rally start to circulate. Hints like the frequent mention of the Soviet Union and KGB, allusions to 1980s music, and the filthy state of Times Square will cue alert readers to the setting, but it's fun to see how many clues Castelucci plants in the novel. Rose's quick evolution from a painfully shy and introverted teen, to someone with a small but close circle of friends, is made entirely believable, and the way Rose and Yrena throw light on US-Soviet relations during the Cold War is interesting as well. I thought that Rose seemed to make a quick turn to the political once the No Nukes rally came, while I would have loved to hear more about her artistic awakening, the way she realized how much she loved to dance. Still, this is a very fun and touching book, one that will be well-read when it's released, and should be a great companion to Castelucci's other fantastic novels.
August 22, 2010
The Good Stuff
* Compelling, realistic and touching
* Made me feel and remember what it was like to be that young and idealistic -- and that is a wonderful thing
* Once I started reading it I didn't want to put it down, thank goodness it wasn't a super long read
* Extremely well written, you really feel you know these people and understand them
* Very realistic portrayal of YA's and their heightened emotions and being on the cusp of adulthood
* Parents a little more realistically portrayed -- yup author doesn't make them complete morons
* Full of Hope and understanding and the silliness of prejudice and war
* Loved the camaraderie between the kids even-though they barely knew each other
* Felt a real kinship with Rose
* Some lovely light humour
The Not so Good Stuff
* It was really difficult to tell at first what era this is set in, which frustrated me. The author did eventually get to it but at first I thought it was during the 50/60's, until the author starts mentioning music and than I clued it.
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"I thought for you Russians, dancing was in your DNA" I thought for you Americans, every girl was a cheerleader in love with a football player." Sometimes it takes someone saying something stupid to make you realize that what you said was stupid."
" I thought about that for a minute. It was comforting to know that you could always find something in common with someone else."
"I will tell you a secret. I am hoping that because my breasts have grown so much-they are really quite big--that they will not take me back at the ballet school."
What I Learned
* Really sucks to be a Russian Teenager during the 80's
* I still am not a fan of ballet, but I understand the passion of it a little more now
* That I really really want to see New York
Who should/shouldn't read
* I think anyone would enjoy this. The suggested reading age by the publisher is 12+ but I don't see much objectionable for a younger reader. Very little mention of sex and when it is hinted at, it is very minor. I think 10+ would be just fine -- ONLY MY OPINION!
* A must addition to school and public libraries
5/5 Dewey's
I received this from Scholastic in return for an honest review -- and thanks Scholastic, reading this was much better than getting cash : )
* Compelling, realistic and touching
* Made me feel and remember what it was like to be that young and idealistic -- and that is a wonderful thing
* Once I started reading it I didn't want to put it down, thank goodness it wasn't a super long read
* Extremely well written, you really feel you know these people and understand them
* Very realistic portrayal of YA's and their heightened emotions and being on the cusp of adulthood
* Parents a little more realistically portrayed -- yup author doesn't make them complete morons
* Full of Hope and understanding and the silliness of prejudice and war
* Loved the camaraderie between the kids even-though they barely knew each other
* Felt a real kinship with Rose
* Some lovely light humour
The Not so Good Stuff
* It was really difficult to tell at first what era this is set in, which frustrated me. The author did eventually get to it but at first I thought it was during the 50/60's, until the author starts mentioning music and than I clued it.
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"I thought for you Russians, dancing was in your DNA" I thought for you Americans, every girl was a cheerleader in love with a football player." Sometimes it takes someone saying something stupid to make you realize that what you said was stupid."
" I thought about that for a minute. It was comforting to know that you could always find something in common with someone else."
"I will tell you a secret. I am hoping that because my breasts have grown so much-they are really quite big--that they will not take me back at the ballet school."
What I Learned
* Really sucks to be a Russian Teenager during the 80's
* I still am not a fan of ballet, but I understand the passion of it a little more now
* That I really really want to see New York
Who should/shouldn't read
* I think anyone would enjoy this. The suggested reading age by the publisher is 12+ but I don't see much objectionable for a younger reader. Very little mention of sex and when it is hinted at, it is very minor. I think 10+ would be just fine -- ONLY MY OPINION!
* A must addition to school and public libraries
5/5 Dewey's
I received this from Scholastic in return for an honest review -- and thanks Scholastic, reading this was much better than getting cash : )
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews