pageb's review
3.0
Cute idea for a book, all spins on the Red Riding Hood story. However, I think bringing in other authors would have added more creativity and perspective. A quick read, but not the best I've ever read.
lorathelibrarian's review
4.0
Such a fun collection of retellings of Little Red Riding Hood! Vande Velde is hilarious and this becomes clear right off the bat in the author's note. I loved how some of the stories ended, they were unexpected and very witty. Great little book.
athena_child's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Love the idea of this book, but I thought a bit more details could have gone into it. Otherwise, amazing read!
sandraagee's review
4.0
As many of my friends know, I'm a sucker for a good fairy tale. I'm especially fond of Little Red Riding Hood. Even with these biases aside, I have to say that this volume is spot-on. Author Vivian Vande Velde, already quite practiced in the ways of fractured fairy tales, has created eight new spins on this classic story. The book's introduction indicates that her goal is to better develop certain characters and answer a few questions about the original fairy tale. Each tale seems to take a theme or a character and pull it into focus - one story is centered around Red's mother, one around the wolf, and even one around the famous hood. Clever, funny and charming, this quick read will please those in the market for short, satisfying tales.
alifromkc1907's review
2.0
Gut Instinct Rating: 2
Characters: 2
Believability: 3
Uniqueness: 3
Writing Style: 2
Excitement Factor: 1
Story Line: 1
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Overall: 2.67
Characters: 2
Believability: 3
Uniqueness: 3
Writing Style: 2
Excitement Factor: 1
Story Line: 1
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Overall: 2.67
lumos_libros's review
4.0
Have you ever thought that the story of Little Red Riding Hood was kind of lame? If so this is the book for you.
The author in the beginning gives an introduction of why she felt the need to give this fairy tale it's due. To be honest I always thought the story was boring and definitely left a lot to be desired. Here we have a collection of stories that give a new take to Little Red. The stories range from a creepy doll coming to life, all the way to a red cloak having a mind of it's own. Some are comical and others ironic. A good array of different prespectives are presented here.
I'm usually horrible with short stories. I always need more and still feel like that most of the time. It would have been interesting to see a full-fleged novel with one of the ideas. It would be hard to do though. A lot of backstory would have to be done. Regardless of that I did enjoy the book and feel better about the story. After reading this I will absoulutely be reading more from [a:Vivian Vande Velde|13014|Vivian Vande Velde|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1241839752p2/13014.jpg].
The author in the beginning gives an introduction of why she felt the need to give this fairy tale it's due. To be honest I always thought the story was boring and definitely left a lot to be desired. Here we have a collection of stories that give a new take to Little Red. The stories range from a creepy doll coming to life, all the way to a red cloak having a mind of it's own. Some are comical and others ironic. A good array of different prespectives are presented here.
I'm usually horrible with short stories. I always need more and still feel like that most of the time. It would have been interesting to see a full-fleged novel with one of the ideas. It would be hard to do though. A lot of backstory would have to be done. Regardless of that I did enjoy the book and feel better about the story. After reading this I will absoulutely be reading more from [a:Vivian Vande Velde|13014|Vivian Vande Velde|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1241839752p2/13014.jpg].
missprint_'s review
4.0
Some fairy tales are just problematic. Rumpelstiltskin's motivations are fuzzy at best. Does Rapunzel's mother really need lettuce that badly?
Then you have Little Red Riding Hood. How oblivious can one child be? Why was she left unsupervised in the woods? Why a red hood at all?
Many questions. Not so many answers.
Plenty of opportunities for new retellings in Cloaked in Red (2010) by Vivian Vande Velde.
This collection runs in the same vein as Vande Velde's earlier collection The Rumpelstiltskin Problem. An author's note starts the volume in which Vande Velde outlines the numerous problems with the original Little Red Riding Hood.
In the eight stories in this collection Vande Velde offers a different slant on the story. "Little Red Riding Hood's Family" offers a very clever, whimsical explanation of why Little Red would not be concerned to find her grandmother looking like a wolf. "Granny and the Wolf" delves deeper into the relationship between Granny and the woodcutter (not to mention the wolf). "Deems the Woodcutter" is a delightful story about a myopic woodcutter who misguidedly helps quite a few familiar fairy tale characters while out gathering wood.
While this collection ignores some of the darker undertones of the Perrault* version of the story--and only nods to the Grimm version in "Why Willy and His Borther Won't Ever Amount to Anything" without mentioning Perrault at all--the collection is solid with a range of stories to appeal to readers of every age and persuasion.
With a snappy tone and amusing starts to every story along the lines of "Once upon a time, before department stores and designer labels . . ." Cloaked in Red is filled with stories that are approachable and fun. This would be a great collection to pair with picture book versions of Little Red Riding Hood, to read aloud, or even to use as a primer on short story writing.
*The moral from the Perrault story is as follows: "Children, especially attractive, well bred young ladies, should never talk to strangers, for if they should do so, they may well provide dinner for a wolf. I say "wolf," but there are various kinds of wolves. There are also those who are charming, quiet, polite, unassuming, complacent, and sweet, who pursue young women at home and in the streets. And unfortunately, it is these gentle wolves who are the most dangerous ones of all." It's safe to say the moral is hinting at a bit more than actual wolves.
Possible Pairings: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, The Curiosities by Tessa Gratton, Maggie Stiefvater and Brenna Yovanoff, The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy, Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, Enchanted by Alethea Kontis, The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde
Then you have Little Red Riding Hood. How oblivious can one child be? Why was she left unsupervised in the woods? Why a red hood at all?
Many questions. Not so many answers.
Plenty of opportunities for new retellings in Cloaked in Red (2010) by Vivian Vande Velde.
This collection runs in the same vein as Vande Velde's earlier collection The Rumpelstiltskin Problem. An author's note starts the volume in which Vande Velde outlines the numerous problems with the original Little Red Riding Hood.
In the eight stories in this collection Vande Velde offers a different slant on the story. "Little Red Riding Hood's Family" offers a very clever, whimsical explanation of why Little Red would not be concerned to find her grandmother looking like a wolf. "Granny and the Wolf" delves deeper into the relationship between Granny and the woodcutter (not to mention the wolf). "Deems the Woodcutter" is a delightful story about a myopic woodcutter who misguidedly helps quite a few familiar fairy tale characters while out gathering wood.
While this collection ignores some of the darker undertones of the Perrault* version of the story--and only nods to the Grimm version in "Why Willy and His Borther Won't Ever Amount to Anything" without mentioning Perrault at all--the collection is solid with a range of stories to appeal to readers of every age and persuasion.
With a snappy tone and amusing starts to every story along the lines of "Once upon a time, before department stores and designer labels . . ." Cloaked in Red is filled with stories that are approachable and fun. This would be a great collection to pair with picture book versions of Little Red Riding Hood, to read aloud, or even to use as a primer on short story writing.
*The moral from the Perrault story is as follows: "Children, especially attractive, well bred young ladies, should never talk to strangers, for if they should do so, they may well provide dinner for a wolf. I say "wolf," but there are various kinds of wolves. There are also those who are charming, quiet, polite, unassuming, complacent, and sweet, who pursue young women at home and in the streets. And unfortunately, it is these gentle wolves who are the most dangerous ones of all." It's safe to say the moral is hinting at a bit more than actual wolves.
Possible Pairings: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, The Curiosities by Tessa Gratton, Maggie Stiefvater and Brenna Yovanoff, The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy, Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, Enchanted by Alethea Kontis, The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde