School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-7-Red is strong, fearless (except when it comes to her own magic), and on a quest. Her dear grandmother, the Witch of the Woods, is ailing, and Red is determined to find the magic that will help her live forever. Along the way she meets the pesky but sweet Goldie, who is trying to win back her own mother's love. The pair encounter a kind wolf, trolls, and a beauty who has been turned into a beast. Their experiences, including meeting an unlikely villain and a few close calls, help Red and Goldie realize that letting go of their fear of loss is better than magic. Tara Sands's narration delivers. Red's voice is strident enough to reflect the heroine's petulance, and Sands varies the supporting characters' enough to make following along quite effortless. VERDICT Rich with meaningful vocabulary, this work will be enjoyed by fans of fairy-tale retellings. ["This is pure fun for fans of classic stories cleverly retold": SLJ 1/16 review of the Knopf book.]-Jane Newschwander, Fluvanna County Public Schools, VA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
In another of her fairy-tale mashups, Shurtliff brings inventive new dimensions to Granny and Red, whom readers met in the companion book, Rump (2013). Granny, a witch, is none other than Rose Red, whose sister, Snow White, married a bear-prince. Red has powers, too, but she's been afraid to practice after a particularly disastrous spell almost killed Granny years ago. So when Granny becomes deathly ill, Red sets off to find the strongest magic: eternal life. Red's narration is dry and sassy, her mishaps colorful, her quest eventful and populated with other denizens of fairy-tale land. Accompanied by new friends Goldie and Wolf, Red follows directions provided by a disgruntled dwarf: there are three ways to stop death. What he fails to reveal are the pitfalls, allowing Red to debate the advisability of immortality as she witnesses the effects of each method. The most grotesque is The Magic Hearts, offered by the Huntsmanthe same who saved the other Snow White (the one with the dwarfs) from her jealous stepmother and was cursed as a result. The adventures are thrilling, even frightening, and, while good and bad magic abound, what is most heartening is how Red and Goldie grow and brave it all together, selflessly helping each other. Fairy-tale fun with resonant depth makes for another solid outing. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Though early mishaps have made Red (Little Red Riding Hood) uneasy about developing her magic powers, the girl is a witch like her grandmother. When Granny becomes ill, Red ventures into the woods to find a cure. There she encounters a series of characters, including a wolf, a huntsman, Goldie (Goldilocks), a dwarf, and a beauty transformed into a beast. While the story meanders a bit, there are adventures at every turn. The many children who enjoyed Rump (2013), in which Red first appeared, will be lining up to read the rest of this reluctant young witch's story.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2016 Booklist