Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses by Ron Koertge
Andrea Dezso (Illustrator)
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Retellings, Young Adult
Publication: 7/10/12, Candlewick Press
# of Pages: 96 (Hardcover)
Source: I received an advanced reader's copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis from Goodreads: Writing in free verse honed to a wicked edge, the incomparable Ron Koertge brings dark and contemporary humor to twenty iconic fairy tales.
Once upon a time, there was a strung-out match girl who sold CDs to stoners. Twelve impetuous sisters escaped King Daddy's clutches to jiggle and cavort and wear out their shoes. A fickle Thumbelina searched for a tiny husband, leaving bodies in her wake. And Little Red Riding Hood confessed that she kind of wanted to know what it's like to be swallowed whole. From bloodied and blinded stepsisters (they were duped) to a chopped-off finger flying into a heroine's cleavage, this is fairy tale world turned upside down. Ron Koertge knows what really happened to all those wolves and maidens, ogres and orphans, kings and piglets, and he knows about the Ever After. So come closer - he wants to whisper in your ear.
Once upon a time, there was a strung-out match girl who sold CDs to stoners. Twelve impetuous sisters escaped King Daddy's clutches to jiggle and cavort and wear out their shoes. A fickle Thumbelina searched for a tiny husband, leaving bodies in her wake. And Little Red Riding Hood confessed that she kind of wanted to know what it's like to be swallowed whole. From bloodied and blinded stepsisters (they were duped) to a chopped-off finger flying into a heroine's cleavage, this is fairy tale world turned upside down. Ron Koertge knows what really happened to all those wolves and maidens, ogres and orphans, kings and piglets, and he knows about the Ever After. So come closer - he wants to whisper in your ear.
My Review: This isn't usually my thing. I like Fairy Tale retellings but I like them in novel form, with a lot of plot and character development. Short stories have never appealed to me. That being said, I actually enjoyed Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dresses. It's clever and the humor is dark. And I like my fairy tales dark.
Though my ARC didn't have the beautiful cover art you see above, there was art on the inside, each drawing perfectly suited to the story. It's a quick read. The stories are short and grim, sometimes shocking, but never simply for the sake of being grim or shocking. They're purposeful and expertly written. I will say that it is definitely intended for an older, more mature YA audience. It wasn't exactly the kind of story I would want to share with my preteen aged neice.
1 comment:
I haven't heard of this book before. It seems interesting but I don't think its my kind of book either. great review!
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