Review by Booklist Review
Neve and Rose, born 11 months apart, have always been incredibly close. Neve is happy to follow in her beloved older sister's footsteps, especially as they adjust to their new life in a small town after their parents separate. An eccentric classmate, Piper, warns of girls going missing in the nearby woods, but Neve writes this off as fantasy--until Rose vanishes in a creeping fog right before her eyes. Only Piper believes Neve, though she's eventually joined by another student who's had his own disconcerting encounters in the forest. As the offbeat trio rallies to find the missing girls, Neve must face her greatest fear if she's ever to see Rose again. This riveting retelling of "Snow White and Rose Red" is eerie and atmospheric, grounded in an extraordinary sibling connection that is given room to shift and evolve. Neve's anxiety and courage are vividly rendered, as is the spooky setting in an unsettling wilderness. Occasionally gruesome and perilous moments hint at the Grimm origins, ultimately combining into a splendidly suspenseful and sinister read with a tender heart.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In an atmospheric mystery incorporating mystical elements, a take on "Snow-White and Rose-Red" by the Brothers Grimm, debut author Jennings tells the tale of middle schooler siblings Neve and Rose, who move to Etters, S.C., with their mother following their parents' separation. After being as "close as the sisters in the fairy tale," the girls--only 11 months apart--begin forming their own identities in their new town; Neve, in particular, starts stepping out of her older sister's shadow, "being assertive and making decisions." But while Etters provides the sisters with opportunities to grow, it's also home to haunting secrets. They soon learn about local girls' unexplained disappearances, which some townsfolk have inexplicably forgotten, and frightening rumors about the swamp not too far from their house. When a mysterious fog rolls in and swallows Rose up, Neve--joined by an ethereal boy in a red shirt, a hound, and a worn book of fairy tales--searches for her missing sister. Though the overarching mystery's plotting feels disjointed, Neve's growth from reserved introvert to take-charge heroine capably propels the narrative toward a climactic resolution. Ages 8--12. Agent: Josh Adams, Adams Literary. (Sept.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
When Neve's older sister, Rose, is kidnapped by a swamp witch, she must learn to listen to her own instincts or risk losing her sister forever. Though they aren't twins--Rose is 11 months older--seventh grade sisters Rose and Neve are rarely apart. Headstrong, outgoing Rose has always been in charge of everything, which has been fine with creative, introverted Neve. Soon after their parents separate and the girls move with their mom to a creepy old house in Etters, South Carolina, a strange fog emerges from the woods and disappears with Rose, leaving Neve to figure out what happened and how to save her sister. Most of the adults around her are emotionally absent and, frankly, rather useless. Although there are a few loose ends and unanswered questions, this goosebump-inducing, Brothers Grimm--inspired contemporary fairy tale deftly illustrates how a younger sibling begins to outgrow both an older one's shadow and the expectations of their parents as she pursues her own sense of self and takes the initiative in a daring rescue mission. Main characters read as White; alluding to the source material, "Snow-White and Rose-Red," one sister has white-blond hair and the other's is auburn. Names and physical descriptions cue some diversity in the supporting cast. A swamp full of secrets and a quirky cast of characters combine for a delightfully dark debut. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
