Rose Sees Red

I like Castellucci's style. Her writing is succinct, no frills yet full of character and depth. Super quick read but she still manages to paint a realistic Cold War New York in such short work. She also makes artsy, emo type teens real and not obnoxious. I appreciate that she never writes in tropes and is incredibly original.

In her latest book, Cecil Castellucci makes a departure from her usual contemporary Los Angeles setting and takes her readers to 1980s New York City. The Cold War is at its height and our protagonist Rose lives next door to a Soviet family, including a girl her age, Yrena. Though Rose has been feeling “black” and friendless since choosing to attend the performing arts school for dance, she gets swept up into a night of parties, new friends, and self discovery when Yrena crawls into her window looking for a typical American experience. Castellucci makes the city and the era come alive at night as we see it through Rose and Yrena’s eyes — Rose, whose dispiritedness has made her take it for granted, and Yrena, who is seeing it show more wide-eyed for the first (and possibly last) time. Both are dancers and their new friends include a dancer, musicians, and actors, so it’s fun to see their passions on display. The book also touches on the issues of war and peace without being didactic about it, and while it’s historical fiction, the same concerns will still resonate with today’s readers. If anything, the book is too short at just under 200 pages. Some of the character development seemed rushed and could have benefited from longer scenes, despite the whole story taking place in one night. Overall, it’s a quick, fun read that can also open up a discussion about larger issues. Should be appropriate for grades 7 and up. show less

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 show more 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 : ) show less

What a phenomenal book. I absolutely loved it. Rose goes to the performing arts high school in Manhattan. Making this decision seperated her from her best friend Daisy (who wasn't really a good friend) and made her feel like having friends was too hard. So she has closed herself off, until the day two girls at school reach out to her and her next door neighbor comes in through her window. The book chronicles Yrena and Rose's night in the city. But it's sooo much more then that. The book takes place during the Cold War and Yrena is from the Soviet Union. It really brings home how people are the same and yet so different. Both girls are ballerina's, the same age and living in the same city, yet they approach things with completely show more different attittude and points of view. There is a lot of great symbolism here and it's a book that has a story that will really make you think. The characters are interesting and with the current political state of the world I think teens today could really relate to this book. show less

What a phenomenal book. I absolutely loved it. Rose goes to the performing arts high school in Manhattan. Making this decision seperated her from her best friend Daisy (who wasn't really a good friend) and made her feel like having friends was too hard. So she has closed herself off, until the day two girls at school reach out to her and her next door neighbor comes in through her window. The book chronicles Yrena and Rose's night in the city. But it's sooo much more then that. The book takes place during the Cold War and Yrena is from the Soviet Union. It really brings home how people are the same and yet so different. Both girls are ballerina's, the same age and living in the same city, yet they approach things with completely show more different attittude and points of view. There is a lot of great symbolism here and it's a book that has a story that will really make you think. The characters are interesting and with the current political state of the world I think teens today could really relate to this book. show less

What a phenomenal book. I absolutely loved it. Rose goes to the performing arts high school in Manhattan. Making this decision seperated her from her best friend Daisy (who wasn't really a good friend) and made her feel like having friends was too hard. So she has closed herself off, until the day two girls at school reach out to her and her next door neighbor comes in through her window. The book chronicles Yrena and Rose's night in the city. But it's sooo much more then that. The book takes place during the Cold War and Yrena is from the Soviet Union. It really brings home how people are the same and yet so different. Both girls are ballerina's, the same age and living in the same city, yet they approach things with completely show more different attittude and points of view. There is a lot of great symbolism here and it's a book that has a story that will really make you think. The characters are interesting and with the current political state of the world I think teens today could really relate to this book. show less

What a phenomenal book. I absolutely loved it. Rose goes to the performing arts high school in Manhattan. Making this decision seperated her from her best friend Daisy (who wasn't really a good friend) and made her feel like having friends was too hard. So she has closed herself off, until the day two girls at school reach out to her and her next door neighbor comes in through her window. The book chronicles Yrena and Rose's night in the city. But it's sooo much more then that. The book takes place during the Cold War and Yrena is from the Soviet Union. It really brings home how people are the same and yet so different. Both girls are ballerina's, the same age and living in the same city, yet they approach things with completely show more different attittude and points of view. There is a lot of great symbolism here and it's a book that has a story that will really make you think. The characters are interesting and with the current political state of the world I think teens today could really relate to this book. show less