VVMBookBlog

Red Rider’s Hood by Neal Shusterman

Do you remember the story of Little Red Riding Hood? Red Rider’s Hood is Little Red Riding Hood meets gangs, werewolves, and vampires. This action packed story starts with Red taking a bag of money in his red Mustang to his grandma. His car gets stolen, his grandma gets robbed, and a gang wants him to join. Red learns how dangerous this gang, the Wolves, can be instantly, but he still contemplates joining. His Grandma, of course, is against this idea. She actually knows quite a bit about the Wolves and wants Red to have no part in this gang. As the story unfolds, Red has to choose between the gang and his grandma. It shouldn’t be a difficult decision, but… Did I mention there is also a girl involved? Red Rider’s Hood is a great book for those wanting action and a little horror. Remember there are also werewolves and vampires.

This is the second book in Neal Shusterman’s Darkfusion Series. The first book is Dread Locks. Although I haven’t read it yet, I look forward to the same creepy fairy tale twist!

Between Mom and Jo by Julie Anne Peters

Nick is the narrator telling his story through flashbacks. His life has been complicated. One of the first complications is the fact that he has two mothers. This only becomes a complication when he is picked on by bullies at school (calling him “Dickless Nicholas”) and when a his third grade teacher shows her prejudice (by not hanging his family picture). Life becomes even more crazy as Nick gets older. Erin, his birth mom, gets cancer. Jo, his other mom married to Erin, is an alcoholic. Although Erin is his birth mom and probably the more stable of the two, Jo has a huge place in Nick’s heart. When Jo and Erin are separated due to “another woman,” Nick’s life is more complicated than ever.

This is a book that has mature content. Since Nick is a teenager, one of his mom’s must talk to him about sex. It also talks frankly about alcoholism, divorce, and other “difficult” topics. Between Mom and Jo is a realistic read about the difficulties of being a teenager. Nick shares his frustrations of school and home as a typical teenager.