Red Riding Hood

Author:  Sarah Blakley-Cartwright

Reading level:  Ages 13 and up

Summary:

The villagers in Valerie's rough hometown have always sacrificed animals to appease the Wolf, but when it brutally kills a human being -- Valerie's sweet older sister -- the truce ends and the village men hunt the creature they've long feared. They think they've killed it, but when a famous werewolf hunter comes to town, he reveals to them an unbelievable truth: the wolf they killed is an ordinary lupine -- but the werewolf they seek roams among them every day in human form

Suspicion grows between neighbors, and circles around Valerie, who can understand the wolf's growls -- and that it wants her to come away with it. Meanwhile, Valerie finds herself suspecting the wolf could be either her kind fiance or the dark mysterious man she really loves -- she even suspects her own grandmother. 

Valerie's sister was beautiful, kind, and sweet. Now she is dead. Henri, the handsome son of the blacksmith, tries to console Valerie, but her wild heart beats fast for another: the outcast woodcutter, Peter, who offers Valerie another life far from home.

After her sister's violent death, Valerie's world begins to spiral out of control. For generations, the werewolf has been kept at bay with a monthly sacrifice. But no one is safe. When an expert wolf hunter arrives, the villagers learn that the creature lives among them - it could be anyone in town.
It soon becomes clear that Valerie is the only one who can hear the voice of creature. The Wolf says she must surrender herself before the Blood Moon wanes . . . or everyone she loves will die.

Review:

I was so excited about the book after I saw the movie trailer.  I picked it up and jump right in.  Well, it took me one day to finish the whole book but to my disappointment, the ending was terrible.  There was no ending at all.  I was so frustrated and wanted to go to the bookstore to return the book.  However, the whole book was really good and has just the right amount of detail to make you think you are in the story.  It is very hard to put it down after I read the first few pages. The plot line and the characters are very good. They keep you interested in the book and its kind of hard to put down. I got to the last page and thought this cannot be the ending cause you do not find out who the wolf is.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It is targeted for teens, but if you enjoy romance and a bit of intrigue then this book is great for you!