Sisters Red

by Jackson Pearce

Book Overview

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead. Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316068683
• ISBN13: 9780316068680
• Release Date: June 2010
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.0" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

Sisters Red = Desire, passion, fiery

If you're a giggly, attractive young girl, then the last thing you should do is talk to that guy outside the club that's cute and is paying so much attention to you. What you should do is get into a very large crowd of people and don't leave with anyone, but to Scarlett March's dismay, the world doesn't work that way. Scarlett vows to protect her sister, Rosie, and the rest of the world from the dangers that lurk around every corner, and in every shadow...Fenris. Scarlett has not only vowed to protect their small town and large cities from the Fenris, but she's also vowed revenge on the Fenris that took her eye, when she was protecting her sister when they were kids. With Scarlett armed with a hatchet and Rosie with her knives, the girls use bright red cloaks and their feminine charm to lure and destroy any and all wolf that takes a step into their small town. Rosie has always stood by her sister; she's always had a bond with her sister that made them seem more like one heart, one soul, and not two separate people. But now, Rosie is starting to want more out of life than hunting Fenris. When Silas, a young woodsman and their lifelong friend, returns to town, Rosie is drawn to him in a way she never thought possible. The problem with that is, if she falls in love with Silas it means she's betraying her sister and going against everything they've all spent their lives fighting for. When I got my hands on Sisters Red, I could wait to tear into it because I just knew I was going to love it, but a couple of chapters in I found myself terrified of it. A few chapters later, I decided I could love it and be terrified of it, and that's how I felt the entire time through. Jackson has created this world that isn't so much different from ours, it's just an addition on ours and that addition is werewolves that prey on unsuspecting girls. Sisters Red is full of lust and desire, whether it's got to do with wanting another person or prey, or just something more out of life than fear or revenge. Part of our story takes place in Atlanta, and once the sisters and Silas take off for the big city, to a seedy apartment to hunt the Fenris, they get more than they bargain for. They find that things aren't always what they seem and that everyone has secrets, no matter how well you think you know them. Jackson Pearce not only created a dangerous and sexy world, but she also told it in a way that didn't lose its excitement. Sisters Red is told in alternating perspectives (or voices, as I prefer to call it), you hear from both Rosie and Scarlett and they are two of the strongest protagonists that I've read about in any piece of literature. The March sisters are two characters that aren't easily forgotten and that leave a mark on your mind even when you're done reading their story. I adored Rosie and how compassionate and loving she is and how much she would rather hurt herself than even consider hurting her sister. Scarlett is beautiful in her own right and I think he

Creative "Retelling"

"Sisters Red" is not so much a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood as a modern fairy tale that pays homage to a familiar premise while telling a completely original story. That story is about two sisters, Scarlett and Rosie March, who hunt the Fenris (a very clever, unique, and frightening version of werewolves) after a Fenris killed their grandmother and scarred Scarlett when they were children. I was expecting an action-filled, plot-oriented fairy tale and while there is tons of action, the heart of this book is in the sisters' relationship as both girls struggle with their identities. Scarlett literally wants nothing more in life than to kill the Fenris; Rosie is devoted to her sister but is also falling in love and figuring out that she deserves more in life than hunting. The conflict between the sisters' desires felt very real and was emotionally wrenching. As a reader, you can understand both girls' POV- why Rosie wants more out of life and why Scarlett begrudges her for it. Pearce does a magnificent job of not only making each sister realistic but also likable. It is sometimes difficult to like Scarlett because she is so narrow-minded and judgmental, but by the end you can't help liking her, admiring her, and feeling sorry for her (although she probably wouldn't appreciate the sympathy!). If you like books about complicated sibling relationships, you should definitely read SR for that reason alone. I also loved the mythology in SR; I haven't read anything like the Fenris before, and they are truly creepy villains because they're flat-out evil- they don't souls. In some ways they reminded me of the vampire mythology in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," b/c once a Fenris turns, it loses its soul and becomes inherently evil. In that respect, while the Fenris definitely creeped me out, I couldn't hate them because to hunt is their nature. I know Pearce has more books planned for this world, and I would love to see the ramifications of a Fenris transformation- are they completely demonic or, like Buffy's vampires, can they be redeemed? Although there was nothing particularly striking about him to me as a lead hero, I did like Silas, and I really liked the twist ending. I also liked the romance because it was sweet and realistic without being sappy or detracting from the other plotlines. I have a few criticisms: I think Pearce glossed over the girls' financial situation too much. They really get by for seven years by selling off household items and planting a garden? And they never got in trouble with authorities? It all seemed very unrealistic. My second biggest complaint is that I wish more had been said about Scarlett's future. Wrongly or rightly, she believes that she is only useful for hunting and sees no other future for herself. While she seems to like hunting, I think there should have been some discussion of the fact that she *does* have other options, because the message that came across was, "she's so physically sca

Sisters Red

I loved SISTERS RED, and I'll tell you why: --This book flew. I mean, from page one, the reader is going, going, going. This action is gritty, real, and emotional, and never gets boring. --That having been said, SISTERS RED still manages to be a character-driven book. The werewolf part of the novel--while huge and intriguing--isn't so important as how the characters react to and cope with it, and their own place in their world. --So, speaking of characters. In a word? Awesome. Scarlett March is a gem of a character; she's one tough girl. Almost too tough. But she manages to have shades of grey, and complexities that most of those tough-girl-tomboy characters are lacking; author Jackson Pearce does an excellent job of giving Scarlett room to break the mold of that cliched character. Rosie and Silas are also interesting, totally unique characters, and all three are faced with tough choices that they have to tackle in their own way. --The setting. Present-day Georgia, but with a sort of austere treatment that made me feel like I was reading a period piece or a fairy story. I liked the effect; I think it settled nicely in with the mood of the novel. --Sisterhood. I'm going to be honest; I don't have a sister. But the dual narration of two people as close as the March sisters was, I think, a really effective way of constructing the novel. Shades of thought and emotion overlap, but their voices are distinctly their own. There was one particular plot point that I felt was a little transparent, but it didn't bother me so much as made me want to hurry up and get to the point in the novel where everything comes together for the characters. Overall, a fantastic book--action, sisterly love, engaging characters, and romance--a wonderful combination. Can't wait for the companion books!

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

If you're a giggly, attractive young girl, then the last thing you should do is talk to that guy outside the club who's cute and is paying so much attention to you. What you should do is get into a very large crowd of people and don't leave with anyone, but to Scarlett March's dismay, the world doesn't work that way. Scarlett vows to protect her sister, Rosie, and the rest of the world from the dangers that lurk around every corner, and in every shadow...Fenris. Scarlett has not only vowed to protect their small town and large cities from the Fenris, but she's also vowed revenge on the Fenris that took her eye, while she was protecting her sister when they were kids. With Scarlett armed with a hatchet and Rosie with her knives, the girls use bright red cloaks and their feminine charm to lure and destroy any and all wolves who take a step into their small town. Rosie has always stood by her sister; she's always had a bond that made them seem more like one heart, one soul, and not two separate people. But now, Rosie is starting to want more out of life than hunting Fenris. When Silas, a young woodsman and their lifelong friend, returns to town, Rosie is drawn to him in a way she never thought possible. The problem with that is, if she falls in love with Silas, it means she's betraying her sister and going against everything they've spent their lives fighting for. When I got my hands on SISTERS RED, I couldn't wait to tear into it because I just knew I was going to love it - but a couple of chapters in I found myself terrified of it. A few chapters later, I decided I could love it and be terrified of it at the same time, and that's how I felt the entire book through. Jackson Pearce has created this world that isn't so much different from ours - it's just an addition on ours, and that addition is werewolves that prey on unsuspecting girls. SISTERS RED is full of lust and desire, whether it's got to do with wanting another person or prey, or just something more out of life than fear or revenge. Part of our story takes place in Atlanta, and once the sisters and Silas take off for the big city, to a seedy apartment to hunt the Fenris, they get more than they bargain for. They find that things aren't always what they seem and that everyone has secrets, no matter how well you think you know them. Ms. Pearce not only created a dangerous and sexy world, but she also told it in a way that didn't lose its excitement. SISTERS RED is told in alternating perspectives (or voices, as I prefer to call it); you hear from both Rosie and Scarlett, and they are two of the strongest protagonists that I've read about in any piece of literature. The March sisters are two characters who aren't easily forgotten and that leave a mark on your mind even when you're done reading their story. I adored Rosie and how compassionate and loving she is and how much she would rather hurt herself than even consider hurting her sister. Scarlett is beautiful in her own right and I

A fairytale retelling you don't want to miss!

I was so lucky to be able to read this book early. Right from the first page I was sucked in and I didn't put the book down once. I read it all in one sitting and I am already very excited for the next book in the series, Sweetly, which isn't coming out until 2011. This book tells the story of two sisters, who survived an attack from a fenrir at a young age and have grown up training and hunting them. Thrown in the mix is the best friend to eldest sister Silas. I must say that the characters in this book are awesome. The chapters switch back and forth from Scarlett, the older sister, to Rosie. While I normally don't like books where the point of view switches, I am so glad that this novel was done this way. I favored the younger sister, Rosie, more, and always looked forward to reading the next chapter she had to tell, but I thouroughly enjoyed Scarlett's pov as well. The book was full of exciting action scenes as well as some great romance. I found myself backtracking as a skipped ahead a couple of sentences once in a while in my eagerness to know what happened next. Pearce did a wonderful job of crafting this novel and the Fenrir in it. I love seeing the different viewpoints people have on werewolves and this was a unique one. Everything about the story was intriguing and interesting and this will be one book that I will recommend to as many people as possible. Bravo Jackson Pearce for becoming one of my favorite new authors. Looks like i'll have to run out and buy As You Wish to hold me over until I can buy my own copy of Sisters Red and then Sweetly!!