Even though the cover art is not final and the book is not due to pub until July, you will want to have this book ordered and set to go straight to the top of your TBR stack. LIES, KNIVES, AND GIRLS IN RED DRESSES by Ron Koertge (Candlewick, July 2012) presents fairy tales in variations one never dreamed possible. Here is how this remarkable book opens: black page with white letters:
Do you want to sleep? Find another storyteller. Do you want to think about the world in a new way?
Come closer. Closer, please.
I want to whisper in your ear.
OK, I am already hooked. Plus, I know what Koertge can deliver having been a fan of his work for years. STONER AND SPAZ, SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP, STRAYS, MARGAUX WITH AN X, THE ARIZONA KID, and THE BRIMSTONE JOURNALS are all on my shelves, all favorites. So, now Koertge turns his talent to the fairy tale. Come and explore Cinderella, Little red Riding Hood, and Rumplestiltskin. Be prepared, though, for these are not for the faint of heart. Here are stories that have their origins deep within the Grimm Brothers; they are totally un-Disneyfied and very adult. Some tales are monologues, some dialogues, some beautifully wrought poems. Hansel and Gretel wreak revenge on a father who did nothing to prevent their abandonment; the Ogre Queen (mother of Prince Charming) now serves as a consultant in D.C. There are surprises around every corner in this slim, unforgettable, unputdownable collection. <23>
"Unputdownable" is officially my new favorite book descriptor. I am sold! This book is on my wishlist.
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