Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Shruthi | Holmdel High School, Grade 11
Rating: *****
A unique twist on the tale of Red Riding Hood, Scarlet features a vivacious young woman from Rieux, France. When her equally vivacious and loving grandmother mysteriously goes missing and the police stop looking, Scarlet is forced to take things into her own hands and look for her grandmother, who she is sure has been kidnapped. After meeting a suspicious individual carrying the same marks as the members of a group who allegedly tortured her father, she asks for his help in finding her grandmother. However, she soon finds that her grandmother’s kidnapping wasn’t just petty crime: there is so much that she doesn’t know about her grandmother’s past.
With brilliant gadgets and innovative high tech, Marissa Meyer’s take on this classic set in the future will keep you at the edge of your seat. Everything is so well thought out in advance, and the plot is immaculate. I loved the story because it so distinct from other fairytale retellings. Read Scarlet, and I promise you won’t regret it.
Shivani | Biotechnology High School, Grade 9
Rating: *****
The Lunar Chronicles returns with its second installment, introducing readers to Scarlet Benoit, a girl living in France whose grandmother has gone missing. Scarlet meets the dark and mysterious street fighter Wolf, who offers to help her, though he seems to have some of his own secrets. Halfway around the world, Cinder attempts to break out prison, making her the Eastern Commonwealth’s number one fugitive. As these characters cross paths, they must work together to fight the Lunar Queen Levana and end her endeavors in conquering Earth. Generally based on ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, Scarlet is a thrilling book you won’t be able to put down!
By including multiple perspectives from different people, Marissa Meyer captures all of the main characters feelings in a beautiful way. I especially enjoyed how her books managed to cover suspense, romance, and comedy at the same time. As the book series continues, I began to love the characters more and more and Meyer does an amazing job of portraying them.
Amisha | Biotechnology High School, Grade 9
Rating: ***
In the sequel to Cinder, Scarlet follows a girl named Scarlet Benoit who lives in Rieux, France with her grandmother while managing their family farm. When Scarlet’s grandmother goes missing, she knows that this was no accident but rather a kidnapping. She seeks the help of a mysterious fighter named Wolf and together they travel in search of Scarlet’s grandmother. Meanwhile, Cinder befriends Carswell Thorne, the annoying yet charming prisoner whose cell she breaks into in an effort to break out of the New Beijing Prison. Together, they find Thorne’s old ship from when he was a American Republic military cadet. In Marissa Meyer’s futuristic twist to the fairytale Little Red Riding Hood, fans of Cinder will be delighted as the adventure continues on!
This novel was a great sequel to Cinder, though I enjoyed it a little less. I loved the new characters, such as Carswell Thorne. Thorne was such a witty and sarcastic character who made the story much more interesting and brought out different parts of Cinder’s character. I absolutely loved periodically reading about Cinder and Thorne’s adventures while they were trying to stay hidden as fugitives on the run. In addition, Wolf was such a sweet character and his love for tomatoes was so entertaining. His relationship with Scarlet was so charming and I loved seeing how they grew to trust and confide in each other despite these bleak circumstances. Moreover, I liked Scarlet’s passion and determination towards those she loves and her stubborn attitude, though she was a bit annoying at some parts of the novel. Overall, this was a great sequel with many amazing new characters that makes the readers eager for more!
Mariana | Frank Antonides Middle School, Grade 7
Rating: *****
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer is a sci-fi retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and a continuation of Cinder set in the far future. The main protagonist, 18 year-old Scarlet Benoit, is a bold, hot-headed, farmer in Rieux, France. When her grandmother who raised her, Michelle Benoit, goes missing Scarlet is outraged with the polices’ little progress and decides to take matters into her own hands. Before leaving, Scarlet meets Wolf, a street fighter with wolf-like features. He discovers that Michelle was kidnapped by a gang he used to be in and volunteers to help. On the way to Paris, where Wolf says Michelle is, Scarlet and Wolf go from enemies to lovers and Wolf saves her life multiple times. Scarlet’s journey is packed with danger, suspense, secrets, and betrayal as Wolf fights off his own friends and family to help her. Meanwhile, Cinder, a now wanted fugitive, escapes prison and travels to Paris in the Rampion, a stolen flying ship. Cinder and her new acquaintance, Carswell Thorne, rescue Scarlet and Wolf and discover that Michelle Benoit may play a role in Cinder’s mysterious past.
Scarlet, the second book of the Lunar Chronicles, a series of classic princess retellings which continue Cinder’s story, is my second favorite book of all time, second only to Winter, the last book in the Lunar Chronicles. What I love about this book is how unexpected everything is, and Marissa’s Meyers skills really show here! If you enjoyed Cinder, definitely read this book! Once again, numbers cannot justify how good this book is!