Fantastic Fairytales - Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

Published: March 2002

Publisher: Tor Teen

Summary: Goodreads

Ever since she was a child, Rebecca has been enchanted by her grandmother Gemma’s stories about Briar Rose. But a promise Rebecca makes to her dying grandmother will lead her on a remarkable journey to uncover the truth of Gemma’s astonishing claim: I am Briar Rose. A journey that will lead her to unspeakable brutality and horror. But also to redemption and hope. A Tor Teen edition of the modern classic by critically-acclaimed author Jane Yolen.

This is one of the most unusual and hard-hitting retellings of a fairytale that I have yet to encounter. When you read this book you are instantly transported back to the horrors of World War II and you find yourself in the middle of a nightmare. It is so powerfully written that you have to almost physically pull yourself back to the present. I find it quite hard to actually describe the book - the summary above works, but there are so many levels to this book. To tell you more would be to spoil the effect of the story. Really, the only thing I can say is -read it. For those of you out there who like fractured fairytales and haven't read this, please try it and then tell me what you think. I really would like to know.