A review by sarahnick15
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

4.0

Becca's grandmother, Gemma, has always told her the story of Sleeping Beauty and ends it by saying that she is Briar Rose, the princess rescued by the prince. Before Gemma dies, Becca promises to find her castle and her prince. With only the details from the fairy tale, Becca finds this task impossible until her family finds a box of pictures and documents that Gemma has never shared with them. Becca takes these mementos and tries to piece together her grandmother's life.

I thought that this was an interesting retelling of Sleeping Beauty because it was part mystery, part fairy tale, part historical fiction. I found myself quickly turning the pages trying to find out who Gemma was--was she really Sleeping Beauty? Or was she just crazy? Once Becca finds out her grandmother's history, the tale comes together in a satisfying ending which I don't want to give away.

I wish that some of the characters were more well-developed, (like why is she so interested in Stan? Nothing about him seems all that interesting.). And I wish some they had spent a little more time explaining why they didn't ever ask Gemma about her history (I mean her own daughter didn't even know much about her own mother. And they lived in the same house!) But those small flaws don't take away from this enjoyable quick read.