Jane Yolen’s Briar Rose is part of the Fairy Tale Series.
In this story, Briar Rose simply another name for Sleeping Beauty. Ever since she was little, Becca has been enchanted by her grandmother’s retelling of the popular fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty. It wasn’t until her grandmother passed away whispering the final words “I am Briar Rose” that she realizes how little she and her family truly know about her grandmother’s past. This sets Becca off on a journey to recover her grandmother’s past and discover the truth behind her grandmother’s telling of Briar Rose.
Becca is an average girl. At the age of twenty-three, she has become a journalist. While her grandmother lies on her deathbed, her sisters have moved on with their lives, while Becca visits her frequently. Becca is dedicated and caring. Over the course of the story, Becca proves to have an amazing resolve and steadfast determination.
Briar Rose was a beautiful book. Becca’s journey through the past is captivating and enthralling. As she explores a dark period of history, both Becca and the reader learn more about life, heroism and the truth. While Becca embark on her journey, we get to read her grandmother’s fairy tale as well. The fairy tale is slowly revealed and matches beautifully with Becca’s journey creating an intricate and beautiful novel. This story also has connections to the holocaust making the story even more impactful, heartbreaking and fulfilling. Jane Yolen does an amazing job of describing the world making the reader feel like a part of the story as well. I give this 241 page story 5 stars.
The Fairy Tale Collection
Created by Terri Windlings, this series is a collection of fairy tale retellings. This series is composed of books written by several different authors and isn't intended to be read in any specific order.