Red Rider's Hood (Dark Fusion Series #2) Book

Red rides around his tough urban neighborhood in his blood red Mustang. It satisfies his urge to wander, and it usually keeps him safe from the gangs in town, the Wolves and the Crypts. But when Red s grandmother is mugged by some members of the Wolves, Red can no long sit on the sidelines. He decides to join the Wolves as a pledge so he can learn how to defeat them. Soon he uncovers their terrible secret: they are werewolves with a thirst for human blood. Instead of feeling horrified, Red envies the Wolves freedom and power. Even as he trains to kill them under an unlikely but cunning werewolf hunter he has come to see them as packmates. Finally he is faced with a choice at the next full moon: take up the Wolves murderous ways, or take them down.

Author Biography: Neal Shusterman lives in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

Paula Rohrlick - KLIATT

"Wow, Grandma . . . What gnarly teeth you have." Fusing the tale of "Little Red Riding Hood" with werewolf legends, Shusterman crafts a fast-moving story about tough teenager Red Rider, who tools around his dangerous urban neighborhood with its gangs of Wolves and Crypts in his blood red Mustang. When his grandmother is mugged by some of the Wolves and Red learns that they're really werewolves, he joins the gang as a pledge in order to bring them down. However, he finds he must fight the growing urge to join them. This sinister, imaginative series (Dread Locks was reviewed in KLIATT in May 2005; Ugly Duckling is due out in March 2006) will appeal to fantasy fans as well as reluctant readers. Red Rider's Hood features lots of action and creepy details (e.g., the Crypts are really vampire bats who suck all the blood from their victims), and the cover, depicting a sweatshirt-hooded youth, a red Mustang, and a werewolf under a full moon, will attract an audience. (Dark Fusion, Book 2). KLIATT Codes: JS—Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2005, Penguin, Dutton, 176p., Ages 12 to 18.