Synopsis:
Becca has grown up hearing her grandmother tell the fairy tale of Briar Rose, the Sleeping Beauty, over and over and over. But Gemma’s version varies from the traditional story: in her telling, only the Princess comes awake at the kiss; everyone else remains in death-like sleep.
As she ages, and her mind and body fail, Gemma grows more insistent that she herself is Briar Rose. Most of the family has long since ceased to really listen to the old woman, and only Becca gives her words any weight, promising in her grandmother’s last hours to unravel the mystery. A box of keepsakes discovered in Gemma’s room after her death raises many questions and provides few clues, but Becca’s journalistic instincts and perseverance eventually lead her to the startling truth.
Comments:
Many of the old fairy tales were originally much darker stories than the modern versions with which most of us are familiar. This book harks back to that tradition; much of what Becca discovers is deeply disturbing. Briar Rose strongly demonstrates the power of story to help us survive and overcome horrific evil. I would recommend it only for a quite mature reader.
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