How would you spend your last night in New York City if you knew you’d be heading back to Russia in a matter of hours? What about if you’d been living in a compound in New York City for two years and never got to chance to see anything in your adopted town? Moreover, what if you were constantly afraid to leave because you might be caught by the CIA or the KGB during the Cold War era when sentiments between Russians and Americans weren’t exactly the best?

That’s precisely the place where Yrena is when we meet her in this story as she sits on her porch stoop. But let’s back up a little bit first. For many years, Daisy was her best friend and they did everything together. Daisy was a bully friend — the kind who forced Rose to adapt her mindsets and beliefs in order to maintain their “friendship.” When Rose would stray, it would be fear that caused her to snap back into following Daisy’s beliefs. But when Daisy finds out that Rose has lied about quitting dance and will not be joining her at the Science Academy for high school, but instead she’ll be going to the Performing Arts high school for dance, that’s when their friendship is done and over. There are no second chances for lying, and Daisy is not going to let Rose forget this. Any chance she gets to snub Rose she will take.

Needless to say, Rose feels low. She feels she has no friends, nor does she have the capability to make them. She’s alone, save for her brother, who is head-over-heels for the weird and beautiful girl next door whom they walk by each day on their way to school. She never goes anywhere besides her front porch. The same porch that is constantly seeing the feet of CIA and KGB agents walk by it.

That is, until one night she raps on Rose’s window and invites herself in. Although put off by this boldness, Rose invites her in and then invites her for ice cream. And when ice cream isn’t enough, Rose chooses to be bold and attend a party many of her classmates were attending (and had actually invited her to) at the Metropolitan Museum with Yrena. But once Yrena attends, she states that she does not want to go home, and when Rose finds out it’s because she’ll have to be going back to Russia, well, the night will go on and on and on.

Rose Sees Red moved quickly for me. I was immediately sucked in, and I quickly found myself sympathizing with Rose. She reminded me of so many teenagers who feel the need to fit in with their friends, sacrificing their own passions in order to fit in. I was rooting for her wholeheartedly, though, when she mentioned she didn’t actually stop dancing but instead, she did it in secret. Her audition for the Performing Arts school struck me, as I feel Castellucci hit on emotions in those scenes that will affect many readers — we’ve all been there when we just can’t muster up our best when we have the ability to, but the moment the spotlight’s off, we can be spot on. Fortunately, it works out for Rose.

Yrena intrigued me from the beginning, and despite really liking this title, I didn’t feel I got enough of her. I wanted to see her kiss Rose’s brother (whom she mentions throws wild parties in Rose’s basement regularly — and Rose informs her is actually him and his friends playing Dungeons & Dragons). I wanted to see her do more and I wanted to know more about her dancing; she, unlike Rose, wants to quit dancing, but she is not allowed to do so. I wanted more of Yrena’s family, since they were interesting off-page characters.

But you know, it made me like Rose. It made me realize I couldn’t know them well. I only had the one night, as well, and all I knew was that the war outside America was just as much a war inside her borders: Americans and Russians had tense relationships, to the point of regular investigations from both the CIA and KGB right in New York City. I didn’t know this happened right in this country, and the fact Castellucci was able to make me intrigued about this period in American history should say something about the story she’s developed (did anyone else go through American history classes in high school and college only ever making it to the World War II? Clearly nothing’s happened since, right?). Adding to that sentiment, I think it’s great she tackles a time period that hasn’t been written about much, and I think that the emotions she gives Rose and Yrena, as well as the rest of the high schoolers in the book, play into similar feelings we have now as war rages on in the Middle East.

This is a short book at about 195 pages, and it is a relatively quick read. It’s one powerful night, and as we all know, those fly by. We want more. We yearn to capture as much experience as we can. But we can’t. And I think anything else in Rose Sees Red would be too much.

Now onto a couple issues: first, it is not mentioned until far too into the book that it takes place in 1982 New York City. Young readers will not pick up on this time period, as it comes off as fairly contemporary. The CIA, KGB, and references to Russians living next door will likely go over their heads in terms of plotting a setting, since the courses they take in school often do not get this far in American history. I wish Castellucci had been a little more upfront about it. This isn’t a familiar setting for most readers.

Likewise, I’ll let Abby’s review do the talking of the other minor issue I had, which was that this felt at times like an after school special. But, selling this book correctly will give it appeal to the right audiences. This is a title I’d talk to high schoolers without a doubt, but rather than selling it in terms of history or in terms of the “one-last-night,” I’d sell it as a story of friendship. Rose feels lonely and has lost her best friend, but she comes to discover through her adventures that she is a completely likable person and that the people she goes to school with are dying to get to know who she is. She is talented and passionate, but it took some self-investigation and the following of her own dream of dancing to realize this. I think *that* is the message that will resonate with readers. The rest is gravy.

Rose Sees Red will be available in August. This is one I plan on hand selling and book talking to readers, as well as putting onto handouts (we have one for books with particular girl appeal that includes a spot on friendship). I think it’s going to find a nice readership, and I believe the completely appealing cover art will help it fall into hands, as well. Castellucci’s name recognition, of course, will help as well.

*Review copy received from the publisher.