Scarlett [Hardcover]

Cathy Cassidy (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Scarlett's in trouble at school. Again. With black fingernails and dyed ketchup-red hair, she's not your average twelve-year-old Londoner. So her mum—sick of trying to get her into another school—ships Scarlett to her father's cottage in Ireland. Having to learn Gaelic in a one-room schoolhouse and enduring a new stepmum and younger stepsister is just too much. Scarlett wants to leave—until she meets Kian. He seems too good to be true with his dark, rugged looks, kind nature, and horse named Midnight. As Kian helps Scarlett let go of her anger, she begins to accept her family, her friendships, and most of all, her dreams. A captivating new novel from a writer reviewers have called "a British import with a refreshingly light touch." —School Library Journal on Indigo Blue.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7–Since her parents' divorce two years ago, Scarlett Flynn has been kicked out of five schools. After she ignites a food demonstration in the cafeteria, her mother has had enough. With her pierced tongue, black fingernails, and dyed tomato-soup-red hair, the 12-year-old is unwillingly sent from London to live with her father and his new family in Ireland. Aghast at her new school and new home in rural Connemara, Scarlett is angry. Her outlet is the lough where she meets mysterious gypsy boy Kian and his horse, Midnight. He allows her to express herself and provides the escape and friendship she needs. Her nine-year-old stepsister also sneaks her way into Scarlett's heart, helping her to adjust. As she grows more penitent about her behavior, she makes the effort to change and becomes an important player in the family. Infused with a bit of fairy-tale magic, this is a fast-paced yet thoughtful story. The heroine is feisty and troublesome, yet quirky and lovable. Her feelings are justified, and readers will sympathize with her. The character develops tremendously as her anger ebbs and flows, transforming into sincere love and acceptance. Cassidy has written a poignant and strong story about love, forgiveness, and resilience.–Jennifer Cogan, Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown, PA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

After 12-year-old Scarlett gets into trouble at school again, her fed-up mother sends her off to Ireland to live with Scarlett's father, his new wife, and his nine-year-old stepdaughter. Scarlett is sure it will be horrible there, and at first it is, as she stubbornly rebuffs their attempts to welcome her. Then a mysterious boy helps Scarlett see herself in a new light, and when a crisis arises, she responds with courage and caring. Cassidy perfectly captures Scarlett's tough exterior, which hides years of hurt and neglect, and she creates a character who will easily captivate her audience. The idyllic Irish countryside adds to the story's appeal Karen Hutt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile; 1 edition (October 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670060682
• ISBN-13: 978-0670060689
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cassidy at her Best, February 15, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Scarlett (Hardcover)

Scarlett is not your typical preteen. With her hair dyed a vibrant red, her school uniform altered to fit her personality and annoy the teachers, and her tongue even peirced, Scarlett is out in search of trouble. Her mother is a proper Londoner who, after Scarlett's many encounters with the school principal, sends her away to Ireland to live with her father, his wife Clare, and Clare's daughter Holly. Scarlett refuses to even try to enjoy herself away from the bustling of the city and the catty schoolchildren of London. But things have a turnaround when Scarlett meets Kian and Midnight, and learns of the mystique of mint and an Irish forest.

Although some scenes are somewhat repetitive, "Scarlett" is very true, but also with its magic. Unlike some other books for young readers, Cassidy does not fall to her knees and beg her readers to like Scarlett and does not force Scarlett too hard to be unique. Cassidy does not throw a pity party for Scarlett, nor does she neglect the fact Scarlett is different. My fondness of young, reckless, rebellious Scarlett happened naturally, just as my sympathy towards her family life.

"Scarlett" is an amazing read. Cathy Cassidy is also the author of "Dizzy", "Indigo Blue", "Driftwood" (not released in U.S.), and soon-to-be "Sundae Girl." Give Scarlett a shot. She'll win your heart!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can dreams come true? Great book! By Holly Smith, July 12, 2008

By 

J. Smith (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scarlett (Hardcover)

Scarlett is a girl with a very short temper. And after her parents split up her dad goes off with Clare and move to Ireland with daughter, Holly, Scarlett's dreams are ruined, and she gets through five schools in two years and gets he tongue pierced, and dies her hair ketchup red. Her mother starts to worry, and by the end of the day, she decides Scarlett has to go and live with her Dad, in Ireland. This - Scarlett thinks - was a big mistake. When she arrives in Ireland and sees her dad in the ancient car she decides this is going to be the worst time of her life. When little Holly starts sticking up to her, and tries to be her friend, Scarlett is just plain mean.

When she gets to the little cottage that Her Dad lives at and sees Clare for the first time she realizes Clare is pregnant. She knows she is going to hate it. When she starts school, she finds she is no longer in Secondary school, but back in Primary. With only two other children her age. She bunks of school hoping to find the airport and get home. Even though she is wearing bunky sandals which hurt her feet, she doesn't even know how far the airport is. Let alone how to get there. As she is walking she meets a boy on a horse called Kian, they become best friends and Scarlett becomes a different person, and her Irish family decide that she is going to be home schooled. When one day her stepsister, Holly wants her nose pierced, Scarlett tries to warn her it hurts but Holly insists. She pirces and Holly moved and Scarlett acciedenly pierces her lip. Nobody can trust her anymore can they? When Dad and Holly go out for the day to sell soap, Scarlett is left with Clare. While Clare is sewing a blanket for the baby Scarlett wants some of her clothes to be involved in the blanket, and Clare shows her some clothes from when she was very little that her Dad had kept. In the loft, as they are leaving the loft with three pretty little dresses, Clare slips and falls down the stairs, when Clare starts to have the baby, what is Scarlett going to do?

A edge of your seat story, brilliant, one of my favourites. A must read.

Thankyou.

More girlz book reviews on my website: [...]

5.0 out of 5 stars unforgetable book, October 28, 2011

By 

LZ - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scarlett (Hardcover)

I happened to be at my library for a speaical event. I had like one minute to check out a book so I raced to the rebecca C. books and randomly grabbed it and checked it out. The cover wasn't so convincing but I read it anyway. This book was one of my most favorite books. It is truly an unforgetable novel. It even had me crying on a few parts. just read it! You'll be surprised...