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Cinderella 2000: Looking Back . . .
A hilarious account of preparing for New Year's Eve for the millennium with romance, drama, shopping, two devilish stepsisters, and a happily-ever-after ending.
Ashley Ella Toral wants to spend the last hours of 1999 and the first hours of the year 2000 at the Green Hill Country Club with her (hopefully) soon-to-be boyfriend. And what's standing in the way of Ashley's romantic success? A stepmother who yells "Yoo-hoo!" to all Ashley's friends, and twin stepsisters who think there's nothing more fun than listening in on Ashley's phone conversations. At first, Ashley's stepmother, Phyllis, says that she needs a night out and so Ashley must baby-sit the twins. But then Phyllis has the bright idea of calling the mother of one of the party-throwers to get the twins invited, too! So worse than having to baby-sit, she'll have the twins at the party with her. Now Ashley isn't sure it's worth showing up to the country club at all -- never mind what she's going to wear. As the seconds tick down to the year 2000, will some fairy godmother appear to save the night so that Ashley can dance with her Prince Charming and welcome the new millennium?
Ashley Ella Toral wants to spend the last hours of 1999 and the first hours of the year 2000 at the Green Hill Country Club with her (hopefully) soon-to-be boyfriend. And what's standing in the way of Ashley's romantic success? A stepmother who yells "Yoo-hoo!" to all Ashley's friends, and twin stepsisters who think there's nothing more fun than listening in on Ashley's phone conversations. At first, Ashley's stepmother, Phyllis, says that she needs a night out and so Ashley must baby-sit the twins. But then Phyllis has the bright idea of calling the mother of one of the party-throwers to get the twins invited, too! So worse than having to baby-sit, she'll have the twins at the party with her. Now Ashley isn't sure it's worth showing up to the country club at all -- never mind what she's going to wear. As the seconds tick down to the year 2000, will some fairy godmother appear to save the night so that Ashley can dance with her Prince Charming and welcome the new millennium?
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 7, 1999
2 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Mavis Jukes
33 books7 followersMavis Jukes (born May 3, 1947 in Nyack, New York), is an American author of novels for children. She has also published nonfiction books for children and pre-teens about puberty. Her books are usually health-based.
Before becoming an author, Jukes was a lawyer and a teacher. Her first book, No One is Going to Nashville, was published in 1983. She lives with her husband, the sculptor and painter Robert H. Hudson, and their daughters in Sonoma County, California. She is the daughter of Thomas Hughes Jukes, a famous molecular biologist and nutritionist, who pioneered the use of methotrexate as a new cancer therapy and was one of the first to formulate the neutral theory of molecular evolution.
She received the Newbery Honor distinction in 1985 for her book Like Jake and Me.
Before becoming an author, Jukes was a lawyer and a teacher. Her first book, No One is Going to Nashville, was published in 1983. She lives with her husband, the sculptor and painter Robert H. Hudson, and their daughters in Sonoma County, California. She is the daughter of Thomas Hughes Jukes, a famous molecular biologist and nutritionist, who pioneered the use of methotrexate as a new cancer therapy and was one of the first to formulate the neutral theory of molecular evolution.
She received the Newbery Honor distinction in 1985 for her book Like Jake and Me.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 21, 2020
Had to reread this because I remember liking it when I was younger. I think I mostly liked the details like the dragonfly clips and body glitter because the narrator was such a brat. Hated the main character! Whiny teen who was way too concerned about what everyone thinks and material goods. Points for random details that clicked in my 12-year-old brain that made me still remember this book at 31 enough to try to find it again and see if I still liked it, but I'm glad YA has better heroines than Ashley.
May 31, 2025
interesting.
March 3, 2017
The book “Cinderella 2000” is by Mavis Jukes, who also wrote “Blueberries In The Dark,” won a Newbery Honor Book citation for another one of her books, titled, “Like Jake and Me,” and has many more that she has written. This work is a mix of realistic fiction and some romance in the end. The title is appropriate for this book because it is not only like the Cinderella fairy tale, but it also takes place on the eve of the year 2000. The book is divided into eleven chapters and the author foreshadows a little bit, but because most of us have heard the Cinderella story before, it may seem like she is only setting the scene in the introduction. The cover of the book matches the story and also foreshadows as well because she receives dragonfly jewelry, and rides to the party in a limo.
The main character is Ashley. She is the person who pulls the whole story together. She is trying to go to a party on New Year's Eve, but she has two snobby step-sisters, and one overbearing step-mother that really get on her nerves, and even make me want to get mad at them. In some ways, I feel her pain and frustration when it comes to her step-sisters. For example, she says, “I’m sick of you two!” (Jukes 100). I get frustrated with my siblings sometimes as well, but we always work out our problems, just like the author describes everything working out for Ashley in the end of the book. The theme that stands out to me the most is that no matter what happens, never give up on what you want to do because there is always the possibility that something might happen and take you by surprise. You should always be open for new opportunities. This theme helps the story come together at the end when Ashley has an unexpected opportunity to go to the party. Ashley says, “I’ll be there in just one minute” (Jukes 184). Ashley says this because she is going to get to go to the party after all.
Mavis Jukes sets up the argument throughout the entirety of the book. The argument is shown whenever Ashley tries to convince her stepmother, Phyllis, and find a way to go to this party. For example, Ashley says “I want to go to the party, Phyllis!” (Jukes 11). One quote in the book that really stands out to me is when Jukes writes “Don’t look back, Ashley told herself. Only look forward” (Jukes 192). This quote is very powerful in a sense that what is in the past is in the past, and we are not going to be able to go back in time and change everything no matter how much we want to. We have to move on and think about times in the here and now. This quote demonstrates the author’s talent because is it a very important life skill that is best when grasped at a younger age. This was a great book, and I hope that you will read it as well.
The main character is Ashley. She is the person who pulls the whole story together. She is trying to go to a party on New Year's Eve, but she has two snobby step-sisters, and one overbearing step-mother that really get on her nerves, and even make me want to get mad at them. In some ways, I feel her pain and frustration when it comes to her step-sisters. For example, she says, “I’m sick of you two!” (Jukes 100). I get frustrated with my siblings sometimes as well, but we always work out our problems, just like the author describes everything working out for Ashley in the end of the book. The theme that stands out to me the most is that no matter what happens, never give up on what you want to do because there is always the possibility that something might happen and take you by surprise. You should always be open for new opportunities. This theme helps the story come together at the end when Ashley has an unexpected opportunity to go to the party. Ashley says, “I’ll be there in just one minute” (Jukes 184). Ashley says this because she is going to get to go to the party after all.
Mavis Jukes sets up the argument throughout the entirety of the book. The argument is shown whenever Ashley tries to convince her stepmother, Phyllis, and find a way to go to this party. For example, Ashley says “I want to go to the party, Phyllis!” (Jukes 11). One quote in the book that really stands out to me is when Jukes writes “Don’t look back, Ashley told herself. Only look forward” (Jukes 192). This quote is very powerful in a sense that what is in the past is in the past, and we are not going to be able to go back in time and change everything no matter how much we want to. We have to move on and think about times in the here and now. This quote demonstrates the author’s talent because is it a very important life skill that is best when grasped at a younger age. This was a great book, and I hope that you will read it as well.
February 6, 2010
This chapter book version of Cinderella is modern and set in the present day. Ashley, the main character, really wants to spend New Year’s Eve at an exclusive party with her crush. However, her stepmother has other plans for her and wants her to baby-sit her evil twin siblings. Ashley’s godmother who is flying in from Florida, brings lots of cash and gifts, making all of her dreams come true.
This version of Cinderella is definitely told with a modern twist. The storyline is very predictable and holds the same theme of love as in the original Cinderella story. However, the characters have dimension and being a lot to the story. For example, the stepmother is very funny with her off the wall fashion sense and parenting skills, but at the same time a soft and good-hearted side is shown. Ashley can be characterized as the “typical teenager” as many teenage readers will be able to relate to her enduring, yet self-centered personality. This story ends with a happily ever after, but is a light and funny modern day version of Cinderella. This particular story is perfect for adolescent girls who still enjoy princess stories with happy endings and it very similar to the popular movie A Cinderella Story.
This version of Cinderella is definitely told with a modern twist. The storyline is very predictable and holds the same theme of love as in the original Cinderella story. However, the characters have dimension and being a lot to the story. For example, the stepmother is very funny with her off the wall fashion sense and parenting skills, but at the same time a soft and good-hearted side is shown. Ashley can be characterized as the “typical teenager” as many teenage readers will be able to relate to her enduring, yet self-centered personality. This story ends with a happily ever after, but is a light and funny modern day version of Cinderella. This particular story is perfect for adolescent girls who still enjoy princess stories with happy endings and it very similar to the popular movie A Cinderella Story.
October 15, 2011
I give this a 3.5.
It was a really cute little story. I did have a little bit of a problem with Phyllis; the stepmother. She was really annonying. And the twins (step sisters) were little stinkers. But I loved the Grandmother/fairy godmother! She was great. I wish there had been more of the ending; telling about what happened at the party! The whole book leads up to this moment, and is about Ashley/Cinderella trying to get to the New Year's Eve pary of the new millenium, and then we don't even get to see what goes on at the party!!! Really annoying...
It was a really cute little story. I did have a little bit of a problem with Phyllis; the stepmother. She was really annonying. And the twins (step sisters) were little stinkers. But I loved the Grandmother/fairy godmother! She was great. I wish there had been more of the ending; telling about what happened at the party! The whole book leads up to this moment, and is about Ashley/Cinderella trying to get to the New Year's Eve pary of the new millenium, and then we don't even get to see what goes on at the party!!! Really annoying...
April 9, 2015
This was a cute book, but I wasn't wowed. The stepsisters were over the top annoying and I could not decide whether Phyllis was really all that bad. I loved Grammie's character; she added some poignant moments. Overall this book was just okay for me. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't fantastic either.
September 12, 2011
This book to me was awesome. I enjoyed reading it. it was a fast read book so i got thru it quick. it has interesting details so it kept me reading. i dont know any more books from this author but i will sure like to find out :)
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July 20, 2014Based on Cinderella.
November 15, 2011
Very cute story. I loved it so much, Except the ending left me on a cliff hanger! >:( It kinda made me mad...
January 25, 2013
Fun, lighthearted fluff generally suitable for younger readers.
December 6, 2013
Another retold Cinderella story that I like. It is very humorous and realistic.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews