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Cinderella Cleaners #6
Swan Fake: Cinderella Cleaners #6
Book by Maya Gold
176 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
8 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Maya Gold
22 books72 followersMaya Gold grew up in New Jersey, a few towns north of Diana’s home in Weehawken. Now she lives in upstate New York with her fashion–forward teenage daughter and a very friendly dog. Maya writes books and magazine articles, and in her spare time, she coaches a high school drama club. Cinderella Cleaners is her first series for young readers.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 12, 2021
In the final installment of the Cinderella Cleaners series, Swan Fake explores the story of Diana’s last few days leading up to the school’s wintertime production of The Snow Queen. Unfortunately, Diana’s loyalties are tested when her friend Amelia needs to be bailed out of her ballet performance of the Nutcracker so that she can go to soccer tryouts. Feeling pressured to help her friend out, Diana agrees to secretly masquerade as Amelia, perform her dance, and make it back to the school in time for her performance in The Snow Queen, that is, if she doesn’t get caught.
This was definitely the best book in the series, with the only competition being Scheme Spirit, which I think is a good thing, as it means that Maya Gold’s writing and storytelling are clearly improving. And that also means that the series really did go out with a bang. It was relatively easy to read; the pacing was consistent and the tension really ramped up as the story progressed, getting increasingly more anxious as the book went on. And I didn’t find the build up to be nearly as boring as in the previous books.
The one thing that really frustrated me was that Amelia really was being too pushy about things. Yes, I’m glad that Diana didn’t get in trouble, seeing as she was just trying to help her friend, but Amelia definitely didn’t deserve to get off scot-free with how she basically manipulated Diana into lying to her family and friends and potentially loosing her job at the cleaners and missing her incredibly important production, all because she didn’t understand why Diana felt that a play was more important to her than sports. It was so frustrating to read and I really wish Diana would’ve stood up for herself.
Honestly, though, I really did like most of the story, especially the romance between Diana and Will, which has seen some very realistic development. I also liked the way that they framed the relationship between the twins and Diana, with how Diana became much more appreciative of having siblings. Considering I’ve never really thought ill of the girls to begin with, I am happy to see the three of them getting along better. I do wish they’d done something similar, yet more substantial with Fay, but I’m happy with what I got.
Overall, I thought that this was a well written story, with some really sweet character interactions and some tense moments. And while I really didn’t like Amelia (and frankly am a bit frustrated, with this being the book that focuses more on her, that she and Diana barely interacted) and wish that her flaws would’ve been addressed, I still thought that the story was good.
This was definitely the best book in the series, with the only competition being Scheme Spirit, which I think is a good thing, as it means that Maya Gold’s writing and storytelling are clearly improving. And that also means that the series really did go out with a bang. It was relatively easy to read; the pacing was consistent and the tension really ramped up as the story progressed, getting increasingly more anxious as the book went on. And I didn’t find the build up to be nearly as boring as in the previous books.
The one thing that really frustrated me was that Amelia really was being too pushy about things. Yes, I’m glad that Diana didn’t get in trouble, seeing as she was just trying to help her friend, but Amelia definitely didn’t deserve to get off scot-free with how she basically manipulated Diana into lying to her family and friends and potentially loosing her job at the cleaners and missing her incredibly important production, all because she didn’t understand why Diana felt that a play was more important to her than sports. It was so frustrating to read and I really wish Diana would’ve stood up for herself.
Honestly, though, I really did like most of the story, especially the romance between Diana and Will, which has seen some very realistic development. I also liked the way that they framed the relationship between the twins and Diana, with how Diana became much more appreciative of having siblings. Considering I’ve never really thought ill of the girls to begin with, I am happy to see the three of them getting along better. I do wish they’d done something similar, yet more substantial with Fay, but I’m happy with what I got.
Overall, I thought that this was a well written story, with some really sweet character interactions and some tense moments. And while I really didn’t like Amelia (and frankly am a bit frustrated, with this being the book that focuses more on her, that she and Diana barely interacted) and wish that her flaws would’ve been addressed, I still thought that the story was good.
June 17, 2024
This book is a must read for all young girls. I could feel for the young girl with her first crush and heartbreak. I think we have all been there. At other places in the book I laughed out loud.
May 16, 2011
As posted on Outside of a Dog:
My love for fairy tales strikes again. There are reasons these stories exist in our minds the way they do, their themes and structures lingering and leaving their mark on so many things we create. The “Cinderella” story has been done over so many times, in so many different ways, from so many different angles (I particularly enjoyed Lily Archer’s YA title, The Poison Apples, which focused on the wicked step-mother aspect). Maya Gold’s Cinderella Cleaners series is another modern take on the tale, in which Diana Donato works after school at her father’s dry cleaning business, at the insistence of her step-mother, Fay. The sixth installment, Swan Fake, finds Diana agreeing to do a friend an enormous favor: taking her place in the ballet “The Nutcracker” for her opening dance. Diana hasn’t taken ballet lessons in years, and has her own show to worry about, with her solo in her school’s production of “The Snow Queen” Of course, it wouldn’t be a fairy tale if the heroine didn’t manage to help her friend in need and have her own moment in the spotlight, now would it?
The thing I like most about this series is its rebellious spirit. Diana isn’t a perfect girl; not as a student, an actress, an employee or even a daughter. She’s a good girl, but has in her a spark of disobedience that is required for most great adventures, and while her forays into the unfamiliar while wearing borrowed clothing don’t always lead her to extreme heights, it’s enough for a thirteen year old on a school night. Cinderella Cleaners comes packed with a ‘be your own fairy godmother’ mentality that is a good thing to instill in a girl’s mind, even if it means being a little naughty, just a little bit of the time.
My love for fairy tales strikes again. There are reasons these stories exist in our minds the way they do, their themes and structures lingering and leaving their mark on so many things we create. The “Cinderella” story has been done over so many times, in so many different ways, from so many different angles (I particularly enjoyed Lily Archer’s YA title, The Poison Apples, which focused on the wicked step-mother aspect). Maya Gold’s Cinderella Cleaners series is another modern take on the tale, in which Diana Donato works after school at her father’s dry cleaning business, at the insistence of her step-mother, Fay. The sixth installment, Swan Fake, finds Diana agreeing to do a friend an enormous favor: taking her place in the ballet “The Nutcracker” for her opening dance. Diana hasn’t taken ballet lessons in years, and has her own show to worry about, with her solo in her school’s production of “The Snow Queen” Of course, it wouldn’t be a fairy tale if the heroine didn’t manage to help her friend in need and have her own moment in the spotlight, now would it?
The thing I like most about this series is its rebellious spirit. Diana isn’t a perfect girl; not as a student, an actress, an employee or even a daughter. She’s a good girl, but has in her a spark of disobedience that is required for most great adventures, and while her forays into the unfamiliar while wearing borrowed clothing don’t always lead her to extreme heights, it’s enough for a thirteen year old on a school night. Cinderella Cleaners comes packed with a ‘be your own fairy godmother’ mentality that is a good thing to instill in a girl’s mind, even if it means being a little naughty, just a little bit of the time.
March 21, 2017
Diana loves acting, so she's really excited to get a part in her school's play, The Snow Queen. Diana has a solo, so she's nervous because she thinks she cannot hit the high note at the end of her part. Diana is stressed enough, and then her friend Amelia is in another play, the same day as Amelia's soccer camp tryout. Amelia convinces Diana to pretend to be Amelia in her play, so Amelia can get into soccer camp. Diana is a terrible dancer, and the play is on the same night as the Snow Queen. Will Diana be discovered?
October 17, 2014
This book is a great way to end the series. It is just as great and secretive as the rest of the books. This book really does go into the struggles of the teenage life. It also has the once in a lifetime experiences teens experience. Most teens can relate to these books because it shows them that others go through these things too its just not them. I would recommend this book to the teenage age group. Overall this book is a great book to relate too and read.
July 6, 2013
I LOVED this book. I read it in one day and I think that it was awesome. Diana has so many commitments it's not even funny. She's busy 24/7 from school, to promises to Cinderella Cleaners. I loved this book and how it all fit together. I still don't like Fay, but I like her a little more. I kind of feel bad for Lara. KIND OF. I rate this book 5 stars. *****. -Signing off, Emma XoXo
December 27, 2011
I loved this book because Dianna showed true friendship to her friend's and worked hard for what she earned, she did all of this with living with a nicce dad a okay mom and two mean step sister twins.
January 14, 2012
This series just ends! No finale, no special ending. If you want to know what happens to Diana you will be waiting a while. Like forever!
March 6, 2011
I love this series! Even though the plot in the books is mostly the same, it still makes for a really great book.
July 5, 2012
Fun read in a cool series. This is book #6.
February 4, 2013
WHY MUST IT END!!!!!! I'm so conflicted. YES, tis true. THIS IS DEFINITELY CHEEZY AND, the cliché is right, THIS IS a good thing!
March 28, 2013
I loved this book <3
July 10, 2013
I want more of Cinderella cleners
February 15, 2014
That was the last book! I love reading this series just for fun.
February 7, 2015
This book is really good. I mean the The Mother Daughter Book Club series are similar to these series.They both are so interesting and great.
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August 25, 2015This book was apart of one of my favorite series.
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July 22, 2022✔😜👍
October 16, 2014
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May 17, 2017I think this was a fun book to read. It was so exciting. It was exciting because you never know if she'll get caught. I think it's cool that people don't get caught because they have brown hair. My favorite part was when she's backstage and no one notices she's not the real ballerina. Overall I'd rate this book 4/5 stars because it was a fun and interesting book to read.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews