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Grimmtastic Girls #1
Cinderella Stays Late
The authors of the hit Goddess Girls series put a fun and girly twist on another super-popular theme: fairy tales!
Once upon a time, in faraway Grimmlandia...
A Grimmtastic girl named Cinderella is starting her first week at Grimm Academy on the wrong foot. Cinda's totally evil stepsisters are out to make her life miserable. The Steps tease Cinda, give her terrible advice about life at the academy, and even make her look bad in front of her new friends, Red, Snow, and Rapunzel! But when Cinda overhears the Steps plotting a villainous deed that could ruin Prince Awesome's ball, Cinda, her new friends, and a pair of magical glass slippers have to stop them--before the last stroke of midnight!
Once upon a time, in faraway Grimmlandia...
A Grimmtastic girl named Cinderella is starting her first week at Grimm Academy on the wrong foot. Cinda's totally evil stepsisters are out to make her life miserable. The Steps tease Cinda, give her terrible advice about life at the academy, and even make her look bad in front of her new friends, Red, Snow, and Rapunzel! But when Cinda overhears the Steps plotting a villainous deed that could ruin Prince Awesome's ball, Cinda, her new friends, and a pair of magical glass slippers have to stop them--before the last stroke of midnight!
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2014
85 people are currently reading
2685 people want to read
About the author
Joan Holub
347 books1,236 followersNY Times bestselling children's book author:
GODDESS GIRLS series + HEROES IN TRAINING series (w Suzanne Williams); THIS LITTLE TRAILBLAZER a Girl Power Primer; ZERO THE HERO; I AM THE SHARK. Lucky to be doing what I love!
GODDESS GIRLS series + HEROES IN TRAINING series (w Suzanne Williams); THIS LITTLE TRAILBLAZER a Girl Power Primer; ZERO THE HERO; I AM THE SHARK. Lucky to be doing what I love!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
April 3, 2014
My daughter (10) and I (Mom) reviewed this book for Mother Daughter Book Reviews. My daughter gives it 5 stars and I give it 4 stars. Here are our thoughts:
DAUGHTER SAYS:
I liked how this story connected with the original Cinderella story and I’d like to have a library like the one in the story. I liked how there was a mystery about the E.V.I.L. Society because it makes me wonder who is a good guy and who is a bad guy. I didn’t like how they called Cinderella, Cinda for short and the “Steps” for the Stepsisters because it was kind of annoying and I like it when people use the real names. It only says her real name once and it doesn’t mention that they give each other nicknames. My favorite character was Prince Awesome because he had an awesome name. I learned that if you stay at a ball too late, your slippers will go bye-bye! Overall, I thought the book was grimmtastic!! I think girls who are 8 to 14 would like this book.
MOM SAYS:
I am a big fan of the writing team of Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams who have co-authored the Goddess Girls book series for tween girls and the Heroes in Training book series targeting tween boys. What is so great about these two series is that the stories really are written for tweens to be enjoyed. Even though the characters are tween-aged Gods and Goddesses (as are the mortals who have the good fortune or misfortune to cross paths with them), tweens will relate to the personalities, language used, themes covered, and tween-angst issues covered in the books.
The Grimmtastic Girls is an extension of these two other series in that they have the same “feel”, but the characters are all from well-known fairy tales such as Snow White, Cinderella, and so on that are based on the stories by the Grimm Brothers as well as other fairy tale characters such as Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, and Peter Pumpkin Eater for example. It’s a bit of a who’s who of fairy tale characters and I absolutely loved the mish-mash of characters included. (Not surprising considering I’m a big fan of the TV series Once Upon a Time which does a similar thing.) As far as fractured fairy tales go, this series is a winner!
While the Goddess Girls books are set in Mount Olympus Academy, the Grimmtastic Girls books are set in Grimm Academy, founded by the Grimm Brothers themselves. I think it makes complete sense to have these stories take place in a school setting as this is where most of the drama occurs with tweens. In Cinderella Stays Late, Cinderella (nicknamed Cinda) joins her stepsisters (Malorette and Odette) for the first time at Grimm Academy. As with the original story, these stepsisters are not so nice to Cinda. Luckily, Cinda befriends some of the other girls at the Academy including Snow, Red, and Rapunzel and together they uncover a mystery involving the E.V.I.L. Society (Exceptional Villains in Literature). This is the storyline carried through all of the Grimmtastic Girls books as they must discover who is part of the society and what they are up to.
As with many first books in a series, the authors spend a great deal of time establishing the physical setting of Grimm Academy, introducing characters, and immersing the reader in the magical world of Grimmlandia. I thought this was very well done. That being said, I felt that there was less story in this first book compared to the second book, Red Riding Hood Gets Lost. Regardless, Cinderella Stays Late was an absolutely entertaining story exploring an alternate “ending” for the much-younger Cinda. Also, there was enough intrigue created about the E.V.I.L. Society to get a reader hooked into the series. I highly recommend this series to tween girls!
* This book was provided to us by the author free-of-charge in exchange for our honest reviews. All opinions expressed are our own. *
DAUGHTER SAYS:
I liked how this story connected with the original Cinderella story and I’d like to have a library like the one in the story. I liked how there was a mystery about the E.V.I.L. Society because it makes me wonder who is a good guy and who is a bad guy. I didn’t like how they called Cinderella, Cinda for short and the “Steps” for the Stepsisters because it was kind of annoying and I like it when people use the real names. It only says her real name once and it doesn’t mention that they give each other nicknames. My favorite character was Prince Awesome because he had an awesome name. I learned that if you stay at a ball too late, your slippers will go bye-bye! Overall, I thought the book was grimmtastic!! I think girls who are 8 to 14 would like this book.
MOM SAYS:
I am a big fan of the writing team of Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams who have co-authored the Goddess Girls book series for tween girls and the Heroes in Training book series targeting tween boys. What is so great about these two series is that the stories really are written for tweens to be enjoyed. Even though the characters are tween-aged Gods and Goddesses (as are the mortals who have the good fortune or misfortune to cross paths with them), tweens will relate to the personalities, language used, themes covered, and tween-angst issues covered in the books.
The Grimmtastic Girls is an extension of these two other series in that they have the same “feel”, but the characters are all from well-known fairy tales such as Snow White, Cinderella, and so on that are based on the stories by the Grimm Brothers as well as other fairy tale characters such as Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, and Peter Pumpkin Eater for example. It’s a bit of a who’s who of fairy tale characters and I absolutely loved the mish-mash of characters included. (Not surprising considering I’m a big fan of the TV series Once Upon a Time which does a similar thing.) As far as fractured fairy tales go, this series is a winner!
While the Goddess Girls books are set in Mount Olympus Academy, the Grimmtastic Girls books are set in Grimm Academy, founded by the Grimm Brothers themselves. I think it makes complete sense to have these stories take place in a school setting as this is where most of the drama occurs with tweens. In Cinderella Stays Late, Cinderella (nicknamed Cinda) joins her stepsisters (Malorette and Odette) for the first time at Grimm Academy. As with the original story, these stepsisters are not so nice to Cinda. Luckily, Cinda befriends some of the other girls at the Academy including Snow, Red, and Rapunzel and together they uncover a mystery involving the E.V.I.L. Society (Exceptional Villains in Literature). This is the storyline carried through all of the Grimmtastic Girls books as they must discover who is part of the society and what they are up to.
As with many first books in a series, the authors spend a great deal of time establishing the physical setting of Grimm Academy, introducing characters, and immersing the reader in the magical world of Grimmlandia. I thought this was very well done. That being said, I felt that there was less story in this first book compared to the second book, Red Riding Hood Gets Lost. Regardless, Cinderella Stays Late was an absolutely entertaining story exploring an alternate “ending” for the much-younger Cinda. Also, there was enough intrigue created about the E.V.I.L. Society to get a reader hooked into the series. I highly recommend this series to tween girls!
* This book was provided to us by the author free-of-charge in exchange for our honest reviews. All opinions expressed are our own. *
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December 8, 2016great
December 9, 2021
Okay who else remembers these from their childhood? I don’t remember anything about the plot or the characters, but I remember loving these books, so I’ll rate it 🪱 🪱 🪱 🪱 🪱/5 Worms.
August 14, 2023
I remember not really liking Awesome but I'm actually surprised of how much nostalgia I have rereading this and remembering a ton of plot points!
April 1, 2014
This is a great start to a fantastic new series! Cinda is starting out at Grimm Academy. She's super excited for her Balls class, hoping they'll get to play masketball, a game in which players wear masks and shoot balls through magical hoops. She only knows her stepsisters and soon makes some new friends, girls that are actually nice to her: Red, Snow and Rapunzel. There's also a new guy in school, Prince Awesome of the Kingdom of Awesomeness. The Steps tricked Cinda into taking the Balls class by leading her to believe it was sports rather than dancing. Prince Awesome is in that class and they want Cinda to talk them up to him. As time goes on, Cinda figures out what the Steps are really up to and it's up to Cinda and her friends to stop them.
I read this book with my 10-year-old daughter and we both enjoyed it. The story is familiar yet also has unique elements that make it interesting. Grimm Academy is a magical place with one textbook that changes by speaking the name of the book you're looking for, a library that changes location and size depending on the current need and magical charms that have magical powers only the owner can unlock. Grimmlandia is a place that any young girl will enjoy visiting!
Mel's Shelves
I read this book with my 10-year-old daughter and we both enjoyed it. The story is familiar yet also has unique elements that make it interesting. Grimm Academy is a magical place with one textbook that changes by speaking the name of the book you're looking for, a library that changes location and size depending on the current need and magical charms that have magical powers only the owner can unlock. Grimmlandia is a place that any young girl will enjoy visiting!
Mel's Shelves
February 24, 2014
Great for fans of Whatever After and Ever After High. Great story and characters. Great world building. Not cheesy - something that is a risk with re-told fairy tales. I really enjoyed this one!
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June 7, 2024Cinderella Stays Late
12-year-old Cinderella arrives at her new school. Her step-sisters mal and Odette are going on and on about a new Prince. She’s not impressed and asks what the big deal about “Prince Awesome” and they tell her that whenever there’s a new prince there’s a ball. Then she finds out they tricked her to sign up for ball games (thinking it was an athletics class) so she can talk them up to the prince. When they reach the Great Hall all eyes on are on them as they arrive. She wonders what they could be thinking of her dress with the bells on the bottom. It was one of her mom’s hand me downs. Her mom died a year ago. She use to go to a village school, but it’ss the one thing her dad insisted on when he remarried her stepmom.
After giving Cinda some advice (She should comport herself in the presence of a Prince and that she should never smile at Prince Foul Smell-because he might want to befriend her which she does out of spite) they leave her hanging (telling her she can’t sit with them at lunch). Cinda finds a table of girls and is just getting acquainted with Snow, Red, and Rupnuzel when trumpets sound. The principal (who’s a gnome) welcomes them all to Grimm Academy and announces the new students. Cinda finds herself being expected to go to the middle of the floor and curtsey.
Prince Awesome is announced and he talks about the upcoming ball from eight to twelve. Rumple says he expects them to behave but while sayin his name he starts to chock. Cinda who no one has warned starts to rush up to him but Prince Awesome stops her. She ends up calling out to him anyway and he gives her scullery duty. The two men standing beside him tell him she didn’t know and reverses the punishment but says he’ll have his eye on her. After this she finds out there’s a handbook that she didn’t know about that warms the students and teachers against saying his name. No one knows why he doesn’t like it said. The other students say they like to just make up nicknames for him. Snow, Red, and Runpunzel ask Cinda what her impression was of Awesome and she just says he’s tall. They then ask her if she’d like to go to the library with them to reserve dresses for the ball. She says yes. She’s interested in seeing the dresses but decides she’s definitely not going to the ball because she can’t dance.
In the hallway, her sisters ask if she spoke to Awesome but she tells them she didn’t get a chance and they make it look as if she pinched one of them. Thinking that her friends might think she actually did it, but since she’s really not friends with them yet and so it would be weird to try to explain she just walks ahead to class. Her next class is a history class of Grimlandia. Awesome takes the class -and shows her how to use her book properly- and so does Rapunzel-who seems standoffish and her clothes are weird- but she was nice enough at lunch. Cinda wants to stay something to Rapunzel but she’s already out the door. Cinda finds herself flustered around the Prince. He offers to walk her to next class Spells and Enchantments.
On the way to class, he shows her how to find the handbook. He starts to talk about his old classes which lead them to talking about dancing. She asks him if he’ll do a lot of dancing at the dance and he says of course. Then she tries to slide her sisters into the conversation. He doesn’t even seem to know who they are, but she says he should both ask them to dance. He says he will if he can dance with her at least once and she says no way. It’s just not her thing. The Prince seems amused by this. She tells him masked it ball is more her thing and he invites her to a game in the gym after school. She agrees to it, but after he leaves she realizes she told the other girls she’d meet them in the library. Then she hopes because of his Princely charming lessons he’ll take it in stride.
Luckily ball class (which is taught by twelve princesses) have left to attend (and dance at) a feast. So they have gym class with Coach Candlestick. On the way there, she meets Foul Smell and is relieved that he doesn’t live up to his name. He’s a little goofy but sweet. Cinda takes a white mask They’re magical and once you put them on you don’t recognize the wearer. Also, the goals run away from the players. To C indereall’s surprise the player that she’s been trying to beat is Prince Awesome. He gives her congrats on a good game and compliments her skills. She tells him he can’t play with him for the next game because she’s going to meet some girls after school. Cinda tries to talk to the class to switch her out of ball dancing but he won’t allow the change. Not unless there are certain circumstances.
She finds out when she asks some boys where the library is it moves around. IT When she finally finds the doorknob, she has to answer a riddle to access the library. The goose asks her what do u get when u throw a gazillion books into the ocean. (a TITLE wave). The libray is full of not only books but other curious items and rooms. The librian takes her to find her friends. Red introduces her as ‘Mrs. Goose”. She tells them gowns and slippers don’t have to be returned until the next day after the ball. Cinda wants to know what will happen if she’s late returning the shoes. Red picks out some red slippers with buckles. Snow some blue ones with bows.They explain how to check something out. There’s a sign out tag and all someone has to do is sign it and leave it in plae of the item.
Rapunzel joins them with shorter hair. Cinda is about to say something but then notices the look on her face and changes her mind. They tell her items they check out have to be returned by midnight with exceptions like the ball. Books have two weeks. If your late turning something back there will be dire consequences. Rapunzel checks out black, boot, slippers. They tell her if the item is late the magic will go haywire. They pick out yellow slippers for her to match her hair. Even though she doesn’t plan to go to the ball she reserves the shoes. While passing the “P” section, Cinda learns that peter’s pumpkin is on loan and that Red already knows that she didn’t picn her step sisters (when they pass “Pinches”).
They reach “G’s” and put in their request for gowns with a mirror. It designs the perfect dresses for them. Cinda thinks she’s sorry she won’t get to wear it but she’ll just have to make something up. On the way out she stops by the Grimm section which is the best in all the lands. One the way out she sees a eyeball staring at her from a suit of armor and reaks out. But she dismisses it later as the magic of the library messing with her. It’s late when they get back. Cinda notices Rapunzel doesn’t go to the dorms. Snow tells her Rapunzel sleeps in the basement because she doesn’t like heights. Red offers to go with her and will bring something back from the kitchen. Cinda and the other girls are in “Pearl Tower” and her roommate is Mermalee. As she puts up her mother’s picture (the only thing she could take-her stepmother gave the picture of her father to her daughters-) she thinks all and all a good first day. She made friends and falls asleep after she, Red, and Snow pig out on the snacks Red brought back. Then she instantly falls asleep.
The next day they get their assignments. Cinda gets “hearth keeper”. Red gets “Snack maker” Snow gets “Tidy upper”. Rapunzel doesn’t say what she got. Mermalee gets “Foundation Keepers” Cinda isn’t happy with her assignment but finds out she can’t switch. The principal makes a morning announcement that there’s been a theft in the library. Peter’s pumpkin has been taken. Cinda thinks about how she thought she saw a pumpkin in her trunker yesterday, but it’s not there today. So she decides not to say anything. The next class is spinning, weaving, and needlepoint. Cinda, Red, Snow, and Rapunzel are then called to the office. In his office, they notice gold looking experiments gone wrong. He accuses them of stealing the pumpkin. He accuses Snow so Cinda confesses. She says she saw it in her trunker the other day. This makes the principal happy because he guessed correctly. Cinda wonders if this will get hr sent home. He tells them it continues the “Seeds of Prosperity”. Now they’ll have to tighten their belts but he has a plan that involoves making gold. Cinda guesses this and he becomes furious. After they’re ushered out her friends tell her never try to guess his secrets. It puts him in a mood. Cinda wonders why a thief would want a pumpkin when there are other riches at the school and why would Rumple need to make gold. Couldn’t he just sell off some of the other stuff. But her friends tell her he’s not allowed.
In the hallway, Cinda gives her stepsisters the good news that she mentioned them to Awesome, but after they insult her, she tells them to talk to him themselves. Because of this they threaten to blackmail her and tell the principal they saw the pumpkin in her trunk. Only she already did. Then she has a thought and asks them did they do it. The stepsisters in turn (turn) it around and say they’ll tell her dad she got called to the principals’ office. So, she tells them she’ll talk to Awesome if they don’t mention it to him. They tell her just make sure he dances with them and their secret is safe with them.
Cinda discovers that cleaning the hearth isn’t so bad with a magic broom. Cinda continues to try to talk her sisters up to Awesome but he’d rather hear about her interest and where she’s from (which makes Cinda worry). On the day of the ball, there’s an announcement made that they have to get their assignments done first before they can attend the ball. Now she has an idea how she can not attend. She’ll mess up the hearth so that the broom can’t fix it. All the girls pick their gowns up from the library. Awesome asks Cinderella to save her a dance. Her stepsisters see this and accuse her of trying to get him to dance with *her* themselves. She just decides to avoid them. This is another good reason not to go to the dance. If she’s not there she won’t be a threat and Awesome can each give them there one dance.
Cinda waits until everyone is getting ready and plans to dump soup in the hearth but someone has beaten her to it and dumped soup and blueberries inside it. She realizes who could have done it-her stepsisters-. Cinda is furious and heads over to her sister’s dorm. When she reaches their room, she hears them talking about the rollout of the pumpkin. They say the EVIL society will be pleased and even more so if they can convince Awesome to be apart of it. She confronts them and finds out they were behind it. She tells them don’t think their going to get away with their vil pumpin plan. This gets their attention and she tells them what she heard. They tell her to prove it.
Red, Snow, and Rapunzel all help her clean up the mess in the hearth. Ther finish in no time with Snow’s special cleaner and working together. But then she notices her gown and slippers are torn. They find the door, solve the riddle, (What’s black and white and black and white-a zebra in the printed pages of a book0), and requests a new dress, but the mirror won’t. They meet Lawanda and it agrees to give her a beautiful gown and change her hair. No slippers. Not enough magic. In the S section all the slippers are checked out. She decides to go in her sneakers. In the G section tho she finds beautiful glass slippers. Cinda finds the mask she used in the game in her cloak and puts it on. As she enters the ball, everyone tares. Immediately she sees her sisters talking to Awesome. Odett sees her and asks what’s up with the mak. She says it’s just for fun. Mal goes to dance with the Prince. Foul Smell ask for a dance but she says no. When he’s about to walk off she reveals who she is, explains, and says she’s there on a mission. Then she lets him dance her over to her friends. The slippers make it easy. When she gets to them she asks them what they know about the EVIL society. They say nothing. Then start making up names that the letters can stand for. Awesome appears behind them and sasks Cinda to dance but she turns him down. Then she sees her sisters and decides dancing with him might be the quickest way to find out what their up too. But they’ve disappeared. The Prince tries to find out who she is but she says she doubts he knows her. Then the slippers start to go crazy and do their own thing. The slippers keep leading her to a loose stone tile. Could the pumpkin be under it? The clock strikes midnight and Cinda’s gown starts to disappear. She can flee or find out what’s under the pumpkin. She goes to the stone and there’s something cyclinder under it. It’s a tapestry. She races out as her dress vanishes. On the way to the Great Hall, she sees her sisters with what looks like a pumpkin coach in a display centerpiece. She’s able to grab it, but the shoes make her spin and the pumpkin goes flying out the window into the river below. Not wanting to get caught she races to her room, but one of her slippers falls down the steps.
The Prince goes around the next day trying the slipper he has on each girl. It doesn’t fit Mal or Odette. The slipper finds it’s match and they fit Cinda perfectly. Cinda warns the Prince that something might be “afoot” at the school. He invites her to a pick up game in the gym coming up. If she makes the team they can get out of ball. In the library Cinda finds something about E.V.I.L (Exceptional Villians In Literature). It says it was established in the Dark Ages and is a secret society. It says it’s no longer in existance, but then that’s all the info they can get. The white gown has returned itself. As well as the yellow one. She says the glass slippers weren’t in the archive and she’s earned three demertirts. The slippers tho point out the real culprits and they each get three demertis and a note home. Cinda finds out the slippers are a charm (which magical powers only she can unlock) and she gets to keep them. The tapestry turns out to be a map and with it they’re shown the pumpkin and follow it into the Neverland Forest. Then it disappear. The Steps admit they did stick it in her trunker but they didn’t know it was hers. They’re claim they don’t know about the organization but if there were one they know some who might want to join it. She notices Ma’s key is white (not iron). A skeleton key. Before she leaves she throws it in the Steps face it was her at the ball and while they’re doing their punishment she’ll be hanging out with him. Cinda receives a trunk full of dresses and peticoats from her father with a picture of him. There’s a X now on the (makestay?).
My Thoughts:
As retellings go, this was so-so. I didn’t really have any comments on the plot itself. It’s always the library in this series that stands out to me the most. I LOVE THIS LIBRARY! It reminds me so much of the one on the tv show “The Librarians”. Only I don’t think in that one you can rent dresses and shoes and custom design outfits in a mirror but then again maybe we just never saw that part on tv.
12-year-old Cinderella arrives at her new school. Her step-sisters mal and Odette are going on and on about a new Prince. She’s not impressed and asks what the big deal about “Prince Awesome” and they tell her that whenever there’s a new prince there’s a ball. Then she finds out they tricked her to sign up for ball games (thinking it was an athletics class) so she can talk them up to the prince. When they reach the Great Hall all eyes on are on them as they arrive. She wonders what they could be thinking of her dress with the bells on the bottom. It was one of her mom’s hand me downs. Her mom died a year ago. She use to go to a village school, but it’ss the one thing her dad insisted on when he remarried her stepmom.
After giving Cinda some advice (She should comport herself in the presence of a Prince and that she should never smile at Prince Foul Smell-because he might want to befriend her which she does out of spite) they leave her hanging (telling her she can’t sit with them at lunch). Cinda finds a table of girls and is just getting acquainted with Snow, Red, and Rupnuzel when trumpets sound. The principal (who’s a gnome) welcomes them all to Grimm Academy and announces the new students. Cinda finds herself being expected to go to the middle of the floor and curtsey.
Prince Awesome is announced and he talks about the upcoming ball from eight to twelve. Rumple says he expects them to behave but while sayin his name he starts to chock. Cinda who no one has warned starts to rush up to him but Prince Awesome stops her. She ends up calling out to him anyway and he gives her scullery duty. The two men standing beside him tell him she didn’t know and reverses the punishment but says he’ll have his eye on her. After this she finds out there’s a handbook that she didn’t know about that warms the students and teachers against saying his name. No one knows why he doesn’t like it said. The other students say they like to just make up nicknames for him. Snow, Red, and Runpunzel ask Cinda what her impression was of Awesome and she just says he’s tall. They then ask her if she’d like to go to the library with them to reserve dresses for the ball. She says yes. She’s interested in seeing the dresses but decides she’s definitely not going to the ball because she can’t dance.
In the hallway, her sisters ask if she spoke to Awesome but she tells them she didn’t get a chance and they make it look as if she pinched one of them. Thinking that her friends might think she actually did it, but since she’s really not friends with them yet and so it would be weird to try to explain she just walks ahead to class. Her next class is a history class of Grimlandia. Awesome takes the class -and shows her how to use her book properly- and so does Rapunzel-who seems standoffish and her clothes are weird- but she was nice enough at lunch. Cinda wants to stay something to Rapunzel but she’s already out the door. Cinda finds herself flustered around the Prince. He offers to walk her to next class Spells and Enchantments.
On the way to class, he shows her how to find the handbook. He starts to talk about his old classes which lead them to talking about dancing. She asks him if he’ll do a lot of dancing at the dance and he says of course. Then she tries to slide her sisters into the conversation. He doesn’t even seem to know who they are, but she says he should both ask them to dance. He says he will if he can dance with her at least once and she says no way. It’s just not her thing. The Prince seems amused by this. She tells him masked it ball is more her thing and he invites her to a game in the gym after school. She agrees to it, but after he leaves she realizes she told the other girls she’d meet them in the library. Then she hopes because of his Princely charming lessons he’ll take it in stride.
Luckily ball class (which is taught by twelve princesses) have left to attend (and dance at) a feast. So they have gym class with Coach Candlestick. On the way there, she meets Foul Smell and is relieved that he doesn’t live up to his name. He’s a little goofy but sweet. Cinda takes a white mask They’re magical and once you put them on you don’t recognize the wearer. Also, the goals run away from the players. To C indereall’s surprise the player that she’s been trying to beat is Prince Awesome. He gives her congrats on a good game and compliments her skills. She tells him he can’t play with him for the next game because she’s going to meet some girls after school. Cinda tries to talk to the class to switch her out of ball dancing but he won’t allow the change. Not unless there are certain circumstances.
She finds out when she asks some boys where the library is it moves around. IT When she finally finds the doorknob, she has to answer a riddle to access the library. The goose asks her what do u get when u throw a gazillion books into the ocean. (a TITLE wave). The libray is full of not only books but other curious items and rooms. The librian takes her to find her friends. Red introduces her as ‘Mrs. Goose”. She tells them gowns and slippers don’t have to be returned until the next day after the ball. Cinda wants to know what will happen if she’s late returning the shoes. Red picks out some red slippers with buckles. Snow some blue ones with bows.They explain how to check something out. There’s a sign out tag and all someone has to do is sign it and leave it in plae of the item.
Rapunzel joins them with shorter hair. Cinda is about to say something but then notices the look on her face and changes her mind. They tell her items they check out have to be returned by midnight with exceptions like the ball. Books have two weeks. If your late turning something back there will be dire consequences. Rapunzel checks out black, boot, slippers. They tell her if the item is late the magic will go haywire. They pick out yellow slippers for her to match her hair. Even though she doesn’t plan to go to the ball she reserves the shoes. While passing the “P” section, Cinda learns that peter’s pumpkin is on loan and that Red already knows that she didn’t picn her step sisters (when they pass “Pinches”).
They reach “G’s” and put in their request for gowns with a mirror. It designs the perfect dresses for them. Cinda thinks she’s sorry she won’t get to wear it but she’ll just have to make something up. On the way out she stops by the Grimm section which is the best in all the lands. One the way out she sees a eyeball staring at her from a suit of armor and reaks out. But she dismisses it later as the magic of the library messing with her. It’s late when they get back. Cinda notices Rapunzel doesn’t go to the dorms. Snow tells her Rapunzel sleeps in the basement because she doesn’t like heights. Red offers to go with her and will bring something back from the kitchen. Cinda and the other girls are in “Pearl Tower” and her roommate is Mermalee. As she puts up her mother’s picture (the only thing she could take-her stepmother gave the picture of her father to her daughters-) she thinks all and all a good first day. She made friends and falls asleep after she, Red, and Snow pig out on the snacks Red brought back. Then she instantly falls asleep.
The next day they get their assignments. Cinda gets “hearth keeper”. Red gets “Snack maker” Snow gets “Tidy upper”. Rapunzel doesn’t say what she got. Mermalee gets “Foundation Keepers” Cinda isn’t happy with her assignment but finds out she can’t switch. The principal makes a morning announcement that there’s been a theft in the library. Peter’s pumpkin has been taken. Cinda thinks about how she thought she saw a pumpkin in her trunker yesterday, but it’s not there today. So she decides not to say anything. The next class is spinning, weaving, and needlepoint. Cinda, Red, Snow, and Rapunzel are then called to the office. In his office, they notice gold looking experiments gone wrong. He accuses them of stealing the pumpkin. He accuses Snow so Cinda confesses. She says she saw it in her trunker the other day. This makes the principal happy because he guessed correctly. Cinda wonders if this will get hr sent home. He tells them it continues the “Seeds of Prosperity”. Now they’ll have to tighten their belts but he has a plan that involoves making gold. Cinda guesses this and he becomes furious. After they’re ushered out her friends tell her never try to guess his secrets. It puts him in a mood. Cinda wonders why a thief would want a pumpkin when there are other riches at the school and why would Rumple need to make gold. Couldn’t he just sell off some of the other stuff. But her friends tell her he’s not allowed.
In the hallway, Cinda gives her stepsisters the good news that she mentioned them to Awesome, but after they insult her, she tells them to talk to him themselves. Because of this they threaten to blackmail her and tell the principal they saw the pumpkin in her trunk. Only she already did. Then she has a thought and asks them did they do it. The stepsisters in turn (turn) it around and say they’ll tell her dad she got called to the principals’ office. So, she tells them she’ll talk to Awesome if they don’t mention it to him. They tell her just make sure he dances with them and their secret is safe with them.
Cinda discovers that cleaning the hearth isn’t so bad with a magic broom. Cinda continues to try to talk her sisters up to Awesome but he’d rather hear about her interest and where she’s from (which makes Cinda worry). On the day of the ball, there’s an announcement made that they have to get their assignments done first before they can attend the ball. Now she has an idea how she can not attend. She’ll mess up the hearth so that the broom can’t fix it. All the girls pick their gowns up from the library. Awesome asks Cinderella to save her a dance. Her stepsisters see this and accuse her of trying to get him to dance with *her* themselves. She just decides to avoid them. This is another good reason not to go to the dance. If she’s not there she won’t be a threat and Awesome can each give them there one dance.
Cinda waits until everyone is getting ready and plans to dump soup in the hearth but someone has beaten her to it and dumped soup and blueberries inside it. She realizes who could have done it-her stepsisters-. Cinda is furious and heads over to her sister’s dorm. When she reaches their room, she hears them talking about the rollout of the pumpkin. They say the EVIL society will be pleased and even more so if they can convince Awesome to be apart of it. She confronts them and finds out they were behind it. She tells them don’t think their going to get away with their vil pumpin plan. This gets their attention and she tells them what she heard. They tell her to prove it.
Red, Snow, and Rapunzel all help her clean up the mess in the hearth. Ther finish in no time with Snow’s special cleaner and working together. But then she notices her gown and slippers are torn. They find the door, solve the riddle, (What’s black and white and black and white-a zebra in the printed pages of a book0), and requests a new dress, but the mirror won’t. They meet Lawanda and it agrees to give her a beautiful gown and change her hair. No slippers. Not enough magic. In the S section all the slippers are checked out. She decides to go in her sneakers. In the G section tho she finds beautiful glass slippers. Cinda finds the mask she used in the game in her cloak and puts it on. As she enters the ball, everyone tares. Immediately she sees her sisters talking to Awesome. Odett sees her and asks what’s up with the mak. She says it’s just for fun. Mal goes to dance with the Prince. Foul Smell ask for a dance but she says no. When he’s about to walk off she reveals who she is, explains, and says she’s there on a mission. Then she lets him dance her over to her friends. The slippers make it easy. When she gets to them she asks them what they know about the EVIL society. They say nothing. Then start making up names that the letters can stand for. Awesome appears behind them and sasks Cinda to dance but she turns him down. Then she sees her sisters and decides dancing with him might be the quickest way to find out what their up too. But they’ve disappeared. The Prince tries to find out who she is but she says she doubts he knows her. Then the slippers start to go crazy and do their own thing. The slippers keep leading her to a loose stone tile. Could the pumpkin be under it? The clock strikes midnight and Cinda’s gown starts to disappear. She can flee or find out what’s under the pumpkin. She goes to the stone and there’s something cyclinder under it. It’s a tapestry. She races out as her dress vanishes. On the way to the Great Hall, she sees her sisters with what looks like a pumpkin coach in a display centerpiece. She’s able to grab it, but the shoes make her spin and the pumpkin goes flying out the window into the river below. Not wanting to get caught she races to her room, but one of her slippers falls down the steps.
The Prince goes around the next day trying the slipper he has on each girl. It doesn’t fit Mal or Odette. The slipper finds it’s match and they fit Cinda perfectly. Cinda warns the Prince that something might be “afoot” at the school. He invites her to a pick up game in the gym coming up. If she makes the team they can get out of ball. In the library Cinda finds something about E.V.I.L (Exceptional Villians In Literature). It says it was established in the Dark Ages and is a secret society. It says it’s no longer in existance, but then that’s all the info they can get. The white gown has returned itself. As well as the yellow one. She says the glass slippers weren’t in the archive and she’s earned three demertirts. The slippers tho point out the real culprits and they each get three demertis and a note home. Cinda finds out the slippers are a charm (which magical powers only she can unlock) and she gets to keep them. The tapestry turns out to be a map and with it they’re shown the pumpkin and follow it into the Neverland Forest. Then it disappear. The Steps admit they did stick it in her trunker but they didn’t know it was hers. They’re claim they don’t know about the organization but if there were one they know some who might want to join it. She notices Ma’s key is white (not iron). A skeleton key. Before she leaves she throws it in the Steps face it was her at the ball and while they’re doing their punishment she’ll be hanging out with him. Cinda receives a trunk full of dresses and peticoats from her father with a picture of him. There’s a X now on the (makestay?).
My Thoughts:
As retellings go, this was so-so. I didn’t really have any comments on the plot itself. It’s always the library in this series that stands out to me the most. I LOVE THIS LIBRARY! It reminds me so much of the one on the tv show “The Librarians”. Only I don’t think in that one you can rent dresses and shoes and custom design outfits in a mirror but then again maybe we just never saw that part on tv.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2024
i remember this book sparked my love for reading when i was in first grade i got it from my school book fair and i became obsessed with reading for the next few years and would read constantly before i became mentally ill im so glad im finally back to reading lowkey need to buy a new copy of this when i move out so i can keep it as a little nostalgia keepsake and re read it
July 22, 2015
*I received a copy of this book in the Goodreads first reads giveaway program*
I've been a fan of Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams for awhile now. Their Goddess Girls series is so delightful I buy it for my niece on every occasion (she loves them)! So when I saw their new foray into middle grade lit, this time with a fairy tale spin on it, I definitely wanted to read it. I can safely say that this is another fabulous world they've created, and fans of Goddess Girls are sure to love this new series.
Grimmlandia is a place where all the people from fairy tales live. Cinderella is starting her first day at Grimm Academy, and she's very nervous. Her two older stepsisters are mean and making everything hard for Cinderella. But Cinder makes three new girlfriends; Red, Snow and Rapunzel. Together they try to figure out what the Steps are plotting before it ruins Prince Awesome's ball.
The story reminded me a bit of The School for Good and Evil, but for a younger audience. There were heroes and villains, and a lot of references to the original stories by the Grimm brothers (also included were Hans Christian Anderson and Charles Perrault). I liked how Cinderella was timid, but in the end she stuck up for herself and did the right thing. The story is very easy to follow and it's length is good for that age group (4-6). I'm definitely going to buy these books for my niece and recommend them to others! If you like good stories and fairy tales, you'll love this book.
I've been a fan of Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams for awhile now. Their Goddess Girls series is so delightful I buy it for my niece on every occasion (she loves them)! So when I saw their new foray into middle grade lit, this time with a fairy tale spin on it, I definitely wanted to read it. I can safely say that this is another fabulous world they've created, and fans of Goddess Girls are sure to love this new series.
Grimmlandia is a place where all the people from fairy tales live. Cinderella is starting her first day at Grimm Academy, and she's very nervous. Her two older stepsisters are mean and making everything hard for Cinderella. But Cinder makes three new girlfriends; Red, Snow and Rapunzel. Together they try to figure out what the Steps are plotting before it ruins Prince Awesome's ball.
The story reminded me a bit of The School for Good and Evil, but for a younger audience. There were heroes and villains, and a lot of references to the original stories by the Grimm brothers (also included were Hans Christian Anderson and Charles Perrault). I liked how Cinderella was timid, but in the end she stuck up for herself and did the right thing. The story is very easy to follow and it's length is good for that age group (4-6). I'm definitely going to buy these books for my niece and recommend them to others! If you like good stories and fairy tales, you'll love this book.
April 23, 2014
I liked the Goddess Girls books and the Heroes in Training books, so I was happy to see another series from the Joan Holub/Suzanne Williams writing team. Overall enjoyable, but I have one fairly minor issue.
Cinda (or as we may already know her as Cinderella) is starting at Grimm Academy, finally! Her stepsisters (or "Steps" as she calls them) have been going for years and have given Cinda some tips, which turn out to be the opposite of what she was hoping for! But she manages to make it through the day and make new friends. Until the Steps make things a bit harder for her...
As with the other tween series by this team, we get familiar stories done in contemporary language, starting with Cinderella. We know the gist of what's going to happen...stepsisters, a ball, etc. But Cinda's not alone as she has other fairytale friends in the form of Red, Rapunzel, and Snow. We're also set up for much more to come in future installments. Also as before, there's quite a bit going on in this world and the authors spend lots of time getting us acquainted with it. Which brings me to my minor quibble. The characters seem to know they are based in fairytales and they acknowledge that the brothers Grimm and other fairytale and nursery rhyme and folktale authors and what they have done for their world. It just struck me as odd.
Anyway, if you've read the Goddess Girls series you'll know what you're getting into here, but that doesn't mean this won't be popular. On the contrary, I expect it will be! Recommended, grades 3 and up.
Cinda (or as we may already know her as Cinderella) is starting at Grimm Academy, finally! Her stepsisters (or "Steps" as she calls them) have been going for years and have given Cinda some tips, which turn out to be the opposite of what she was hoping for! But she manages to make it through the day and make new friends. Until the Steps make things a bit harder for her...
As with the other tween series by this team, we get familiar stories done in contemporary language, starting with Cinderella. We know the gist of what's going to happen...stepsisters, a ball, etc. But Cinda's not alone as she has other fairytale friends in the form of Red, Rapunzel, and Snow. We're also set up for much more to come in future installments. Also as before, there's quite a bit going on in this world and the authors spend lots of time getting us acquainted with it. Which brings me to my minor quibble. The characters seem to know they are based in fairytales and they acknowledge that the brothers Grimm and other fairytale and nursery rhyme and folktale authors and what they have done for their world. It just struck me as odd.
Anyway, if you've read the Goddess Girls series you'll know what you're getting into here, but that doesn't mean this won't be popular. On the contrary, I expect it will be! Recommended, grades 3 and up.
March 14, 2014
I adored this book - a SUPERB start to the series :) We all love the classic fairy tales, but it is awesome when you can find something that puts a spin on them and that is EXACTLY what the authors of this book did! Cinderella becomes Cinda, the Stepsisters become The Steps, and all of our faves are there including Red, Snow and Rapunzel! And of course who can forget Prince Awesome???? A totally new and magical take on the old stories and perfect for YA readers but I am 37 and enjoyed it immensely :) In the books the girls are enrolled in the Grimm School, a magical place where they learn not only about magic and fantasy but balls and etiquette. Every page is fantastical and once I started reading it I was unable to put it down, and it is perfect for a quick read as it took me 2 hours to get through it :)
I really enjoy the way the book focuses on the girls themselves rather than being the old princesses who must find a man and marry and have kids and be queen ... instead we get to see them being young and learning magic, making friends and discovering themselves. I can honestly say I have never read a series like this that was based on the fairy tales :) I loved the first book and cannot wait to read the 2nd by next week and hopefully the 3rd and 4th later this year! I will be saving these books for my daughter when she is old enough to read them :D
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
I really enjoy the way the book focuses on the girls themselves rather than being the old princesses who must find a man and marry and have kids and be queen ... instead we get to see them being young and learning magic, making friends and discovering themselves. I can honestly say I have never read a series like this that was based on the fairy tales :) I loved the first book and cannot wait to read the 2nd by next week and hopefully the 3rd and 4th later this year! I will be saving these books for my daughter when she is old enough to read them :D
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
March 12, 2014
This was a fun little book. It was short and easy to read, but had substance. The main characters are Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Red Riding Hood. Cinderella is introduced to Grimm Academy and arrives late because her mean step-sisters pulled a trick on her. They do that all the time.
Cinderella, (AKA Cinda) makes friends pretty easy with the other girls. She discovers all kinds of magical things about Grimm Academy like her school book that is blank until she tells it what subject she wants to study.
Magic and fairy tale fun abound in the book. BUT there is some scary stuff too. What is the EVIL society and does it still exist today? The reader gets just enough information to want to know more, but... he/she will have to wait to the next book for the answers. The book ends with a few questions left for a sequel.
I enjoyed the book- even as an adult. It brings fantasy and fairy tale together for a fun story line. I recommend it for fun reading to kids who like fantasy.
I received Cinderella Stays Late in exchange for an honest review. If you would like me to review a book for you, please contact me at philanthropicHR@yahoo.com Thank you and God Bless!
Cinderella, (AKA Cinda) makes friends pretty easy with the other girls. She discovers all kinds of magical things about Grimm Academy like her school book that is blank until she tells it what subject she wants to study.
Magic and fairy tale fun abound in the book. BUT there is some scary stuff too. What is the EVIL society and does it still exist today? The reader gets just enough information to want to know more, but... he/she will have to wait to the next book for the answers. The book ends with a few questions left for a sequel.
I enjoyed the book- even as an adult. It brings fantasy and fairy tale together for a fun story line. I recommend it for fun reading to kids who like fantasy.
I received Cinderella Stays Late in exchange for an honest review. If you would like me to review a book for you, please contact me at philanthropicHR@yahoo.com Thank you and God Bless!
Read
December 19, 2015
Cinderella and Red Riding Hood have 2 distinct stories to tell. Following their journey to get to the end of their stories will be an entertaining ride any young reader will not want to miss.
To read the rest of the review, and to find out more about the book, simply follow the link: http://www.aleisuremoment.com/2014/03...
June 15, 2015
Good book! If you like The School for Good and Evil, you'll enjoy this quick, lighter fare. Cinda was a sweet main character who is hesitant and unsure of herself, but slowly begins to find ways to be assertive or to share herself with new acquaintances. As the authors did with the Goddess Girls series, I am interested to see where the branch out to other characters besides the four main protagonists in Book 1. Recommend this to your early readers!
May 16, 2014
Thank you Netgalley & Scholastic for this free copy for a honest review.
This book was in desperate need of an editor, at least the copy that I received. I tried every evening to read this one to my daughter, but I had to keep stopping because sentences didn't make sense.
I may buy an actual copy later for my daughter, but I just couldn't get past all the misspellings and grammatical errors and for now this book gets 2 stars.
This book was in desperate need of an editor, at least the copy that I received. I tried every evening to read this one to my daughter, but I had to keep stopping because sentences didn't make sense.
I may buy an actual copy later for my daughter, but I just couldn't get past all the misspellings and grammatical errors and for now this book gets 2 stars.
February 13, 2014
Read as digital ARC.
As a big fan of Goddess Girls, I was thrilled when I realized Grimm Girls was going to be a thing. Cinderella Stays Late did not disappoint! It's a clever, but simple somewhat twisted retelling, with plenty of familiar characters and hints of storylines to come. I'm pumped. Also, Rapunzel fans will be happy...
As a big fan of Goddess Girls, I was thrilled when I realized Grimm Girls was going to be a thing. Cinderella Stays Late did not disappoint! It's a clever, but simple somewhat twisted retelling, with plenty of familiar characters and hints of storylines to come. I'm pumped. Also, Rapunzel fans will be happy...
March 12, 2014
Delightful spin on a well-known tale.
It's close enough to the true story, with plenty of magical spins to make it appealing to elementary readers.
The girls in my class loved "Goddess Girls" and they will be delighted to meet the "Grimmtastic Girls" - stories about Rapunzel, Red, and Snow are coming soon.
It's close enough to the true story, with plenty of magical spins to make it appealing to elementary readers.
The girls in my class loved "Goddess Girls" and they will be delighted to meet the "Grimmtastic Girls" - stories about Rapunzel, Red, and Snow are coming soon.
December 17, 2015
In my opinion, I thought it was a really good book to read. When you read the book, you feel many things. Like, sad or mysterious. There are many more words to it, but I read the book a long time ago so, I don't remember some things. Well, I hope the people who read it, enjoyed the book really much.
February 24, 2014
A cute story. Some of the word-play got to be a bit much, but it would probably be amusing for kids. No Cinderella retelling will ever live up to Ella Enchanted or Just Ella, but this was overall an enjoyable reworking of the story.
Received from NetGalley
Received from NetGalley
March 22, 2014
I really enjoyed the first book of this series. The characters are interesting, friendships are formed, there's evil afoot, and the ending leaves the reader eager to read the next book. I think this will be a popular series among girls in the intermediate grades.
August 27, 2014
Such a fun read for any tween girl!
October 20, 2021
~3 stars~
One of my favourite series as a kid! If any of you have younger siblings {7-10 maybe?} who enjoy your classic princess stories, they will likely love this series!
One of my favourite series as a kid! If any of you have younger siblings {7-10 maybe?} who enjoy your classic princess stories, they will likely love this series!
Read
October 2, 2017I just can't believe how much the awful stepsisters are now ruining Prince Awesome's ball. Oh sorry didn't recognize you, so you want to know what I am talking about well it's about a really amazing story I read, it's called Grimmtastic Girls: Cinderella Stays Late it's by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams. This story is about a girl named Cinda, as she likes to be named, who starts a new school called Grimm Academy with her stepsisters, and of course what story wouldn't have stepsisters. The stepsisters try everything they can to kick Cinda out. You might know how this feels like Cinda, if you have sibling that you don't so much get along with. Cinda hasn't really been enjoying her time at school, until she meets a marvelous group of friend named Red, Snow, and Rapunzel. Most people go through a time when it's hard to find friends, especially in a new school, I know I had some trouble making friends at my school this year. This book can be realistic if you think about it, let's see... oh yea this book can have realistic thoughts like when she wasn't fitting in, some people can relate to that. I have a have a great suspenseful part too in this story, for those of you who like suspenseful parts, it was when Cinda heard her stepsisters talking about ruining Prince Awesome's ball, and Cinda, her new friends, and a pair of magical glass slippers have to stop them! I just had to know whether or not they would make it in time before the clock stoke twelve! This book is just like Cinderella just with a twist, so it definitely know that this will have funny, and suspenseful parts, make sure you look out for those. In summary, this book is much like Cinderella so I definitely enjoyed it. Yes, I am a kid, but I am not saying that, in a way like only kids will like this.. no, I am saying every one will like this even adults, it could bring them back childhood memories, now do me a favor and read the book to find out if Cinda, her friends, and the magical pair of glass slippers will make it before the clock strikes twelve.
January 5, 2019
Once upon a time, in faraway Grimmlandia...
A Grimmtastic girl named Cinderella is starting her first week at Grimm Academy on the wrong foot. Cinda's totally evil stepsisters are out to make her life miserable. The Steps tease Cinda, give her terrible advice about life at the academy, and even make her look bad in front of her new friends, Red, Snow, and Rapunzel! But when Cinda overhears the Steps plotting a villainous deed that could ruin Prince Awesome's ball, Cinda, her new friends, and a pair of magical glass slippers have to stop them--before the last stroke of midnight!
A Grimmtastic girl named Cinderella is starting her first week at Grimm Academy on the wrong foot. Cinda's totally evil stepsisters are out to make her life miserable. The Steps tease Cinda, give her terrible advice about life at the academy, and even make her look bad in front of her new friends, Red, Snow, and Rapunzel! But when Cinda overhears the Steps plotting a villainous deed that could ruin Prince Awesome's ball, Cinda, her new friends, and a pair of magical glass slippers have to stop them--before the last stroke of midnight!
August 12, 2020
3.75 stars
Fun middle-grade story with an emphasis on female friendships. Clean content, low emphasis on romantic relationships. A little more background on Cinderella’s family relationships would have helped lay the groundwork for her troubled relationship with her stepsisters.
I would be okay with an upper elementary-aged or middle-school aged kid reading this; my daughter is currently a bit too young for the reading level, but it’s nice to have an understanding of some of the materials that will be suitable for her.
Fun middle-grade story with an emphasis on female friendships. Clean content, low emphasis on romantic relationships. A little more background on Cinderella’s family relationships would have helped lay the groundwork for her troubled relationship with her stepsisters.
I would be okay with an upper elementary-aged or middle-school aged kid reading this; my daughter is currently a bit too young for the reading level, but it’s nice to have an understanding of some of the materials that will be suitable for her.
August 13, 2022
I FORGOT THESE BOOKS EXISTED.
These books made my reading career come to life as a child. I completely forgot how much I loved them. I read them religiously, going to the library every few days to get the next one. I remember I used to try to dress up like the characters on front and play games pretending to be them with my friends. A top-notch pre-teen series I would recommend to anyone.
I'M SO GLAD I FOUND THESE AGAIN.
These books made my reading career come to life as a child. I completely forgot how much I loved them. I read them religiously, going to the library every few days to get the next one. I remember I used to try to dress up like the characters on front and play games pretending to be them with my friends. A top-notch pre-teen series I would recommend to anyone.
I'M SO GLAD I FOUND THESE AGAIN.
May 5, 2025
A fun new take on the age-old fairy tales for young readers. As the first in the series, this one centers on Cinderella, or Cinda, as she tries to navigate Grimm Academy with the Steps (her stepsisters) constantly tricking and sabotaging her. The characters are still pretty shallow as compared to the original Disney versions and some of the plot requires you to suspend your disbelief and reason, but my daughters (ages 6 and 8) really enjoyed it.
January 22, 2018
World-building is a bit hit-and-miss in this (although I confess I love Principal Rumplestiltskin's obsession with alchemy). I missed the entire build-up to the joke and legit chuckled over it. My daughter enjoyed the story, but got squirrely during the reading; pacing in some of the longer chapters was a problem for her.
August 23, 2019
I enjoyed this! I’m very partial to stories involving fairy tales, and I think this is a fun one! I really enjoyed reading this authors’ work in Goddess Girls, so this was neat to read another series by them. These would probably be good for fans of Whatever After since they have the same fairy tales premise and aren’t dark- just fun!
November 14, 2020
My first Cinderella story and first children's fantasy. I loved it especially the use of made-up words to match the Grimmlandia atmosphere. And the cover is beautiful too.
The books quotes:
"Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me."
" A girl with good compartment behaves in a polite and princessly manner, even if she isn't actually a princess."
The books quotes:
"Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me."
" A girl with good compartment behaves in a polite and princessly manner, even if she isn't actually a princess."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews