Book Review: Cinderskella

Title: Cinderskella (Scarily Ever After #1)
Author: Amie Borst & Bethanie Borst
Genre/s: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retelling
Released Date: October 26, 2013
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Synopsis:

Cindy is just a normal eleven and three-quarter year-old. At least until she wakes up one night and finds out she’s dead. Well, she isn’t technically dead—she just doesn’t have any hair . . . or a nose . . . or skin. Yep—all bones, no body.

Human by day and skeleton by night, Cindy is definitely cursed. And because her mother recently died, Cindy has no one to turn to except a father who’s now scared of her and an evil stepmother who makes her do the housecleaning with a toothbrush. To make matters worse, the Spring Fling dance is approaching, and Ethan, the cutest boy in sixth grade, doesn’t seem to know Cindy exists. Of course, Cindy doesn’t think letting Ethan find out she’s part skeleton is the best way to introduce herself.

While facing such perils as pickled pig’s feet, a wacky fortune teller, and a few quick trips to the Underworld, Cindy’s determined to break the curse—even for a single night.

My Thoughts:

Cindy used to be a normal girl with a normal life but everything changed when her mother left her something before she died. If you think it was a piece of jewelry or her last letter then you’re wrong. She gave Cindy…a curse. She’s normal in the morning but she’s a skeleton at night. But being a skeleton is not the only problem. Her father remarried immediately after her mother died without giving her a heads up. Now, she has a stepmother who is giving her weird list of chores and two stepsisters who obey their mother’s every command. Then, Ethan McAllister, her long time crush, asked her out for the Spring Fling Dance which will happen at night. How will this story have a happily ever after, you ask? You have to find out for yourself. 

I know what’s going through your mind right now. What kind of mother would curse her daughter before she died? That’s also my reaction when I read it. It’s a bit messed up in the beginning because we don’t know much about the characters yet. But as I read further I understand why her mother, father and stepmother acted the way they did. 

Cindy was a bit overdramatic and kind of annoying in the first half of the story but then I realize I was annoying too when I was her age. (Maybe, even now). Cindy’s POV was really funny and she has this quirky way of stopping the narration and side-commenting on how silly, everything that is happening to her. For some, it might throw them off but I kind of like it. It was full of snark, randomness and funny insight. I think, kids will like Cindy if not love her. 

Cinderskella was a cute, morbid, new take on the famous Cinderella story with lots of silly moments and moral lessons in it. I recommend it to everyone who likes fairy tales especially kids age 9-14.

My Ratings

*An electronic review copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review. (Thanks, Jolly Fish Press)