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Young adult book reviews for ages 12 and up - middle school and high school students




*Cinderella: Ninja Warrior (Twisted Tales)* by Maureen McGowan- young adult book review
 
Also by Maureen McGowan:

Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer (Twisted Tales)
 
Cinderella: Ninja Warrior (Twisted Tales)
by Maureen McGowan
Ages 12+ 320 pages Silver Dolphin Books April 2011 Paperback    

You remember Cinderella – the put-upon girl who served as a slave in her own household. Did you ever wonder why she put up with her wicked stepmother’s cruelty? Or why she didn’t smack those ugly step-sisters and run away? Maybe it was Stockholm Syndrome - or maybe it was something more, something the fairy tales left out.

In Maureen McGovern’s clever and enchanting version, Cinderella is imprisoned by a spell her stepmother has cast. Doors won’t open for her, so she is trapped in the house. If by chance some innocent stranger should stop by to hand out invitations to the Royal Ball, Cinderella doesn’t dare tell him what’s going on, because the spell would turn both of them to stone.

But all is not lost. Cinderella has found a how-to book, and she’s using it to become a ninja warrior. At the same time, she is strengthening the magical powers inherited from her late mother, who was an even more powerful wizard than Wicked Stepmom. The trick to freeing herself is knowing when to act and when to bide her time.

That’s where you, the reader, come in. Cinderella: Ninja Warrior is an interactive book that allows each reader to make Cindy’s decisions at crucial points in the story. For each decision there are two choices. There are eight different possibilities, which means that the book can be read eight different times and it will always be a different story. That’s a bit of magic right there!

Maureen McGovern has crafted a new version of Cinderella that we don’t have to pity or despise. This is one fairy-tale sweetie who can stand up to any challenge even while she remains a good-hearted and admirable heroine. Any one of the possible storylines provides a fresh and exciting tale, with Cindy always in the game to win.

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior is a brilliant new approach to the old tale, suitable for young adults and endearing to all age groups. There may be a spell on this book, though – it’s impossible to put it down!
 
Young adult book reviews for ages 12 and up - middle school and high school students

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  Deborah Adams/2011 for curled up with a good kid's book  






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