Filomena and her friends are back for another adventure as they try to save Never After.Filomena Jefferson-Cho, 12, has just returned from stopping the evil ogre queen in Never After, the world she once thought to be just fiction. Suddenly, her friends Jack the Giant Stalker; Jack's sidekick, Alistair; and Gretel, the Cobbler's daughter, appear at her door in North Pasadena asking for help once again. It seems Cinderella is not the innocent orphan bullied by her stepmother and stepsisters that the mortal world believes her to be. She is actually a thief who stole a pair of glass slippers-which hold magic powers-from her stepsisters, Hortense and Beatrice. The four friends travel across multiple kingdoms of Never After to retrieve the glass slippers and stop the Prophecy that spells out the end of their world. The journey isn't easy, and many creatures want to eat them along the way, including the gingerbread-house witch and the Beast. As Jack struggles with what it means to be a hero, Filomena learns how important words are and how truths and lies can completely change the end of a story. This entertaining sequel is full of humor and daring escapades, and the ending nicely sets things up for the next entry. Ethnic and racial diversity are naturally woven into the story.Switches up well-known fairy tales and fantastical stories in an exciting way. (Fantasy. 10-14)

Gr 37 Four companions introduced in Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy continue their adventures in skewed versions of well-known fairy tales. Traditional stories are all wrong, it turns out. Filomena Jefferson-Cho, a fairy-tale aficionado from North Pasadena, has joined with Jack, Alistair, and Gretel to find the truth, starting with the revelation that Cinderella is a mean, arrogant, and vicious stepsister of the good twins Hortense and Beatrice, who just want their glass slippers back. The shoes belong to Hortense, who is in love with Prince Charlemagne, and a ball to announce his engagement is imminent. But first there are ogres to fight, seductive candy houses to escape from, and a Beast to appease. The wit depends mostly on puns and the incongruous mixture of present-day vernacular with the world of Never After. Despite real moments of danger, the lighthearted atmosphere and elements of magic reassure readers that these four will survive and conquer all obstacles in their way. The underlying theme is to question everything and to look at Never After with fresh eyes to discern the truth. Filomena's goal of retelling the tales informs her efforts, as does her identity as the niece of the 13th fairy and possibly Sleeping Beauty. Uncovering the mistaken identities, lies, and misdirection of the well-known version of the tales gives these titles popular appeal. VERDICT Though lacking the intensity of Adam Gidwitz's A Tale Dark and Grimm and its sequels, this could satisfy the fractured fairy tale itch for many.Carol A. Edwards