You've got to love a Cinderella retelling in which the fairy godmother is named Farrah. In this sequel to Fairest of All (2012), siblings Abby and Jonah once again travel through the magic mirror in their basement, this time to a place called Floom. They land in the palace, realize there's a ball going on, and then follow Cinderella to the home of her wicked stepmother when the clock strikes 12. Of course, in spite of their best efforts, Abby and Jonah can't help but interfere in the fairy tale's natural progression, and that's when the fun begins. Farrah insists that Cinderella learn "to stand on her own two feet!" (you go, Farrah) to prove herself worthy of being a "strong partner" for the prince. Mlynowski has a knack for these fresh, hip fractured tales and is particularly adept at the funny details, like Abby's pajama pants, which have the same pattern as the Floom flag. Tween girls are going to gobble this story up like a crownie (Cinderella's brownie specialty) and want another and another.

Abby and her brother Jonah (Fairest of All) again travel through their magic mirror to interfere in classic fairy tales. In Shoe, they risk Cinderella's impending marriage but help her discover her entrepreneurial side; in Sink, they try to prevent the original unhappy ending of "The Little Mermaid." These light, age-appropriate send-ups feature a feminist perspective and plenty of laughs.

Gr 3-6 This charming story serves as a solid follow-up to Fairest of All (Scholastic, 2012). Abby and her younger brother, Jonah, are transported from Smithville to the land of Floom, where they encounter Cinderella. As they did with Snow White in the first book, the siblings manage to alter the course of events and create a little chaos. The glass slipper has fallen on Cinderella's foot, causing it to swell and bruise, and her fairy godmother will not help her until she can prove that she is capable of being self-reliant. Can Abby and Jonah help Cinderella grow as a person before it's too late and she loses her happily ever after? It is fun to see Cinderella go from a damsel in distress to an independent young woman, not to mention refreshing. The characters are not as one-dimensional as one would assume, and the twists throughout the story make it a worthwhile fractured fairy tale. Elizabeth Swistock, Orange County Public Library, VA