The Never After series is becoming a favorite of mine. Full of lyrical writing, it just begs to be read aloud. In each of these books, de la Cruz examines the power of storytelling and truth. It’s not only a lesson that’s fantastic for middle grade readers, but also feels super meta? Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
Tossed back into the not-so-familiar fairy-tale world of Never After, Filomena Jefferson-Cho and her friends set off on another adventure . . . this time in search of Cinderella’s glass slipper. Or rather, glass slippers.
It turns out the classic story of Cinderella is full of lies—starting with how Cinderella herself is far from the innocent heroine everyone thinks she is. She is manipulative and cunning—willing to do anything to be the princess of Eastphalia. The real heroines of her story are her “wicked” stepsisters, Hortense and Beatrice, who aren’t actually wicked at all!
With the help of the dashing Jack Stalker, adorable Alastair, and glamorous Gretel, Filomena must track down the slippers, which may be the key to a certain mysterious prophecy . . . And when Filomena and Beatrice get tossed into the Beast’s dungeon, all hope seems to be lost. Will the conniving Cinderella shatter everyone’s hopes for a true un-twisted ending? Or will Filomena and her friends secure the happily ever after Cinderella’s stepsisters deserve?
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Never After: The Stolen Slippers turns Cinderella on its head. Maybe you could have guessed that from the title or the cover, but it has de la Cruz’s signature fairy tales (re)imagined. I loved how Filomena has to realize the power of context in storytelling. How someone can tell a story and turn it on its head and as long as it’s more widely received, it can become the ‘truth’. Never After: The Stolen Slippers examines an important theme of right and wrong.
It can be easy to accept that life isn’t fair. But what Never After: The Stolen Slippers teaches is that we can fight for it to be fair. There are so many fun fairy tale tropes or elements: like do not ever trust someone giving you an apple. Just like the first, I loved the friendships and all the shenanigans they find themselves in. During this incredibly readable and entertaining sequel, de la Cruz examines how we can fix wrongs. This is yet another fantastic addition to a series I can recommend to everyone.
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