Middle Grade Reviews: The Fairy Tale Reform School Series - Flunked and Charmed by Jen Calonita
Flunked by Jen Calonita
Series: Fairy Tale Reform School #1
On Sale: Available Now
Middle Grade \ Fairy Tales & Folklore
Published by: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Source: ARC from Publisher
My Rating: 4 Stars
AMAZON | GOODREADS | WEBSITE
Would you send a villain to do a hero's job? An exciting new twisted fairy tale series from award-winning author Jen Calonita.
Full of regret, Cinderella's wicked stepmother, Flora, has founded the Fairy Tale Reform School with the mission of turning the wicked and criminally mischievous into upstanding members of Enchantasia.
Impish, sassy 12-year-old Gilly has a history of petty theft and she's not too sorry about it. When she lifts a hair clip, she gets tossed in reform school-for at least three months. But when she meets fellow students Jax and Kayla, she learns there's more to this school than its sweet mission. There's a battle brewing and she starts to wonder: can a villain really change?
Charming, fun, and magical - FLUNKED is the first book in the middle-grade series called Fairy Tale Reform School. I couldn't resist an invite to check this series out and I 'm happy that I did as it was a wonderful introduction to author Jen Calonita's writing.
What makes this such a fun series, perfect for young readers who enjoy fairy tales, is the twist where it is the villains (reformed) who are the focus of the story as well as the adorable and impish heroine, 12-year-old Gilly. With a boarding school like setting which focuses on "the wicked and criminally mischievous," FTRS boast a memorable cast of characters - the teachers are all reformed villains.
Mr. Wolfington, the Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood, teaches history (my favorite reformed villain), then there's Madame Cleo, the Sea Witch, who delivers lessons in etiquette, and even the Evil Queen makes an appearance as Professor Harlow who happens to teach psychology.
Added to this delightful cast is the anti-heroine Gilly Cobbler, new to FTRS after pick-pocketing a hair clip, who sets a great example of a spirited heroine who learns valuable lessons about friendship and second chances.
With a mystery to be solved, touches of magic, and surprise twist on some fairy-tale favorites, Flunked is an adorable series opener that should please young readers/and parents looking for a fresh take on fairy tale adaptations - an entertaining page-tuner.
Charmed by Jen Calonita
Series: Fairy Tale Reform School #2
On Sale: Available Now
Middle Grade \ Fairy Tales & Folklore
Published by: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Source: ARC from Publisher
My Rating: 4 Stars
AMAZON | GOODREADS | WEBSITE
Charmed is the exciting sequel to the wildly popular Flunked -- second in the brand new Fairy Tale Reform School series where the teachers are (former) villains. "Charming fairy-tale fun." -Sarah Mlynowski, author of the New York Times bestselling Whatever After series.
It takes a (mostly) reformed thief to catch a spy. Which is why Gilly Cobbler, Enchantasia’s most notorious pickpocket, volunteers to stay locked up at Fairy Tale Reform School…indefinitely. Gilly and her friends may have defeated the Evil Queen and become reluctant heroes, but the battle for Enchantasia has just begun.
Alva, aka The Wicked One who cursed Sleeping Beauty, has declared war on the Princesses, and she wants the students of Fairy Tale Reform School to join her. As her criminal classmates give in to temptation, Gilly goes undercover as a Royal Lady in Waiting (don’t laugh) to unmask a spy…before the mole can hand Alva the keys to the kingdom.
Her parents think Gilly the Hero is completely reformed, but sometimes you have to get your hands dirty. Sometimes it’s good to be bad.
Charmed is the sequel to Flunked in the Fairy Tale Reform School series and is every bit as adorable, clever, and entertaining as its predecessor.
Gilly Cobbler, our spunky-reformed pick-pocket heroine is back to solve another mystery along with the help of a few good friends and some (former) villains as Enchantasia is faced with a new villainous threat.
Alva, The Wicked One, who is responsible for the curse placed upon Sleeping Beauty has declared war on Enchantasia. Young Gilly goes undercover as a Royal Lady in Waiting (a situation that causes some delightful smiles) in order to uncover a secret mole and foil the plans the mad Alva has in store for Enchantasia.
Charmed offers middle-grade readers an entertaining read filled with clever characters and humor mixed in with magic, mystery and fun fairy-tale reinvention. Teamwork, family, and friendship are the focus in this series and once again a terrific and recommended read.
