Taming of the Shoe

July 1, 2019

Gr 3-6-Arminta Robicheaux was born into royalty. Being the only daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming definitely has its perks. Arminta, "Minty," wants to discover who she really is, but oftentimes finds it difficult in her famous parents' shadows. When her family moves from their royal kingdom to New York City, she feels uncertain about where she fits in. Her new middle school is filled with children of other fairy tales, and Minty soon learns that, even in New York City, there is a hierarchy that must be followed. Minty is used to being treated like royalty, but at her new school, students at the top of the pyramid are the ones actually treated like the royalty, and Minty doesn't get a green light to join them right away. Meanwhile, her mother and the stepsisters have become business tycoons. Minty's step-aunts, Auntie Lottie and Auntie Margaux, develop high fashion shoewear. When they decide to film a commercial at Minty's school, this catapults Minty to the top of the royal school food chain. However, she finds that even middle school royalty comes at a price. VERDICT Filled with references to other fairy-tale characters and middle school humor, readers of cheesy tween romance will fall in love.-Amy Caldera, Dripping Springs Middle School, TX

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