About the Books: The Grimmtastic Girls
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Book #1
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Title: Grimmtastic Girls #1: Cinderella Stays Late | Authors: Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams | Publication Date: March 25, 2014 | Publisher: Scholastic Inc. | Pages: 192 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 12
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MY REVIEW
I wish they’d had books like this when I was a young girl. The cover art is adorable and fun. How could any young lady resist.
The wicked stepsisters, an absent father, and greedy step mother stick with the original story but then the author takes you somewhere new. Grimm Academy was established by the Grimm brothers for all of the fairytale folk and you’ll encounter many of your favorites.
Cinda is a newcomer to Grimm Academy. She quickly becomes friends with Red, Snow, and Rapunzel and begins to enjoy her new life despite her stepsisters attempts to ruin it for her.
When Cinda learns of an evil plot by the steps, her friends join her to stop them from ruining the big ball.
There is so much to delight you in this short story. Some that stand out are the names the author used for her characters and the roving library.
I think you can guess who Prince Awesome is. Then there’s Prince Foulsmell. No he doesn’t smell bad. But the name was passed down from an uncle who did. I like him and I suspect his role will get bigger in forthcoming books.
The library is fantastical. It’s never in the same place and once you answer the riddle and are admitted inside, it stretches for miles. There’s much more than books in there, lots of magical items, and the filing system is out of this world confusing. I particularly liked the mirror the girls used to create their ball gowns. Boy, it would come in handy.
The friendship of these young ladies is realistic and fun. I remember how scary it was to be the new kid and the girls welcomed Cinda and helped her adjust to her new life.
I’m sure you recognize, Red, Snow and Rapunzel. Red does wear her cape, Snow hates mirrors, no one knows where Mermily sleeps, and Rapunzel is always trimming her hair. Makes you think these girls know something.
While this is a fairytale retelling, the writing has a modern feel. And the authors having the fairytales enacted by characters at a young age makes this a “Grimmazing” good read.
I’d recommend this for pre to early teens and all of those who are young at heart.
5 STARS
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Summary: The authors of the hit Goddess Girls series put a fun and girly twist on another super-popular theme: fairy tales!
Once upon a time, in faraway Grimmlandia…
A Grimmtastic girl named Cinderella is starting her first week at Grimm Academy on the wrong foot. Cinda’s totally evil stepsisters are out to make her life miserable. The Steps tease Cinda, give her terrible advice about life at the academy, and even make her look bad in front of her new friends, Red, Snow, and Rapunzel! But when Cinda overhears the Steps plotting a villainous deed that could ruin Prince Awesome’s ball, Cinda, her new friends, and a pair of magical glass slippers have to stop them–before the last stroke of midnight!
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*****
Book #2
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Title: Grimmtastic Girls #2: Red Riding Hood Gets Lost | Authors: Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams | Publication Date: March 25, 2014 | Publisher: Scholastic Inc. | Pages: 192 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 12
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MY REVIEW
We’re back at Grimm Academy and Red just froze on stage. All she ever wanted to do was be an actor, but maybe she’s good at something else.
Certainly not good at finding her way. When Red and her friends Cinda, Snow, and Rapunzel try to find a treasure in Neverwood forest, Red loses her way.
Will she run into the big bad wolf before she can find her way out?
The first book in this series, Cinderella Stays Late, introduces you to these young friends and reveals the academy in all its spendor. There’s also a secret EVIL society emerging.
In this second book you get more involved with these girls, the mystery of who’s good or bad deepens, and it’s told from Red’s point of view.
There’s some puppy love going on too. Prince Wolfgang likes to tease Red by calling her by different versions of the color, like crimson and scarlet. Once she sees past this annoying habit, she sees a really cute boy.
I’m really becoming attached to these characters and I’m curious who will be starring in the next Grimmtastic book. There’s still Snow and Rapunzel and many more to get to know.
A tisket, a tasket, what’s next in these author’s baskets?
5 STARS
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*****
Summary: Red Riding Hood might have a terrible sense of direction, but her grimmtastic friends are always there to help!
Once upon a time, in faraway Grimmlandia…
Red Riding Hood is thrilled to try out for the school play. Acting is her dream, and she’s great at it–too bad she has stage fright! After a grimmiserable audition, Red decides to focus on helping her friends Cinda, Snow, and Rapunzel save Grimm Academy from the E.V.I.L. Society. But when Red gets lost in Neverwood forest and runs into Wolfgang, who might be part of E.V.I.L., she needs her magic basket and a grimmazingly dramatic performance to figure out what’s going on!
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About the Authors: Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams
Joan Holub has authored and/or illustrated more than 130 children’s books, including Little Red Writing (illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet) and Zero the Hero. She lives in NC and is online at www.joanholub.com
Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads
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Suzanne Williams is the author of nearly 50 books for children, including the award-winning picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg). She lives near Seattle, WA and is online at www.suzanne-williams.com
Author Blog | Goodreads
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Co-authors Joan and Suzanne have written the Goddess Girls, Heroes in Training, and Grimmtastic Girls series. Though they live in different states and hardly ever get to see each other, they spend lots of time together in Grimmlandia.
Facebook (Grimmtastic Girls) | Facebook (Goddess Girls Books)
Online Author Visits
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$50 Book Blast Giveaway
Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
Contest ends: April 23, 11:59 pm, 2014
Open: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the authors, Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.
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