Cinderella Smith

Shoe-losing, adverb-using, word-creating Cinderella returns in this sequel to Cinderella Smith. This time, Cinderella prepares for a spelling bee, makes pancakes with her cool aunt, and stands up to classmate Rosemary T., who is "very, extremely mean" to Cinderella and her friends. Without condescension, Barden sensitively and gracefully handles the topic of bullying; Goode's line drawings add levity.

Cinderella is a likable protagonist with a positive attitude and an infectious spirit. Readers will identify with the realistic situations, such as a school-wide spelling bee, the chance to plan a class party, and a mean classmate/former friend who won’t stop saying hurtful things. Stephanie Barden incorporates a gentle lesson about dealing with conflicts. Cinderella and her friend’s reason for giving Rosemary the silent treatment is creditable (“if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”), but it may be more effective to address the situation directly. Cinderella’s aunt points out that sooner or later, Cinderella will have to talk to Rosemary, adding, “Don’t you want to discuss what’s going on with the two of you? Don’t you want to try to figure out what the problem is?” Cinderella and Rosemary’s eventual interaction is believable and without a too-easy resolution. Secondary characters, especially Aunt Flora, are nicely developed. She is clearly fun, with a distinctive personality: she introduces her nieces to Pancake Surprise, to be eaten at any time of the day (“It starts off like regular pancakes, but then you add secret ingredients . . . whatever you feel like”); she has five earrings as well as a nose piercing; and she is a popular visitor to Cinderella’s class, where she tosses out tooth-related favors while telling the students about being a dental hygienist. Diane Goode’s appealing, lighthearted line drawings complement the story well. It’s amusing to see Cinderella’s invented words gradually become part of the class’s lexicon. Even their teacher is incorporating “vexylent” into conversation by the end of the book. Fans of Sara Pennypacker’s Clementine books will enjoy Cinderella Smith.