Spelled

Gr 6–9—Spoiled and sheltered, 16-year-old Princess Dorthea of Emerald has just found out that her parents are forcing her to marry arrogant Prince Kato. Outraged at her parents order, Dorthea makes a hasty wish on a cursed star, throwing her kingdom into chaos and landing her parents in a strange place called Kansas. With the help of a cunning maidservant named Rexi and the annoyingly rude Prince Kato, Dorthea sets out to undo the curse before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells "The End" for the world of Story. This is a a cute adventure with romance set in a world full of fairy-tale mash-ups. Readers will love Dorthea's evolution from spoiled princess to strong, confident heroine. There's plenty of action as Dorthea, Kato, and Rexi seek the help of the mysterious Wizard of Oz and encounter headless hags, tricky bumpkins, demonic puppies, and forlorn witches along the way. Though he's full of some unique surprises, Kato makes an excellent Prince Charming for Dorthea and helps her realize her inner strength. The plot tends to meander and can be confusing at times, but young fans who stick with it will find plenty of fairy-tale references, an unexpectedly sweet romance, and loads of adventure along the way.