Justine's Thoughts: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor

If I have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince?
By Melissa Kantor

Pages:

283

Book Description:

When high school sophomore Lucy Norton’s father remarries, Lucy’s life is turned upside down. She and her father move from their West Coast home to a suburb on Long Island. With a small bedroom in the unfinished basement, unlimited chores, a blank social calendar, and a huge crush on the dashing prince of the varsity basketball team, Lucy’s life has the makings of a Cinderella story -- complete with two bratty stepsisters and a wicked stepmother. So isn’t she supposed to get the prince? And go to the senior prom?

A quote:

When was the last time anyone had wanted me to tell her anything, much less everything? Their curiosity was the warmth of the sun after a swim in the frigid ocean.

Any thoughts:

• Lucy and Cinderella clearly have many things in common, but there are also many differences, which become so important later on in the story, especially when huge twists come up (though I kind of saw them coming).

• I have never actually read a retelling of a fairytale before. And with this one being the first, I’ll have to say that I’ve got to read more! It seems like I’ve been missing out!

• I love Lucy and how she develops the ability to stand up for herself. Her relationship with her dad and her stepmother has been rough ever since they got married, however Lucy comes to realize that how they treat her isn’t right, and I adore her for finally learning her lesson.

• Melissa Kantor brings the story of Cinderella into the real world, where challenges (such as “Prince Charming” and her stepmother & stepsisters) are encountered. It’s only up to Lucy to overcome them and understand that not everything according to the Cinderella story is supposed to happen.

Justine's Thoughts: The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor

The Breakup Bible
By Melissa Kantor

Pages:

265

Book Description:

High school junior Jennifer Lewis has it all: amazing friends, a coveted editorial position on the school newspaper, and the perfect relationship with senior Max Brown, her editor in chief and the boy of her dreams. Then, out of nowhere, Max casually tells Jennifer that maybe “it would be better if we were just friends,” and the world comes to a screeching halt.

Shocked, Jen can’t imagine how she’s supposed to get out of bed every morning much less face Max across a conference table at meetings for The Hillsdale High Spectator. And when her grandmother gives her The Breakup Bible, a self-help book that claims its “commandments” can make her “the happiest dumpee on the block,” Jen is convinced that the humiliation of heartbreak might actually be fatal. In fact, she’s sure there’s been a mistake -- she and Max aren’t really . . . over.

But as spring semester rolls around, and Jen finds herself on the trail of a controversial feature story, she starts to see Max -- and herself -- in a whole new light. And Jennifer discovers there just might be life after heartbreak.

A quote:

Is there a Web site called dreamscometrue.com? If so, this moment deserved to be the home page.

Any thoughts:

Well, I thought this book was really good. For one, Jennifer is a great heroine. The way she narrates the story can hold your attention because she’s funny, real, smart and deep. She can also be relatable for those girls who ever felt like they can never let go of the ones who dumped them. Jennifer clings to Max for what seems like forever and that’s what it actually feels like for her. She claims that it takes such a long time to go from “heartache to happiness”.

I also liked how Melissa Kantor inserted the controversial issue of race in high school and how she tackled it dead on in the end. This is what makes this read a little less on the fluffy side and more on the serious side, which is more of a reason why it’s a must read.

There’s drama, of course. What novel, which is based on breakups, does not have drama? None that I can think of. But I like it the way it’s used - realistic and reasonable.

Overall, this novel is the perspective of a girl, who is trying to go through a breakup while using The Breakup Bible that claims to have everything you need to follow to get over it. Along the way, she’ll stumble upon an idea for an article, play matchmaker for her one of her friends, and possibly even go on a blind date. What more could you ask for? I say you read this soon.