Things are looking up at Fairy Tale Reform School. Rump/Mr. Stiltskin has been deposed as headmaster and Flora is back in charge. A new curriculum is being added for students who want to continue to work on their transition from FTRS into the larger world. The royals have donated a new library to the school that could give the one at Hogwarts a run for its galleons. And the new librarian is Beauty! While the princess is in charge of the fairies who work in the library, her husband will be teaching the new course and their daughter will also be attending FTRS.
Imagine what it would be like to have Beauty and the Beast for parents. What sort of results would you get in the genetics department? Half of each? More beastly or more beautiful? And how will Allison Grace fit in with the other students when she has always been home-schooled? It's hard enough being the new kid when you have some experience with schools, but combine lack of experience with high profile parents and it can be very intimidating.
Allison Grace isn't the only new student. Jack, of beanstalk fame, has recently been arrested and sentenced to the school. He claims he was only stealing because Rump had taken his mother and his cow and left him to fend for himself. Gilly immediately sympathizes with him since her sister Anna is still with the Stiltskin Squad, but Jax doesn't trust him. Is he jealous, or does he see something that Gilly doesn't? And why is Kayla's mother acting so strange? She keeps going on about a book that she has to find. Sounds like she needs to talk to Beauty.
As a librarian, I was especially happy for the library to be a part of the tale this time. One of the things students may learn in the FTRS library is "the difference between a book you can trust and a book you can't...What if a villain wrote the book under another name and you had no idea who the author really was?" And I identified with Beauty, who tells the students, "I don't just love books, I need them the some people need air." I'm sure that I will not be the only reader to agree with her.
Author Jen Calonita has once again created a fast-paced tale with plenty of action, humor and gentle truths about friends, families, and growing up. Highly recommended for middle grades and up. Visit the Enchantasia website to find out more about the world of Gilly and her friends.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
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