If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?

Reader reviewed by MssJos

This book was a random YA novel I picked up at the checkout at the grocery store because I liked the cover. Having never read any of Melissa Kantor's books, I wasn't sure what to expect. Lucy introduces herself to readers by making a list in class comparing herself to Cinderella. Both have dead mothers, wicked stepmothers, 2 evil stepsisters, and no friends.

The one notable difference is that Lucy's father is still alive, however, he works out of town so frequently that Lucy feels as if he has abandoned her all the same. Lucy's father has remarried and has moved Lucy from San Francisco to Long Island. Beginning her second semester in her second new school in two years, Lucy has mastered the art of being invisible. That is until Connor Pearson, the Prince of her new school takes notice of her. Instantly, Lucy has a new group of friends, a handsome, popular boyfriend, and plans every weekend. In all the commotion, Lucy realizes something is still missing...her. Struggling to find her true self and her true Prince Charming, Lucy battles with her new family and struggles with a self-portrait project in art class (no ironic symbolism here folks). :)

Lucy's unique mix of interest in sports and artistic abilities (not to mention her bright red hair) make her an interesting and likably different character from your typical female protagonists. Warning, contradiction to what I just said coming in 3...2...1: Reminiscent of Laurie Halse Anderson's Melinda Sordino in Speak, Lucy must draw on her her inner-strength to overcome the situation she has found herself in and to find the path that leads her to her true self (minus a Fairy Godmother).

Kantor gives Lucy a voice that most teens can relate to: frustrated with parents and siblings, desperate to fit in, and in serious need of love.

Reader reviewed by Mis24

Lucy Nortan's life sucks. She moves in with her Dad and new stepmother and twins step sisters and has to attend a new school, where she doesnt know anyone. Her life at home sucks and her life at school isnt any better. Until she starts dating Connor, the popular guy at school. All of a sudden, she has a hot boyfriend, cool friends and some respect form her bratty sisters. Then she meets Sam Wolff (awesome last name!) and realizes there better together with more in common, hes also an artist and really, really hot! Maybe she doesnt have to be Cinderalla, but she can have her prince right? This books aweosme, Ive read many books by the author, Shes really amazing, I straongly recommand this book and her others. There will be no disappointment. 2 THUMBS UP!

Reader reviewed by GirlwiththeBraids

If Lucy Norton has two evil stepsisters and a wicked stepmother, wheres her prince? She keeps telling herself that her fairy tale will involve the popular Connor Pearson. Then she finds herself noticing, Connor Pearson knows who I am. Connor takes an interest in her and now everyone at Glen Lake knows her. Some even become her friend. With prom coming up, Lucy starts to realize & maybe Connor isnt the one she wants, maybe its that quite boy in her art class. Trying to forget about Sam with one of Connors perfect kisses, Lucy finally knows. But can she still get a happy ending like Cinderella when her life is in pieces?

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Wheres My Prince? is now one of my favorite books. Author Melissa Kantors understanding of the life of a teenage girl is brilliant and accurate in so many ways. The writing is more than just phenomenal, its & the best. The ending was predictable, but at the same time, surprising. The plot and characters were simple and developed throughout the story. Filled with humor and wonderful references, this book is on the top of my Recommendation List. If youre 13 and want to read something fun or 30 and want to relax with a good read, pick up this book. I guarantee youll love it.

(If you find a copy of this book, make sure to look at page 178. Its one of my favorites.)

Reader reviewed by val

This is book is the modern Cinderella. Except that her stepmother isnt really mean, its just her two stepsisters. I loved how the ending turned out to be. But It was pretty predictable. It was alos kind of a happy ending since her new friends didnt turn to be some kind of ditchers and theyre not like i-am-friends-with-you-because-you're-with-mr.popular type. 5 stars out of 5.

Reader reviewed by rachpaige11

I absoultly loved this book! It was fantastic!

When Lucy's dad gets remarried she has to move to New York with her step-mother and step sisters. Her dad leaves her there through the week and stays on weekends because of a big case in San Francisco. Her stepmother isn't really cruel, but she is unfair toward Lucy. Her stepsisters are very bratty. At school (her third school) Lucy descides to try to just blend in and go unnoticed, but that doesn't work because she does get noticed, noticed by the popular girls, Jessica and Madison. Connor Pearson the star of the basketball (Lucy is obsessed with basketball) team, he also notices her, and they soon begin to date. At first Lucy is really happy, she is popular and dating Connor, but happily ever after doesn't make Lucy happy. She befriends Sam. Her and Sam have a lot in common with art. She soon begins to fall for him. And after a few fights with her stepmother, they finally begin to get along.

This book is fantastic!

Reader reviewed by The Story Siren

Lucy has moved to Long Island from San Francisco, to live with her new step-mother and two step-sisters. While her father remains on the west coast working on a big case. Lucy isn't exactly enjoying living with her new "family" alone. She doesn't really have any friends at school, okay she doesn't have any friends, actually.

Luckily for Lucy her knowledge for basketball helps her catch the attention of senior basketball superstar and hottie, Conner Pearson. Then suddenly everyone wants to be her friend. And even though it seems that her life is turning into a fairy tale at home everything is still difficult. Then to confuse matters even worse she finds her self connecting with the artistic Sam, and wishing her conversations with Conner had such substance,

As her family issues start to resolve, Lucy finds her fairy tale taking on a whole new direction. Maybe her stepmother isnt so wicked after all, and maybe her prince charming isnt who she thought it would be.

Any fan of Cinderella will love this book. It is an equal balance of romance, teen angst and real life. Some parts are a little unrealistic, such as the going from a zero to popularity princess in two seconds flat. But overall the story was light and enjoyable.

Reader reviewed by F.C SucKa

I found this book intresting inthe beggining i was curious to find out how this random mellow girl could compare her life to a cinderella life fairy tale. It was kind of akward how the cutest guy star basketball player liked her which is fake im not saying it cant happen but maybe its true out there compairing to my school i couldnt cpmare to my prince charming i dont look up to no one there so popular people justwell known you could say.Over all this book can compare to teen readers who believe inthere prince charming maybe they will find one.

Reader reviewed by abscae

Pulled from San Francisco to Long Island, after her father's marriage, Lucy doesn't seem to off on the right foot. Mara (the step-mother) and her step-sisters don't seem to like her much, and at school, thankfully, her art and basketball skills tend to pull an opposite crowd. While she captures the attention of Connor, she's plagued by Sam (who's taken) and his art. But as Lucy progresses through this tough time, she learns about friendship, love, and life, as usual. It sounds cheesy, cliched, and so predictable, and to some extent it is, but the style that Kantor puts into her novel makes it REAL and relatable, creating a clear and strong voice for Lucy. With Lucy's realizations come a realization for the reader as well, and that's the best part.

Reader reviewed by Sara

"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 calender, 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?"

I liked this book, but Lucy's age (younger than me) and her personality weren't as magnetic as characters in Confessions of a Not It Girl. I really started to hate Lucy's stepmom a lot, so it was kind of awkward how Lucy's feelings changed towards her. It almost seemed to happen to fast to me, making the character seem underdeveloped, like none of the feelings were real, only obviously fictional.

Reader reviewed by Pammy-la

I love "modern day" fairy tales and had high hopes for this novel with its clever cover and attention getting title. It's not that this is a terrible read, it's just I wanted more, or at least, I wanted Lucy to be more "on the ball" and less whiny.

Lucy finally gets it together and her art project sounded pretty cool, but by the time I was interested in what happened to her, the book was over. C'est la vie!