I picked up the book for the title and cover alone. I didn't really bother to read the back and really I wish I had.
The book took forever for me to get into, and it wasn't for lack of trying. The writing was perfect and the detail was great, I just felt like I couldn't connect to Lucy the main character. Okay, her mother is an artist that dies when she is a baby and then after so many years (she's a teenager) her father remarries and she has to move. I understand her not liking the new stepmother and the step-sisters, but really? She complains throughout the whole book, she has no friends, has a crush on the star basketball player and her dad is almost never home.
I guess after watching a hundred different Cinderella story movies and not really liking the whole Cinderella fairy tale to begin with, may have made me a little cynical while reading.
After everything in the boy and friend department starts going good for Lucy, she really changes and thinks that she is all that just because she is dating the star basketball player. It's a classic move with most authors and really turned me off the book. There is the normal, talk of them drinking, making out and al the stuff high schoolers are known to do. Lucy continues to have issues with her stepmother and the step-sisters, and of course she feels as though her father doesn't care about her because he is never there.
I had to keep reading after being almost done with it and of course Lucy had to start falling for someone else, and then all of a sudden she isn't happy with everything she has. The ending was too abrupt for me and I believe that Melisa could have gotten to that point faster and then expanded on it more. ( )

I picked up the book for the title and cover alone. I didn't really bother to read the back and really I wish I had.
The book took forever for me to get into, and it wasn't for lack of trying. The writing was perfect and the detail was great, I just felt like I couldn't connect to Lucy the main character. Okay, her mother is an artist that dies when she is a baby and then after so many years (she's a teenager) her father remarries and she has to move. I understand her not liking the new stepmother and the step-sisters, but really? She complains throughout the whole book, she has no friends, has a crush on the star basketball player and her dad is almost never home.
I guess after watching a hundred different Cinderella story movies and not really liking the whole Cinderella fairy tale to begin with, may have made me a little cynical while reading.
After everything in the boy and friend department starts going good for Lucy, she really changes and thinks that she is all that just because she is dating the star basketball player. It's a classic move with most authors and really turned me off the book. There is the normal, talk of them drinking, making out and al the stuff high schoolers are known to do. Lucy continues to have issues with her stepmother and the step-sisters, and of course she feels as though her father doesn't care about her because he is never there.
I had to keep reading after being almost done with it and of course Lucy had to start falling for someone else, and then all of a sudden she isn't happy with everything she has. The ending was too abrupt for me and I believe that Melisa could have gotten to that point faster and then expanded on it more. ( )

So Lucy starts out by comparing herself to Cinderella, but by the end she's rejecting the fairy tale set-up. She's realized that her "Prince Charming" isn't charming (it took her way too long- this was the most annoying part of the book because she obviously didn't have more than a superficial connection with him). She also fixes the situation with her stepmother (and her father), and even gives the "princesses" (stepsisters) names and personalities. Interestingly, her friendships with the two popular sophomore girls don't fall apart as she imagines they will- she finds a way to integrate herself into her new life at last. ( )

This was a super cute retelling of Cinderella. A little young for me so I wish I would have read it way back in 2008 when I bought it and I was still in high school. ( )

This book was amazing! I liked the twist on Cinderella. It was a cute book, and I will be reading more from this author. ( )

When you hear the title – If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince? – what do you think of? Probably the first thing that comes to mind is Cinderella. And you are not far off. The main character in this enjoyable book feels as if she is being treated like a Cinderella; even her new friends think so.

When Lucy’s mother died, leaving behind her husband and young daughter, it meant it was just the two of them for several years. Then her dad remarried and moved them to live in another city with his new wife and her two younger daughters. Lucy was relegated to a room in the basement, a very inadequately furnished room, and her dad was hardly ever home because he was still working in the city where they had lived before Lucy’s life was turned upside down.

Lucy felt unfairly treated, being expected to do chores the other girls were not asked to do and not treated very nicely. She felt like a .. well, the way Cinderella may have felt. Then she falls for a boy and things just get more complicated.

This is a story that holds the reader’s interest, and I think especially young teen girls will like it. I found myself thinking at times, this girl is being so emotional and self-centered … like a teenage girl with the jealousy, the angry outbursts, the drama. But that simply means Melissa Kantor hit it right on. Being on the other side of all that hormonal craziness it is easy to see what should have taken place, and I kept hoping someone would see through everyone’s foolishness and set things right. (Even the stepmother was exasperating.)

I won’t tell you what happened. ** Possible spoiler alert ** What I will say is .. there is some of the normal temptation stuff, but it’s the drinking that becomes the issue for awhile. It is handled well by the author, Melissa Kantor.

This is an easy book to read, interesting and engaging, and not simply a young person’s book. Why not branch out and see what our young people are reading these days? :) ( )

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother Where's My Prince by Melissa kantor
5 STARS
Well if the purpose of this book is to make me feel for Lucy it was successful.
My emotions where all over the place even shed a bunch of tears.
Lucy's father got remarried and they moved from San Francisco to New York to live in her stepmother's house. Then her father kept working in San Francisco on a big case for work and flew into New york for weekends.
Lucy's stepmother is busy shopping and cares about redecorating the whole house but not her room. Lucy lives in the basement by herself. Sleeps on a air mattress has no place to put her clothes, because she was not allowed to move with her furniture just being told we will buy more.
six months later she finally gets a bed and then told her friend was comming for a week and will have her bedroom. Lucy gets the couch.
Lucy calls her two spoiled 12 old twins Princess 1 & Princess 2. Lucy feels like she does all the cleaning but they don't have too.
Lucy has no friends at the new school. She did try to talk to a boy Sam in art class but he was rude. One day she heard these boys talking about a NBA basketball game who was going to win. Lucy made a remark about they being so wrong. Next time she saw them they told her good call on the game. Then Connor Pearson started to ask her out. Connor was popular and on the basketball team. Lucy than became popular and had friends and lots of others waved or talked to her in the halls.
The only problems I had with the book was all the drinks they had and was no big deal. champaign, wiskey.beer seemed like the adults did not care either. The skimpy clothes too without comments.
I was lent this ebook to read in exchange for honest review from Netgalley.
03/27/2010 PUB Disney-Hyperion 320 pages ( )

One wicked step-mother: check; two wicked step-sisters: check.
According to teenager basketball loving Lucy her life could not get any worse, then her father re-marries and moves her to a new town and life with a new family. Her room, in the basement lacks furniture and her clothes style, according to the step-sisters is worse than bad. Her dad is away for work all the time, and has not time to spend with her, he doesn’t take her to games, as he is too busy with the wicked step-mother.
But things can always get worse…
The school heart throb Connor Pearson begins to notice her, and they connect through their shared love of basketball. Lucy, who finds it hard to make friends, begins slowly to meet new friends, and she feels as if things are finally looking up for her, then Connor asks her out on a date. But is Connor Lucy's Prince Charming?
A cute teenage novel filled with all the angst a teenage girl can cope with. A light and breezy girly read which has a simple plot and contemporary writing style.
Reviewed via my Kobo, read from a pdf from Net Galley ( )

The intoxication of the opportunity to be popular was very realistic. Although I was rather confused at the sudden interest of the characters in the book about the protaganist. It did not feel very developed, and could be both rather slow and very fast at different points throughout the book. I did like the emphasis on art throughout it was but rather disappointing at the resolution and the romance supposeably in the book. ( )

this book had an unexpected ending ( )

This was basically your average cute, fluffy YA read. Nothing really profound happens in this story, and if you don't like reading the antics of a typical high school girl (including prom dress shopping), then you might want to pass on this one.

There were a few things that I particularly liked about it. First of all, I have this absolute fascination with stories of kids who are struggling with their stepparents/stepsiblings. I don't know where or how this fascination started, seeing as how my parents are happily married and I only have two brothers of my own. Maybe something about walking in someone else's shoes? I dunno. So that was part of what drew me in and kept me reading. I also really enjoy stories involving high school outcasts, just because I feel like most people can relate to that. Most teenagers at some point or another just want to fit in, so it was easy for me to sympathize with Lucy on that level.

I liked Lucy a lot, and even though she seemed a bit whiny at times to me, I think people often forget just how whiny high school teenagers are. I liked that Melissa Kantor didn't try to glaze that over, but portrayed Lucy and her friends as how they most likely would have acted. Plus, Lucy is really funny, in a sarcastic kind of way. The story is told from her point of view, and the way that she described things sometimes had me laughing out loud, especially about her first experience with a thong. I thought it was a little strange that she had this big crush on this vapid basketball player, but he was the most popular guy in school which probably had a lot of appeal to Lucy, who considered herself a nobody. And let's face it, high school is a time of trying to fit in and figure out who you are in relation to those around you. In that sense, Kantor really nailed this book. But I still rooted for Sam the whole time :) But then again, I have a thing for the quiet, sensitive artsy/nerdy guys (lol). Oh, and Jessica and Madison were hilarious. They were so ditsy and the kind of the girls I have hoped never to be like, but they reminded me a lot of Brittany and Santana from Glee that it was hard for me not to like them.

Anyway, I also enjoyed how Lucy came to terms with who she was and what she considered her own version of her fairy tale. It was also nice to see how the family issue was played out as part of the plot, so that it wasn't just a book about high school drama.

Overall, like I previously stated, nothing too profound happened here, but I did enjoy this book and kept flipping pages to find out what happened next. ( )

This review was originally posted on my review blog : http://fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com

Lucy Norton might actually have a wicked stepmother, or so she seems to believe. While her bratty stepsister practically get away with murder, she gets in trouble for the smallest things. Her father is hardly ever home to know the difference, and merely takes what she says as over reacting. Lucy believes that her life has seriously gone down the drain, until the day she sees Connor Pearson. Every Cinderella gets a prince, right?

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? is a cute, quirky, short read. It caps out at 283 pages, and I flew through them in a matter of mere hours. I've always had a love for modern day fairy tales, and this one is no exception. At first I thought this book was going to be a lot about how Lucy was just a drama queen, and for awhile, it really was. I had to read on to get the full picture.

As far as I'm concerned, the way Lucy's stepmother treated her in this novel was quite wrong. I personally would have labeled her as a wicked stepmother myself, and it wouldn't have hurt to throw a bucket of water of her head to see if she melted. Her bratty daughters were no exception, as they were only nice when it benefited them. And for Lucy's father?, her blood related father?, he rarely listened to his daughter. I understood why Lucy was as dramatic as she was, and I probably would have acted the same way had I been in her shoes.

Melissa Kantor easily gave the impression of a modern day Cinderella story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A few other great things about this story are the life lessons that Lucy learns along the way. It's not only a modern fairy tale, but a coming of age novel about a girl growing into herself, and understanding her place in the world. I'd highly recommend this title to those of you who enjoy a good modern day retelling of one of your favorite fairy tales, as well as fans of other works by Melissa Kantor. ( )

Lucy's life is fairytale-worthy: wicked stepmother, evil stepsisters, tons of chores. But one day (and without the help of a fairy godmother) she meets her prince and they ride off into the night in his SUV. Lucy soon discovers that the end of Cinderella's story may not have been what everyone thought.

This was a time-killer story. It was enough to keep my attention while I was reading it, but not much else. Alot of teen drinking. Surprisingly, no sex, just a lot of kissing and making out. I liked the art talk and the ending, but thats about it. ( )

I've read two Cinderella type stories this month & enjoyed both of them. There is something comforting about reading a familiar story with a modern twist. Love the story, hope the kids enjoy it too. ( )

I've been wanting to read this book forever and I finally got the chance to sit down and read it. I loved the fairy tale Cinderella twist. Plus you have to love a happy ending.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 isn’t so wicked after all, and maybe her prince charming isn’t 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. ( )

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. ( )

This book was written in a very easy-to-relate, lighthearted way, highly reminiscent of everyone's favorite The Princess Diaries! The metaphors in this were extremely effective, and I'm really not one to say that lightly. When they were used, they were used in such a way so as not to be distractive, but to genuinely contribute to the writing. They don't seem forced in the slightest. The characters frustrated me for a while, and I was unable to see where they were coming from (particularly the basketball loving, popularity seeking main character), but soon, I did grow to tolerate them, some more than others. One thing I really loved about this book was that the main romantic interest was not incredibly obvious from the start. He was introduced subtly, although in the end, he seamlessly blends in to the rest of the story. Kantor not only breaks the cliches, she addresses them quite clearly before doing so, written in a very 'in your face' manner. I didn't like the title, and it wasn't actually the length of it that disturbed me--it was the fact that while, yes, she was looking for a prince, for the majority of the book, she was convinced she already had a 'prince' and the focus was more on the stepfamily than anything. Still, I loved it. I didn't agree with everything the characters said or did, but in the end, everything was adorably charming and thoroughly lovable.

Rating: 4.5/5 ( )

Everybody knows the story of Cinderella, a girl who lives with her wicked stepmother and two evil sisters but in the end lives happily ever after with Prince Charming. This story is a modern version of the famous Cinderella with a twist. Lucy Norton is playing “Cinderella” living with her wicked stepmother Maura and two bratty step sisters. Maura seems to do just about anything to make Lucy seem like the culprit in any situation in front of her father.

Now the ultimate question is “Where’s her prince?” Connor Pearson seems like the perfect candidate. He is the star basketball player, a “hottie”, and of course the most popular boy in school. Lucy Norton catches his attention and soon they are going out. Being the girlfriend of Connor Pearson has it perks like attending cool parties, new friends, and an invitation to the prom. But where does the talented and cute artist Sam Wolffe, fit into this picture?


I read this book because it was highly recommended by my friend. However, when I read it I wasn’t satisfied. It definitely had its funny moments and I really enjoyed reading about Lucy’s dress shopping. But it was really predictable at times and I felt that Lucy’s relationship with her love interest where not fully developed. The conclusion of the book was really predictable and too abrupt. If your looking for a fun and light read, then I would suggest picking this book up. ( )

Recently relocated to Long Island after her father's marriage (to the titular wicked stepmother), Lucy is connecting with every last bit of the Cinderella fairy tale. A quick lunchtime exchange brings her to the attention of popular senior Connor, and when Jessica and Madison become her well-dressed fairy godmothers, Lucy believes she has found her Prince Charming. After a series of adventures and misadventures, the action culminates in the prom, where Lucy finds her true "happily ever after."

This book is a charming, if somewhat predictable and formulaic, take on the high school experience. As heroines go, Lucy is sweet and likable, and believable as a high school sophomore, and I knew characters like her schoolmates in my own high school experience. At some points, I felt that the author was trying a little too hard to force the story to fit the Cinderella framework, but on the whole, the story was not negatively affected.

This book was a quick read, and a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. ( )

very good.a very diffrent twist of cindarellla. like one i have never read before. ( )

This book contains just the right mixture of humor and emotion. It's a light read that can be enjoyed in one sitting. The main character struggles with issues common to today's teens including a crush, annoying siblings, and an unreasonable stepmother. The protagonist longs for private time with her lawyer father who spends most of his time out of town working on a big case.
This book tells the tale of a girl desperate to fit in but also trying to determine her own identity. She loves basketball and art, and these two hobbies ultimately unite her with the prince she longs for. ( )

Lucy Norton is a new student with no friends, until she starts dating the most popular guy, he's captain of the basketball team (her all-time favorite sport), and he's super cute with tons of friends- whats not to love? But yet, somethings out of place, its still not the perfect fairytale ending lucy planned for. Wasn't the stepmother supposed to fall off a cliff or something? ( )

Predictable, but a fun light read. An interesting and optimistic take on popularity in high school.

( )

School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up-Teen readers will relate to "Cinderella" Lucy Norton's woes. Transplanted from San Francisco to Long Island because of the marriage of her father, who continues to spend working weeks on the West Coast, she grapples with a pseudo-family existence with her step-monster, Mara, and her magpie twin stepsisters. Lucy's dual passions of basketball and art characterize her and help her make connections. Negotiating that minefield of adolescence, the high school cafeteria, she often takes a sandwich to the art room, where she enjoys the kindness of her teacher and meets Sam, a talented but rude artist. An astute remark about basketball gains her the attentions of Connor, the team star and all-around hunk. With his notice come Jessica and Madison, as friends. Lucy enjoys her rapid ride on the social surf, featuring drinking parties, melt-away kisses, even the much-sought-after prom invite, but her home life is still difficult-her stepmother "is trying to win some kind of bitch-of-the-year award." To confuse matters, she feels an artistic connection with Sam, whose conversation and interests make Connor seem more ornamental than substantial. While savvy readers will anticipate Lucy's ultimate pairing and improved family relationships, most teens won't be disappointed in the pleasant confection of wit, teen angst, shopping, girl talk, and flirtation. Kantor caters well to the witty-romance, girl-power book market, supplying a worthy offering for many who might not read otherwise.-Suzanne Gordon, Richards Middle School, Lawrenceville, GA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information. ( )