TRICKED

After her sister is arrested and hauled off to Fairy Tale Reform School, 12-year-old Gilly Cobbler seizes the opportunity to return to her alma mater only to find it changed under its new management.

With Rumpelstiltskin at the helm, FTRS is suddenly a whole lot less enjoyable than it used to be. Rather than concerning itself with the reformation of troubled fairy-tale characters, the new regime seems more focused on creating better villains. The white shoemaker’s daughter is determined to protect her sister, but when she and her friends discover a jar of magical beans, they focus on getting to the bottom of Rumpelstiltskin’s true plans for the school and for all of Enchantasia. Hoping to upend his schemes, they enter into a deal with the infamous trickster. But to be successful, Gilly will need to stop trying to please everyone else and begin figuring out who she wants to be. Mermaids, fairies, trolls, and princesses abound in this creative mashup of the Grimms’ most famous characters. This whimsical tale is a surprising mixture of fable, fantasy, and true coming-of-age novel. Magical problems are enhanced by real-world lessons on prejudice, bullying, and self-image.

The whimsical Grimm reboot continues.