Review: Flunked by Jen Calonita

Title: Flunked

Author:  Jen Calonita
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Publishing Date:  March 3rd, 2015

Pages: 256
Genre: MG Fantasy/Fairytale Retelling

Series:  Fairy Tale Reform School  #1
Source:  Audio

 

Would you send a villain to do a hero's job? An exciting new twisted fairy tale series from award-winning author Jen Calonita.
Full of regret, Cinderella's wicked stepmother, Flora, has founded the Fairy Tale Reform School with the mission of turning the wicked and criminally mischievous into upstanding members of Enchantasia.
Impish, sassy 12-year-old Gilly has a history of petty theft and she's not too sorry about it. When she lifts a hair clip, she gets tossed in reform school-for at least three months. But when she meets fellow students Jax and Kayla, she learns there's more to this school than its sweet mission. There's a battle brewing and she starts to wonder: can a villain really change?

This book has been on my TBR for a while. The cover really drew me in when I first discovered the book and the story looked super cute, but I never did get around to reading it. I needed a short audio so this one made the list. I thought the story was cute. Super cute. There wasn't a wow factor with this book but it was enjoyable and for younger middle-grade students I think it would be great. 

This book is about a boarding school that the old villains run to keep children good. Interesting huh? The main character, Gilly is sent here because her parents are worried about their future. She gets into trouble, although it's usually trouble that started with good intentions. Gilly doesn't think she belongs in this reform school, but she doesn't have a choice. She goes, meets some friends, and unfolds a diabolic plan.  

This book was really good. I enjoyed it for the most part. I think the middle of the book, the pacing lacked some but it was still a fun read. The premise is just interesting and I knew that I needed to read this book. What took me so long I am not sure. Everything about this book drew me in, the premise, the title, the cover. It all just screamed cute. So I finally picked it up and it was cute. 

The book is a middle-grade read and it reads like a middle-grade book. There is nothing too serious and menacing in this book. It is light and fun and a very quick read. It's a great read for those times you need something to just enjoy after reading a deep and heavy read. It's also just perfect for those young girls who love a good fairytale read. 

This book somewhat reminds me of the Ilse of lost in the way that all villains have a choice. I like to see this in reads for kids. Change lives before they go bad and even if they do, there is always a chance of reforming and redemption. I tend to live my life this way and I am so into changing villains to heroes. So I love these reads. 

The main character and her friends are fun to follow. Gilly just wants to make her family's life better and it's hard when you have to steal to do this. The royalty in this world seems to have it all and the small people of the town have nothing. This is how Gilly sees it. When her parents get concerned they send Gilly away to a school that will make sure she doesn't become a bad person. I liked Gilly, it was easy to see where her heart really was since it's from her POV. She had a good heart and she was sweet and just a tad sassy, which made her fun. 

There were quite a few characters in this book. Jax was a favorite of mine. I didn't know if I would like him at first but he ended up being a pretty well-developed character with bravery and manners. I enjoyed the friendship that formed between him and Gilly and along with Kayla. They made quite the team together. 

There wasn't any romance but that is okay by me, especially in a middle-grade book. This was more a story about friendship and doing what's right. 

A very solid read for what the book is. I will for sure read more from this series. 

I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).

I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!

I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.

I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.