The Cinderella Society

The Cinderella Society
By Kay Cassidy
Egmont, USA, 2010. 322 pgs. Young Adult

Jess Parker is looking forward to summer; her debut as the new kid at her school has been less than wonderful, as she has managed to infuriate popular, powerful bully Lexy, and humiliate herself numerous times in front of Ryan, her crush (and Lexy's adored older brother). However, summer turns out to be way different from what Jess expected, as she is invited to join the Cinderella Society (TCS). TCS is a group all about empowering girls, and the Cindys show Jess how she needs to learn to stand up to the Wickeds, another group of girls (led by Lexy) who enjoy putting others down. Soon, Jess finds she has to decide if she wants to do things the same way the Cindys want, figure out how to stop Lexy, and determine why it is that Ryan sometimes seems interested and other times seems embarrassed of her.

This book start out great; it was interesting to see this secret society wielding its power for good and Jess and Ryan's developing romance and subsequent turbulence will appeal to many readers. However, toward the end of the book, with details about the vast empire of the Cinderella Society, slowed down the plot, and with no real resolution, readers will have to wait for the next book to get answers. I love the premise of the book; I just wish it wrapped things up a little neater.

AE