Cinderella 2000 [Hardcover]

Mavis Jukes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 7, 1999 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

A hilarious account of preparing for New Year's Eve for the millennium with romance, drama, shopping, two devilish stepsisters, and a happily-ever-after ending.

Ashley Ella Toral wants to spend the last hours of 1999 and the first hours of the year 2000 at the Green Hill Country Club with her (hopefully) soon-to-be boyfriend. And what's standing in the way of Ashley's romantic success? A stepmother who yells "Yoo-hoo!" to all Ashley's friends, and twin stepsisters who think there's nothing more fun than listening in on Ashley's phone conversations. At first, Ashley's stepmother, Phyllis, says that she needs a night out and so Ashley must baby-sit the twins. But then Phyllis has the bright idea of calling the mother of one of the party-throwers to get the twins invited, too! So worse than having to baby-sit, she'll have the twins at the party with her. Now Ashley isn't sure it's worth showing up to the country club at all -- never mind what she's going to wear. As the seconds tick down to the year 2000, will some fairy godmother appear to save the night so that Ashley can dance with her Prince Charming and welcome the new millennium?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This sassy Cinderella story centers on 14-year-old Ashley Ella Toral, who has just received an invitation to the biggest bash of the season, a New Millennium's Eve party held at the prestigious Ocean Crest Country Club and hosted by her heartthrob, Trevor Cranston. Thwarting her chance to usher in the year 2000 in style are her two bratty, scheming stepsisters, Paige and Jessica, and Ashley's stepmother, Phyllis, who wants Ashley to baby-sit on the night of the big event. At the same time the unpampered princess is wallowing in self-pity, her unlikely fairy godmother (Phyllis's grandmother) is flying in from Florida to bestow enough gifts, cash and service upon Ashley to make most of her dreams come true. Besides offering plenty of laughs, this updated classic adds much color to characters traditionally painted in black and white. Ashley's stepmother is not evil so much as self-centered and overwrought by financial concerns, and Ashley, virtuous though she is, can be rather testy at times. Jukes has a ball adding new twists to an all-too-familiar plot, and readers will want to get in on the fun, too. Ages 10-up. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Grade 6-8-Yet another retelling of the classic tale, this time set in northern California at the brink of the new millennium. Orphaned Ashley Ella Toral, 14, lives with her stepmother and mannerless, younger twin stepsisters. Her existence is not as bleak as the lives of many of her fabled predecessors-her stepmother, Phyllis, is merely clueless rather than truly malevolent and her stepsisters might remind many readers of their own bratty siblings. The great dilemma of Ashley's fairly benign adolescence revolves around an invitation to a posh New Year's Eve soiree. Trevor, the boy of Ashley's dreams, will be in attendance, and she frets over appropriate attire, limousine fare, and whether she'll have to baby-sit the dreaded twins on the night in question instead of attending the party. The challenge in retelling a classic fairy tale is to bring something fresh to the literary canon. Results are mixed with this particular effort. While the plot suffers from predictability, the characters are compelling in their three-dimensionality. The stepmother is the most entertaining with her atrocious fashion sense, appalling parenting skills, and quixotic displays of good-heartedness. Ashley herself is a complex teenager who is alternately endearing and annoyingly self-centered. Phyllis's Grammie as the mildly lascivious, lottery-winning fairy godmother is probably the least credible and successful. Of course, the story ends happily and perhaps too neatly. A light, humorous confection for girls who haven't outgrown princess stories.
Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (September 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385327110
• ISBN-13: 978-0385327114
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,949,031 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Definite "Can't Put it Down" Book, December 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cinderella 2000 (Hardcover)

I recieved this book for Christmas and I was very excited to get it. As soon as I could, I shut myself away in my room and began it. Despite several interruptions, I couldn't put it down. Although I am a thirteen year old girl, my favorite fairy tale has always been Cinderella and I enjoyed the modern twist Mavis Jukes put on it. If you have a daughter or just enjoy classic fairy tales, this is one to read, especially if you're open for new versions.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "a fairytail with a twist!", May 3, 2001

By 

Kate (TEXAS!!!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cinderella 2000 (Hardcover)

I really liked this book a lot, it was a really good modern day cinderella. I just couldn't put it down, i borowed my friends and wouldn't give it back untill i finished! (she wasn't too thrilled about this seeing as though she hadn't finished the book!)i especially liked how the fairy godmother was ... and how much she cared for "cinderella" i really like the book and i would recomend it to anyone who loves fairy tails with a twist!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TuRn Of ThE cEnTuRy HaPPiLy EvEr AfTeR, June 15, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Cinderella 2000: Looking Back . . . (Paperback)

Ashely Ella Toral is your typical teenage girl. She has two best friends, a stepmom and two annoying little step sisters. At the brink of the 21st century, Ashley is invited to the most important party of her life thrown by the five most popular kids in school (including the love of her life), only to find that her stepmom, Phyllis, is going out with her 80 year old, afraid to fly, grandmother! She has to babysit her bratty, soap opera addicted twin stepsisteres! Ashley is determined to get to the party for her Prince Charming at the turn of the century,but cant get rid of the "devil twins."
Cinderella 2000 is a wonderful fairy tale with a modern twist. As I read the book, I felt like I was in Ashley's shoes--like I was fighting with her stepmom and little sisters. The balance of narration and dialouge made the book an easy to read, quick page turner. It was a breeze to finish, but captivating at the same time.
Cinderella 2000 is a funny, heartwarming book. I would recommend the book to anyone who loves a good fairy tale, with a good happily ever after.