For some teens, high school life isn't exactly easy --- especially when you're "the new kid." Staying silent in class is customary, not making eye contact in the halls is well-advised, and eating alone at the lunch table is a given. For many of these less outgoing newcomers, blending into the background is the safest route to take in order to avoid calling attention to any differences that might stick out or invite judgment from the hipper, trendier, cool crowd. Feeling invisible or lonely is hard to handle in your teenage years, but being the brunt of the in-crowd's ridicule is significantly worse --- it's torture.
When sixteen-year-old Lucy Norton and her newly-remarried father relocate from San Francisco to a posh suburb of Long Island to live with the new stepfamily, Lucy's life is turned upside down. She is friendless, virtually homeless (her new "room" consists of an air-mattress on the floor in an unfurnished basement), and is faced with the difficult challenge of getting along with her two spoiled, teeny-bopper younger stepsisters and her impossibly shallow, constantly redecorating stepmother. On top of that, her once attentive father has no time for her between his weekly trip back to the West Coast for work and his newly acquired "perfect" family. The more time she spends in her new environment, the more Lucy begins to feel like poor, pathetic Cinderella --- overworked, under-appreciated, and hopelessly alone.
As in every quintessential fairy tale, however, Lucy's life suddenly changes for the better. With just one haphazard comment in the lunchroom about sports, she captures the attention of the hottest guy in school (the star of the varsity basketball team, of course), and manages to make two best girlfriends in the process. From that moment on, her life consists of shopping and gabbing with the girls; going to "it" upperclassmen parties; making out with Connor Pearson, her Prom King boyfriend; and working on her self-portrait in the art room while simultaneously chatting up her mysterious and talented, but seriously off-putting classmate, Sam Wolff. Despite constant aggravation from her wicked stepsisters and evil stepmother, Lucy has transformed herself into the most popular chick at school in just a few short weeks, and has packed a social calendar worthy of any classmate's envy. What more could Cinderella ask for?
But, as Prom approaches and Lucy starts to feel like the time spent with Connor consists solely of wandering hands and sports talk, the fairy tale romance that she once believed was possible seems cracked. Could it be that the connection she had hoped to feel with Connor might be better suited with someone thoughtful, intelligent and quirky --- like Sam Wolff? What would everyone say if she broke up with the jock to date the art freak? Would her much sought-after and cool reputation survive if disconnected from the popular group's influence?
With plenty of trendy lingo, girlie gossip, and prom talk to go around, Melissa Kantor's second novel is a lighthearted and humorous read, perfect for fans of The Princess Diaries series. Although a bit predictable at times and maybe a smidgeon too fluffy to satiate some early teens' tastes, IF I HAVE A WICKED STEPMOTHER, WHERE'S MY PRINCE? nonetheless delivers enough fun and charm to make the reading experience a purely enjoyable one.
--- Reviewed by Alexis Burling
