103. The Fairy Tale Fixers #1: The Fairy Tale Cinderella. Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by Jorge Lacera. 2025. 128 pages. [Source: Library] [graphic novel; j graphic novel; fractured fairy tales; 5 stars]
First sentence: I was in the office. I'd poured myself a cup of joe and put my feet up for a well-deserved rest. Only five minutes till quitting time, and it was Friday: Pancakes for Dinner Night! But then....riinng!
Premise/plot: The Fairy Tale Fixers is a new series by Deborah Underwood. The first 'fairy tale' to be fixed by these two mice is Cinderella. GoodReads lists the names of the characters as "Fairy" and "Mouse," but I can't find the story itself referring to their names. It is written in first person narrative. The fairy tale fixer receives a phone call and reacts with some grumpiness. Heading to the library, he soon meets a mouse from the house where Cinderella lives. This mouse has escaped the story and is seeking a 'fix' to the story so that she can sleep better. The house is TOO noisy, too quarrelsome. Dressed up as a fairy, the fairy tale fixer decides that if Cinderella marries the prince, then the mouse can get some sleep. Acting as the "fairy godmother" in the story, he does his best to make sure Cinderella and the Prince meet. HOWEVER, Cinderella has no interest in the prince...she has a dream....and that dream doesn't include marriage. Can this fairy tale be fixed?
My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the narrative voice. The fairy tale fixer wears a trench coat and has a bit of an attitude! And he loves pancakes! The story is silly, fun, and clever. I am not one to be critical of Cinderella. I'm not. I don't think the story necessarily "needs" to be fixed for a modern day audience. (I don't.) But this humorous, silly fractured fairy tale is fun.
© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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