Gr. 6-9-Flinn reimagines a fairy-tale world in her latest novel. Teenaged
Johnny works as a cobbler in his mother's shoe repair shop in a posh hotel
in South Beach. He spends his days with his friend Meg and designs his own
line of shoes while dreaming of wealth to free his family from the confines
of poverty. Unexpectedly, the striking Princess Victoriana of Aloria comes
to the swanky Miami hotel for a royal visit. The super-hot partying princess
pleads for Johnny's help in finding her missing brother, and offers of money
and a royal marriage convince him to take her seriously-even when she
explains that the prince has been turned into a frog. With the aid of
a magical cloak and some headphones that allow him to hear animals speak,
Johnny embarks on a journey wherein he encounters talking swans, a fox
named Todd, and two angry giants. When he lands in hot water with an evil
witch bent on destroying him, Meg comes to his rescue. The pair journey
from South Beach to Key West, to Europe, and to Manhattan; and in the end,
Johnny finds wealth, fame, and true love. Flinn cleverly plays on some
lesser-known fairy tales to make this book a fun, romantic adventure with
likable characters. Rapid action and amusing situations make it a quick
read that will easily entice even reluctant readers.

Download File Size:7.16 MB

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