Change of a Dress

Launching the Cinderella Cleaners series, this retelling of the classic story stars theater-obsessed eighth grader Diana Donato, who lives in New Jersey with her well-meaning father, strict stepmother, and spoiled stepsisters. She would love to try out for the school play, but her stepmother insists she work at the family’s dry cleaning business, alongside a cast of well-developed (and familiar) characters—e.g., co-workers who band together like Cinderella’s mice friends. One day, Diana finds tickets to the opening and cast party for the hottest show on Broadway in a customer’s coat. Knowing the owner is out of town, Diana can’t bear to see the tickets go to waste, and the store’s tailor—part fairy godmother, part Project Runway designer (to which there are countless references)—creates the perfect outfit for her. Diana’s evening is not without incident, but a fairy tale ending involving a Broadway heartthrob and a lost shoe awaits. Though the story is predictable—largely due to how closely its trajectory follows that of the original—readers will likely look forward to the next installment, Prep Cool , available simultaneously. Ages 9–12. (Apr.)