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Seeing Cinderella

by Jenny Lundquist (Goodreads Author)

4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 · rating details · 350 ratings · 110 reviews

Calliope Meadow Anderson wishes her life could be more of a fairy tale—just like the stories she writes. Her best friend, Ellen, is acting weird, her parent's marriage is falling apart, and to top things off, she found out she needs hideously large and geeky glasses.

But Callie soon learns they aren't just any glasses—they are magical and let her read people's thoughts. For...more

Paperback, 240 pages

Published March 20th 2012 by Aladdin Mix

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2012 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade)

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2012 YA & MG Debut Authors: The Apocalypsies!

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Aug 08, 2012 Skyla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, books-i-own, bubbly-narrator, bullying, childrens-book, cool-author, first-time-reading-this-author, goodreads-first-reads

A copy of this book was provided by the author via Goodreads First Reads

I have just opened the envelope for this book and I've already decided this author is too cute for words. It had a little sticky note on it saying Thanks for participating in the giveaway! Happy Reading. =) Jenny .

This was one of the most adorable books I have read it awhile. It was pure fluff and it was totally exactly what I needed right now.

Like Callie I was always the person everyone thought was stuck up because I ju...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Monaliz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, arc, in-my-bookshelf, read-2012, favorites

My rating: 5/5 stars
Read the review in my blog!

May contain some spoilers
Calliope is kind of a loner and she likes to write stories. She's kind of geeky, and it certainly doesn't help that she'll need glasses.
That's when her sort of fairy godmother steps in, and that's when Callie receives her magical glasses. And they're magical because they let her see people's hidden thoughts. And she realizes that nothing's like she thought it was.

I really don't want to spoil too much, because this is suc...more My rating: 5/5 stars
Read the review in my blog!

May contain some spoilers
Calliope is kind of a loner and she likes to write stories. She's kind of geeky, and it certainly doesn't help that she'll need glasses.
That's when her sort of fairy godmother steps in, and that's when Callie receives her magical glasses. And they're magical because they let her see people's hidden thoughts. And she realizes that nothing's like she thought it was.

I really don't want to spoil too much, because this is such a wonderful story to read! Basically she learns that nothing's what it seems and everyone has hidden secrets, even the friends you think you know the best. Or your parents. And the one you think is the bad guy, isn't always. The motives behind people's actions might not be what you think they are. And, the most important thing I should've known when I was growing up: What ever you think about yourself, it may not be what the others thinks.

I have to say that I absolutely adore the picture of Jenny the 7th grader (can be found on her homepage)!
It's about excactly the same as mine! I'm few years younger than Jenny, so in my 7th grade picture I'm not wearing polo shirt, but a flanel shirt. Orange. And brown. And my glasses were a little smaller, since it was year.. umm.. seriously, I can't remember and I'm too lazy to count.
But anyway. I was the girl with the frizzy hair (I do have frizzy hair still, but now I know how to use straightening iron...). I was also 10 cm's (4 inches) taller than any other boy or girl in my class. So yeah, I feel the pain.

I also had louzy best friend, who made me and this other girl compete for her attention, until she found a boyfriend, and me and the other girl became friends. So it was kind of painful to read this book, but painful only because it reminds us, the girls with frizzy hair, what it was like to be that age. Especially when you didn't have magical glasses! Just ordinary ones. And nearly braces *shudder* It's nice to see how someone excactly like you, or me, survives it.

This is the book for all those frizzy haired girls who survived, or will survive, their lives even without the magical glasses!

Love,
Monaliz @ Mind Reading?(less)

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Dec 07, 2011 Stefanie Wass rated it 5 of 5 stars

Top Five Reasons To Read SEEING CINDERELLA, by Jenny Lundquist:

1. The Premise: Calliope Meadow Anderson (“Callie”) finds out she needs glasses. Her new frames are hideously large—a total nightmare, except for one cool feature: When Callie wears them, computer screens appear over everyone’s heads, revealing their innermost thoughts! Suddenly, Callie knows what her best friend, secret crush, and locker partner REALLY think about her. Sometimes, that’s not a good thing.

2. Callie’s new friend Ana: S...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Karen Yingling rated it 2 of 5 stars

Callie needs glasses, so her mother takes her to a run down strip mall where an odd doctor loans her a pair of ugly black frames. When she gets to school that next day, she starts to notice that the glasses allow her to read people's thoughts. This is helpful, because Callie has a lot of problems. She is struggling with math and Spanish, fighting with her best friend, unsure how to help her new neighbor Ana fit in, missing her dad, who has been kicked out of the house, and generally have a miser...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-fiction, fairy-tales-fractured-fair-tales, magic, realistic-fiction, website

Callie is starting 7th grade at a new school. She is ready for a new start. But she finds out she has to get glasses. As if her red frizzy hair and freckles aren't enough, now she has to wear big dorky glasses! But these aren't just any glasses; when she puts them on she sees bubbles over people's heads that show their thoughts. Her glasses let her read people's minds! Suddenly she knows what her best friend, her crush, her mom and everyone else thinks. But knowing what others think isn't always...more Callie is starting 7th grade at a new school. She is ready for a new start. But she finds out she has to get glasses. As if her red frizzy hair and freckles aren't enough, now she has to wear big dorky glasses! But these aren't just any glasses; when she puts them on she sees bubbles over people's heads that show their thoughts. Her glasses let her read people's minds! Suddenly she knows what her best friend, her crush, her mom and everyone else thinks. But knowing what others think isn't always a good thing. Callie must learn to navigate junior high and everything that goes along with it and figure out how to deal with the power of the glasses.

Oh 7th grade, what a terrible time for girls. Your body is changing, your emotions are changing, your friends are changing, suddenly boys become important...Callie does a great job of embodying all I remember about being in 7th grade. Of course, I didn't have magic glasses to tell me what everyone was thinking. Callie has to deal with her best friend who is suddenly not such a good friend afterall. She starts hanging out with new people and taking advantage of Callie. She has to deal with her parents splitting up and her dad not being around. And she has to deal with her new friend Ana who is definitely hiding something from her.

I really enjoyed Callie's journey in this book. She starts out as a very self-conscious loner who is afraid of making friends and talking to new people and ends up more self-assured and confident in who she is. She also learns that you can't always trust your first impressions of people and your true friends are those that act like friends and don't take advantage of you. And she learns that everyone has secrets and no one says exactly what they are thinking. The magic glasses helped her realize all of this but in the end she realized she didn't need the glasses anymore. She had grown enough to live without them. Callie is a very special character and one that was a joy to read about. I highly recommend this book.

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May 28, 2012 Chelsey rated it 4 of 5 stars

CHARMING!!! I loved the style of this book and the characters were probably my favorite part. The writing had a very comical twist because at times you just had to burst out laughing at Callie’s awkwardness. If you remember any part of your middle school days then I am sure you can relate to the funny and absurd thoughts that would sometimes enter Callie’s mind. However, she owned her awkwardness! At first she was unsure of whom she was, but I love how Callie realizes that it is perfectly accept...more CHARMING!!! I loved the style of this book and the characters were probably my favorite part. The writing had a very comical twist because at times you just had to burst out laughing at Callie’s awkwardness. If you remember any part of your middle school days then I am sure you can relate to the funny and absurd thoughts that would sometimes enter Callie’s mind. However, she owned her awkwardness! At first she was unsure of whom she was, but I love how Callie realizes that it is perfectly acceptable to have frizzy, disastrous red hair and tons of freckles.

I did not mention this in the video, but I love how Jenny incorporated Callie’s parents into the story. Parents are important for any adolescent or child and here you see firsthand how they have affected Callie’s upbringing. Her Mom and Dad are both very influential pieces to Callie’s large puzzle, but in different forms. Her parents are, at the time, separated and this takes a lot of Callie because she struggles daily trying to make sense of it all. Lundquist hits the nail on the head in adding this detail to her story because many adolescents that are Callie’s age do face problems like Callie does on a daily basis whether it be with their parents, friends, boys, or just trying to grow to accept and appreciate who they really are and who they are becoming.

Callie’s friends were another of my favorite parts of this story. We all know how girls can be; mean, devious, malicious, and downright hateful. Callie faces some trying times and some trying little girls. Her best friend, Ellen, has changed right before her eyes and Callie cannot seem to figure out why she is continually leaving her out in left field while she takes it upon herself to make new friends. Most girls go through stages like this all the time they develop and their likes and interests change so their friendships drift apart. Just another fun twist to Callie’s story! She makes new friends and develops some pretty unlikely romantic interests, but her story is definitely a fast, fun read that will take you straight back to middle school, in a good way (:

For the full review check out my blog: http://dwellinpossibilitybooks.blogsp...(less)

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Oct 10, 2012 Kris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bookreviewcenter, youngadult

Recommended for gr. 5-9.
Callie is dreading starting 7th grade, and dreading getting glasses for the first time even more. She is given a special pair of extremely dorky looking glasses by an unusual optometrist, and discovers that when she wears them she can see what other people are thinking. This is both good and bad as she struggles with an unpleasant locker-mate, the boy she has a crush on, her best friend, possible new friends, and her absent dad. In the process, she learns that everyone h...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Christa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My 3rd grade daughter loves to read. I have started looking for books now that she would like as she gets older. So when I saw this book posted on FB I bought an e-copy. I thought it was a fun book with a quirky take on the Cinderella story. Callie, a 7th grader soon to start Jr. High, needs glasses. The optometrist gives Callie a pair of special glasses while hers are on backorder. These glasses give her access to the thoughts of those around her. Callie soon finds out this gift isn't always a...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Magan (Rather Be Reading) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

Review Originally Posted on Rather Be Reading

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Callie is having trouble seeing. Though she hates the idea of wearing glasses, her mother forces her to go to the optometrist. She's given a pair of glasses she soon discovers have magical powers (even though they're huge and ugly). The glasses show her everyone's thoughts in computer-like floating screens when she wears them. The optometrist won't give her the real glasses she ordered until she learns a life lesson or two.

R...more Review Originally Posted on Rather Be Reading

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Callie is having trouble seeing. Though she hates the idea of wearing glasses, her mother forces her to go to the optometrist. She's given a pair of glasses she soon discovers have magical powers (even though they're huge and ugly). The glasses show her everyone's thoughts in computer-like floating screens when she wears them. The optometrist won't give her the real glasses she ordered until she learns a life lesson or two.

Review: I don't typically read a lot of middle grade books; occasionally I'll pick one up because seeing the characters go through their awkward phases or learning life lessons is just so innocent and fun. (I am a big fan of The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart.) When I received Seeing Cinderella in the mail, I was

a) so happy Simon and Schuster thought of me, and
b) so intrigued by these glasses Callie would be given.

I was excited to pick this book up when I had a spare moment to read; I found it laugh-out-loud funny and quite entertaining.

Callie is definitely going through an awkward phase - her best friend, Ellen, is pumped to start Middle School, but Callie's just not. She spent the whole year before fending off the nickname she loathed, Polka Dot. Now it looks like Ellen is starting to make new friends and with these crazy glasses she can see that Ellen's hiding secrets from her. And everyone is thinking awful thoughts about her glasses (if only they knew they showed Callie everyone's thoughts). She is not a strong student, and thanks to Ellen, has landed up in drama class because sneaky Ellen changed Callie's elective from art to drama. Oh yeah, and Callie's parents are separated but she doesn't feel like she has anyone she can talk to about that.

For someone who doesn't often read books about younger teenagers and is far from being thirteen, I felt like I connected with Callie so much. Lundquist did a brilliant job of getting inside Callie's head - her thoughts were always so sassy and funny, but I got to see how vulnerable and shy she was when confronted by another person. (It took me right back to that feeling of, "Oh gosh, you're talking to ME?!") The glasses gave her courage and emboldened her, but it was a fine line she walked trying not to reveal that she knew everyone's secrets. I loved seeing the growth in Callie as she realized that just like her, everyone else had insecurities and other things going on in their lives that left them far from perfect.

Seeing Cinderella felt so fully thought out. There were home life issues, a new friend that immigrated from Mexico, struggles with having a crush for the first time, best friend drama, self-esteem issues, problems with not doing perfectly in school, and a boy who wouldn't drop the Polka Dot nickname. Callie felt very real to me; I liked that she was such a relate-able character and that she wasn't an idealized teenager. So much of her reminded me of my younger sister, Ashley, when she was growing up. Ashley was into absolutely everything but school and loved playing sports. Callie finds that she's got a secret talent, too, and it's not just seeing everyone's thoughts with the special glasses.

I highly recommend you share Seeing Cinderella with your young teenagers or read it yourself! It's a great book with a lot of great lessons to be learned (that never felt overly in-my-face) throughout the quickly moving plot.(less)

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Apr 11, 2012 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-release, books-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews, 2012-debut-author, 2012-100-book-challenge, mundie-kids-reviews

I love it when a book is not only written in a way that readers of all ages will be able to identify with it, but it delivers a great message for it's targeted audience. Jenny Lundquist's debut, Seeing Cinderella is a fun, charming, fast paced read that really struck a chord with me. Though I was never shy like the story's main character Callie, I still got her as a character. I remembered what it was like to be in her shoes at that awkward age in middle school when you're trying to discover who...more I love it when a book is not only written in a way that readers of all ages will be able to identify with it, but it delivers a great message for it's targeted audience. Jenny Lundquist's debut, Seeing Cinderella is a fun, charming, fast paced read that really struck a chord with me. Though I was never shy like the story's main character Callie, I still got her as a character. I remembered what it was like to be in her shoes at that awkward age in middle school when you're trying to discover who you are, you deal with first crush, you first heart break, you realize there's someone better out there, losing best friends, being made fun of, and making new friends. This line at the beginning of the book really hit home for me,

"I see Ellen making a bunch of friends at middle school. Then I see me' - I pointed to the larger stone- "reading a book or writing a story in my journal."

"Do you find that easier than making new friends?" Dr. Ingram asked.

"Books and journals can't make fun of you or call you names."

Like Callie, at some point you try to realize that there's much more than meets the eye going on around you with your fellow classmates and friends. You realize that it's more than just okay to be who you really are. Callie has a bit of an upper hand in discovering everything that's going on around her. Like Callie, I remember vividly the horror of having to get those big ole' chunky glasses in middle school and how embarrassing it was to have to wear them. Much like Callie's, mine were for reading, but unlike hers, mine didn't allow me to read everyone's thoughts. While that might seem cool at first, after reading Callie's story there's no way I'd want to know what people are thinking, especially in middle school. Anytime Callie has her glasses on she's able to read her friends, teachers and parent's minds. I liked that Callie figures out that her glass it make it extremely easy for her to misinterpret what others are thinking, and there's more going around her than her own problems.

For me what made Callie such a great character is how relatable she is. I enjoyed getting to know her and seeing her change to the girl she becomes by the end of her story. Seeing Cinderella isn't a fairy tale retelling, but it has a lot of fairytale type qualities to it. Jenny's writing is clean cut, encouraging, and the messages she includes through out her story are ones that readers of all ages can take to heart. Aside from Callie, I really liked her Optometrist, who spoke more like a fairy godmother than an eye doctor. He not only teaches Callie a great lesson by lending her the "special" glasses, but he teaches readers something as well. When we first meet him he tells Callie his glasses, "help me see who merely needs eyewear and who requires vision correction." He reminds Callie, "You never know what you'll see when your vision is corrected."

This is one of those books that speaks a lot both with it's words and will have you reading between the lines to pick up on more of what Jenny is really getting across. Seeing Cinderella is a story I really enjoyed, and I'm looking forward to reading more books by Jenny. If you're looking for a wonderful story to spend the afternoon with, I highly recommend picking this one up! (less)

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Jun 02, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely adored this book! It was such a heartfelt and touching story, and throughout the book the main character Callie learns many morals. The morals also taught me many things, which is fabulous! This was truly one of the best books I've read this year. I'm not the kind of
person to enjoy juvenile fiction(I'm more of the fantasy type), but this was definitely an exception! This book was filled with humor, just the right amount of middle-school romance,friendship, and fun and perky twists!...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Vicky rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, read-in-2011

It takes a lot to render me speechless but Seeing Cinderella left me in complete awe. It's been a long time since I read anything from the middle-grade genre but I'm so happy I was offered an advanced review copy of this book because it was brilliant. Lundquist's work is so much more than a simple "fairytale" for young readers. No matter where you live or how old you are, you will be able to relate to this story and its characters.

My favourite was Callie, without any doubts. I loved Callie becau...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Jaime Leroy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-school

Imagine starting middle school with a brand new set of thick, black-framed glasses! That is exactly what Callie Meadows has to do, since the glasses she wants are on back order. Callie soon realizes that her new, ugly glasses have a little magic in them. With the glasses on, Callie sees word bubble over everyone’s heads with their thoughts in them. She is able to read minds!!! Unfortunately, not everything she sees is information she wants to know—with the help of these glasses, Callie will disc...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Evy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I could not put this book down. Jenny Lundquist is a new author for me, and I'll be sure to track some more of her books in the future. Seeing Cinderella was the perfect, random twist on your average geeky middle schooler who dreams of a hot guy, keeping her best friend, and not getting made fun of. This story provided all of that...but really, it's about a girl who is losing her best friend, gets a surprise ending on that hot guy thing, finds a new best friend in the most unexpected person, and...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Dana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-olympics-reading-challenge

Loved this, I thought the concept was, well, I'm sort of new to this idea so I have no idea if it is overused, original, etc., but I really do like the concept and I, at least, found it to be original. I really like how Callie hates wearing the glasses at first, and then transitions to denial (about how she's just seeing things) and then finally, acceptance. And, I really admire her loyalty (view spoiler)...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Rosalyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a charming book--it just came out and I've seen nothing but good reviews for it. In the story, Calliope (goes by Callie) dreads eighth grade, particularly after her optometrist gives her a particularly ugly pair of glasses to wear while she waits for her real glasses to come in. Only, the glasses aren't normal glasses. Not only do they help her see, but they let her see what people are actually thinking. As the weeks progress, Callie begins to learn that few people (her best friend, her...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Connie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-school

Cute story about a 13 yr. old girl named Callie who sees more than physical appearances of those around her with her new "ugly" glasses. Her and her friends go on first dates, get boyfriends, deal with family separations, and learn about sacrifices. Great ending. I liked what Callie discovered about herself along the way.

Clean read for 12 & up.
I don't remember any bad language... well, I guess the word "freaking" was used < dozen times. Does that count?

3 Star Rating: I think a young lady...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens-mg, kindle-books

This review originally appeared here at Bookalicious.org

Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist is a charming, funny, endearing modernization of the Cinderella story we all know and love. Except in this book, our fairy godmother is an optometrist, our wicked stepsisters are our best friends, our prince is not who we thought it would be, and our Cinderella is a shy, awkward young girl who must learn to see the world around her more clearly, and understand herself and the people she loves better in t...more This review originally appeared here at Bookalicious.org

Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist is a charming, funny, endearing modernization of the Cinderella story we all know and love. Except in this book, our fairy godmother is an optometrist, our wicked stepsisters are our best friends, our prince is not who we thought it would be, and our Cinderella is a shy, awkward young girl who must learn to see the world around her more clearly, and understand herself and the people she loves better in the process.

Jenny Lundquist takes the bones of the Cinderella tale and creates a really sweet coming-of-age story centered on a stellar main character, Callie, a frizzy-haired, freckled, kind of submissive, definitely snarky 12-year-old girl getting ready to start 7th grade. Yes, the ever-dreaded MIDDLE SCHOOL. In Seeing Cinderella, Callie gets a pair of magical glasses from her optometrist that allow her to see people’s thoughts, which she soon realizes is both a blessing and a curse as she and her friends in drama class set out to put on a class production of, yes, Cinderella.

Callie’s struggles and troubles at school and home will be familiar to…well, LOTS of readers. Issues with friends, boys, teachers, family–it’s all easily recognizable but varied, and is handled really well. Readers will love Callie because she is a very real character, mostly because she is made of contradictions: On one hand, she wants very much to hang onto her best friend, Ellen, and so Callie often winds up running her errands and forgoing her own wants to appease her friend. It’s both understandable and frustrating (and didn’t particularly endear Ellen to this reader). On the other hand, though, Callie is stubborn and frisky, talking back to her mom and getting snarky with her optometrist, Dr. Ingram. It’s a treat to see her own unique, more confident personality slowly form over the course of Seeing Cinderella.

There are other characters, of course, and they make Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist even better, even if that means they have to behave badly. Ana, Callie’s new friend and neighbor, is a wonderful character, and another young girl, Stacy, has a nice arc as well. Ellen is frustrating but not without her own troubles. The boys are cute and, like many people in this book, not what they seem to be, but they are not the focus here. Well, the REAL Prince Charming is not the focus; readers might find themselves hoping for just a teensy bit more of him. But Callie carries the show, and she does it more than admirably.

Younger readers will devour Seeing Cinderella and it’s adorable, breezy story about an eminently likable young character. And it certainly is all of those happy things and more. Older readers, though, might see something a little deeper and more bittersweet underneath the cute veneer that is just as satisfying: Callie’s glasses help her to see the truth about people, and of course, sometimes the truth about people is not what we imagined it would be in our youthful minds. Her friend, her crush, her father–people let Callie down in Seeing Cinderella, and watching her learn that lesson and come out of it was really special and lovely. Jenny Lundquist is certainly an author to keep your eye on!(less)

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Mar 29, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens, fiction

I enjoyed this one. The lessons the main character learns are presented in a rather obvious (to an adult!) way at the end, but for the age (late elementary to middle school), it is appropriate. This book is all about how to see things as they are and not how you wish they were, good and bad. It has a drama class, parents in the process of splitting up, a new girl from another country who is having a hard time, friends who aren't, frenemies who are actually friends, and first crushes. And a very...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Ryan Snyder added it

My Thoughts

This book was pretty cute. I won a copy of this book a while back from
A thousand Wrongs. I just read it and I loved it. haha. The character is in the 6th grade, just starting her first year of middle school, and thinks she is unattractive and dorky. She is frizzy haired, freckle- faced, and now she has to deal with wearing this unbearably hideous reading glasses? life just got complicated.

Wait. hold up, that wonky eye doctor gave her a pair of glasses that can read the thoughts of an...more My Thoughts

This book was pretty cute. I won a copy of this book a while back from
A thousand Wrongs. I just read it and I loved it. haha. The character is in the 6th grade, just starting her first year of middle school, and thinks she is unattractive and dorky. She is frizzy haired, freckle- faced, and now she has to deal with wearing this unbearably hideous reading glasses? life just got complicated.

Wait. hold up, that wonky eye doctor gave her a pair of glasses that can read the thoughts of anyone she is looking at? junk just got interesting.

now she can find out why her best (and only) friend is treating her so badly and maybe even make a few new friends while she is at. But with great power comes great responsibility. There are more important things to worry about than spying on your best friend's thoughts or trying to figure out what your long- time crush thinks of you. She has to learn what to do with her new found talent for acting (ere go the role in the school play of Cinderella), her wayward father, and that name calling bully, Charlie. And maybe even get the chance to help with something bigger than she is.

This book is very safe for younger audiences and explores the world of junior high, around that crucial time where you are breaking with old childhood friendships and developing deeper and more lasting friendships. We all remember starting middle school and having crushes. i remember all too well having the friends that were prettier than I was (hey, its true. cannot be helped) and that all the boys went after. I could really relate to Callie. I mean, I wish my dorky glasses served a higher purpose than just vision correction. Okay, I am nineteen, so i can relate to Callie when I was in middle school. lol.

This book was pretty deep in some senses though. You are sort of opened up to the harsh reality of fake friendships and one- sided friendships. Thinks that can be life changing to girls (and boys) at that age.

I love how Callie finally stood up to her friend when she was pushing her around and calling her selfish, even though Callie was trying her hardest to be the best friend she could be. You can only do so much in a friendship with a person who thinks enough is never enough. By the way, red hots were my dads favorite candy. :) brings back some memories. I loved that part of the story. torn between whether to rate this book with red hots or silly glasses. :) We shall see.

I think I may lend this book to my niece when she is just a little bit older. she is almost ten now, so she is around Callie's age. I do not know how my sister will feel about me giving her a book full of such realities just yet, Andi does not really talk a lot about friends. good lord, I do not even know who my niece's best friend is (it's me, of course). I will have to ask when next we talk. very curious, now. veeery curious............
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Mar 27, 2012 Lacey Neuman rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love this book, and I cant wait for my niece to read it! I related to Callie in so many ways. I wish I had this book when I was younger. Middle School was the most insecure and awful experiences of my life. I'm not sure I would want magic glasses to see what everyone else was thinking, but as this book shows....the ability to see doesn't always mean that we truly see things for what they are. Tears could not be held back from many of the things that see faced and laughs couldn't be stifled ove...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Frank rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful book. I knew by the pink cover this was going to be a "girlie" book but Jenny Lundquist is such a talented writer it is a great read for the male population as well as girls. In fact guys will find this a really fun read. She knows how to write humor without sarcasm something not common in today's world of sitcom. She knows how to laugh at herself and make it really fun humor.

It's all about a girl starting the 7th grade in a new school who just wants to hideout and not even b...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Brandy Painter rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, middle-grade

Originally posted at Random Musings of a Bibliophile

Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist is a light entertaining Middle Grade novel about a girl who learns to see herself and those around her a bit more clearly. With the help of some magic glasses.

Callie Anderson is dreading middle school, even more now that she has to get glasses. And not just any glasses either, super geeky big clunky black glasses. But Callie soon discovers that her glasses are special. With them on she can see anyone's real...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Aeicha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Read the complete and original review at Word Spelunking

THREE WORDS: Charming, Enchanting, Heartwarming

MY REVIEW: With a magical story, fantastic characters, and wonderful writing, Jenny Lundquist’s Seeing Cinderella has captivated and charmed me completely!

Calliope “Callie” Meadow Anderson starts middle school believing she is as far from being like Cinderella as a gal can get. Her parents’ marriage is falling apart, her classmates call her Polka Dot, her best friend is getting chummy with a ne...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Namratha Kumar rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ya-lit, urban-fantasy, books-i-love-gollum-style, journey-within

Calliope (Callie) Meadow Anderson is the quintessential wallflower. By choice. She is content to fade into the background, play second-fiddle to her beautiful and clever best friend and her sole aim in life is to wade through the murky waters of middle-school without any ripples.

Her low self-esteem can also be attributed to the fact that she is far from happy with her appearance. A head full of frizzy red hair, freckles that have earned her the moniker of 'Polka Dot' and the possibility of nerd...more Calliope (Callie) Meadow Anderson is the quintessential wallflower. By choice. She is content to fade into the background, play second-fiddle to her beautiful and clever best friend and her sole aim in life is to wade through the murky waters of middle-school without any ripples.

Her low self-esteem can also be attributed to the fact that she is far from happy with her appearance. A head full of frizzy red hair, freckles that have earned her the moniker of 'Polka Dot' and the possibility of nerd glasses for her poor vision do not make for a content seventh-grader.

But things are going to get interesting when her optometrist, the good Dr.Ingram, hands her a pair of super-geeky glasses. Suddenly she can read the thoughts of all the people around her. Yes, their hidden thoughts pop up on little screens near their heads and it's all there in blue and white for Callie to read. And digest.

Does she want to know what people really think about her? Can she deal with her best friend's two-faced opinion about her? What does her crush actually think about her? Add to that, the varying opinions, fears and insecurities of all those around her and Callie's head is spinning.

Middle-school just got a whole lot more challenging.
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I always have a soft spot for the girl who gets labelled *that weird one*. It breaks my heart to see a shy girl getting taken for a ride by her so-called friend. It makes me cringe to see the wallflower drooping as the object of her affections doesn't even know she exists.

And so...it's heart-warming to see said weird girl come into her own. And shine. And no matter how old I grow, I am juvenile enough to root for the romance between the frizzy-haired girl and the puckishly cute boy who was always in the background.

The author adds a touch of much-needed gravity with the angle of Callie's broken home dynamics. Her equation with her parents and her perceptions about their attitudes mature with the story and Callie's journey towards self-discovery.

In conclusion, Seeing Cinderella is an endearing book. It has a wonderful premise, an interesting main-lead and a host of characters who provide her and the readers with enough fodder to make the book an engaging read. (less)

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Jun 17, 2012 Krissie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I guess I'm getting a little old for the kids' books. This is more middle-grade than YA, and that influenced my experience of it. It's something I wish I could have read back in 7th or 8th grade. Even early in high school would have been helpful. I don't know how much it really would have changed my behavior, but I was very like our MC –I still am. I worry too much what people think of me and I let that prevent me from doing things I might like, even though the reality is that most people are to...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Lana Krumwiede added it

I was lucky enough to read an advanced reader copy of this book and may just say, in advance, how FABULOUS it is? I loved the main character and the mysterious glasses and the idea that understanding another person's thoughts makes you see them differently. The voice is so perfectly middle grade. Great humor, middle school drama, friendship, character growth, red hots and fairy god mothers--this book has it all!

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Mar 09, 2013 Maryellen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-read, selectively-recommend

This book was charming and frustrating and full of "thank god I never have to go back to middle school". I like dabbling in kids books when real life feels difficult, and this was a likeable escape from reality, with a little bit of a magic twist, but most of the character growth happening through actual realizations and growth - I applaud the lack of magical deus ex machina.

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Jun 22, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile

Callie is starting middle school. Her hair is frizzy, she's got so many freckles that kids call her "polka-dot," and now she needs glasses. Her best friend is ignoring her, which isn't that unusual since everybody ignores her. The glasses she gets are big and ugly but they have a special power. They let Callie see people's thoughts.

A great, fast read for tweens.

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Mar 30, 2012 Akoss rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-debs, arc-for-review

A strong and heart warming story about life in middle school. This is anything but typical even though I could see myself (younger self) in some of the situations that happened.
The voice of the main character is so strong. It pulled me in right from the start. I didn't feel like I was reading a book. It was more as if Callie sat me down to talk to me and I saw everything through her eyes.
There was a lot of character growth and although everything didn't end all nice and fancy, I felt satisfied b...more

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About Jenny Lundquist

Jenny Lundquist grew up in Huntington Beach, California, wearing glasses and wishing they had magic powers. They didn't, but they did help her earn a degree in intercultural studies at Biola University. Jenny has painted an orphanage in Mexico, taught English at a university in Russia, and hopes one day to write a book at a café in Paris. Jenny and her husband live in northern California with thei...more

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