Flunked

Fairy Tale Reform School #1

by Jen Calonita

Would you send a villain to do a hero's job?
An exciting new twisted fairy tale from the award-winning author of the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series.

Gilly wouldn't call herself wicked, exactly...but when you have five little brothers and sisters and live in a run-down boot, you have to get creative to make ends meet. Gilly's a pretty good thief (if she does say so herself).

Until she gets caught.

Gilly's sentenced to three months at Fairy Tale Reform School where all of the teachers are former (super-scary) villains like the Big Bad Wolf, the Evil Queen, and Cinderella's Wicked Stepmother. Harsh. But when she meets fellow students Jax and Kayla, she learns there's more to this school than its heroic mission. There's a battle brewing and Gilly has to wonder just how good these bad guys really are?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fairy Tales, Young Adult, Magic, Fiction, Retellings

244 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2015

About the author

Hi Goodreads!
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).

I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!

I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.

I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.

I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!

xo
Jen

Reviews

[Irena BookDustMagic · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know what? I'm gonna say this once, and then, I'm gonna repeat it dozen times: This was the best fairytale retelling I have ever read. EVER!! Although, it is more of a continuation to well-known fairytales then an actuall retelling, but still..



The story follows a 12 years old Gilly who is a thief. Stealling from rich royalty is just what she does in order to bring food to her family's table (Robin Hood complex, can you tell?).

One day, after she gets cought for the third time (I just have to mention that once before, she was cought when stealing a book from Belle's library), for her punishment, she has to pack her bags and go to Fairy Tale Reform School.

That school, where breakers of the law are sent to be reformed into model citizents, is guided by the head-teacher who happens to be Cinderella's evil step mother.



That is where the story only beginns. Big Bad Wolf is most students favorite teacher, while the Evil Siren (or should we call her Sea Witch) is a dance and posture teacher.



Enchantasia is ruled by four princesses, but not everything is roses. The main reason Gilly's family have money issues is because of them. After Fairy-God mother took Gilly's father's shoe design, his shoe storehardly has customers.

This novel not only has a perfect setting in this most interesting world, but is also written very well. Reading this book was pure enjoyment, the sense of humor is just right and I really wouldn't change anything about it.

The main character, Gilly, was really likable and, since she's the narrator, she obviously had a great sence of humor.
Side characters were also interesting, Kayla being my favorite (she's a fairy).

The pace was pretty fast, it had enough action, and you can read a book in one sitting if you read fast enough.

Although this is a middle grade book, at times it felt like I was reading ya.
I also think I should say that, with it's writing style, it reminded me of Hawkins' Hex Hall.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed reading this book and am happy to continue with the series.



Read this and more reviews at my blog http://bookdustmagic.com


While reading:

So far I read 1/3 of the book and, guys, this is soooo good!
I know we are only in February but I feel like this could be one of the best books that I read this year...

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List



As you can read from the book description, Gilly is a thief, but she only does this to help her family get money to eat. She has five brothers and sisters and they live with their parents in a boot. Their father makes shoes but he's not getting much work right now. There is a reason but you have to read the book to find out why! :)

But...this time Gilly gets caught and this is her third offense!



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All of the teachers, etc in the school are former villians.. mwahhhhhhhhh

I love the big bad wolf the best, his name is Professor Wolfington :)

They can do activities at the school like riding Pegasus and all kinds of cool stuff. I thinking riding a Pegasus would be the best :)

Gilly becomes friends with Kayla and Jax, they are good friends but they are not all what they seem. And... there is something amiss in the school. Something Wicked This Way Comes.. sorry, I couldn't help myself.

I thought this was a sweet little book and I look forward to reading the next book! Isn't the cover of this book beautiful!

[Jyanx · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this book. It was an interesting idea, and it seemed cute to begin with. The execution left a lot to be desired. The characters felt more than a bit uneven to me. They weren't all that well developed, so their actions felt inconsistent, or contrary to what I knew about them. The balance between the darker aspects of the story, and the cuter ones felt off as well. It was almost like the author wasn't sure what kind of story they were writing, and it left me feeling a bit off balance. The plot was a bit simplistic, and it wasn't helped by the lack of characters I felt fully engaged in either. I think the shortness of the story didn't help, and the author tried to cram a bit too much into this book for any of it to come together well. Parts of the ending felt a bit out of left field, and, while I was glad it wasn't quite as simplistic as I feared, it still wasn't great. The message at the end also seemed to be a bit out of nowhere, and really wasn't supported by anything that came before it. A quick read, but shallow even by middle grade book standards.

[Fafa's Book Corner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review posted on Fafa's Book Corner !

Beware spoilers ahead!

DNF

This book was recommended to me by my GR friend Irena! I was really looking forward to reading this book! I loved how the synopsis sounded and I am always on the hunt for a good fairytale retelling. Unfortunately I really did not like this book.

The book begins with an announcement about how Cinderella's stepmother founded the school and it's high success rates. You are then taken to Gilly who is going to rob some blonde girls hair pin.

Gilly's been following the blonde girl and her friends for awhile now. As far as she's concerned they're all stupid because they like fashion. Once the girls make their way into a store Gilly sees this as her chance.

Gilly and the girls enter the store. She pretends to be looking at some scarfs so that the owner doesn't find her suspicious. She then makes her way over to the blonde girl and talks to her for a bit. Then tricks her into leaving her hair pin on the table. The girl forgets all about her hair pin allowing Gilly to steal it without getting caught.

I really did not like the writing style or Gilly! I found the writing style to be very childish. Gilly was annoying and thought that she was all that. She was very rude when judging those girls. Thus I dropped this book.

Overall this was not a good book. I do not recommend it.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. This was just okay.
Not as good as the synopsis hinted it would be.
I don't think I'll bother with the rest of the series.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book, but a bit on the light-weight side. I read a fair amount of middle grade/juvenile fiction, so I am not disparaging all books for this age range. I feel this one lacked substance compared to others I've read. I did so much like the heroine's journey for Gilly. She had taken up stealing to help provide for her younger siblings since there wasn't enough food for them in the wake of her cobbler father's glass slipper invention being co-opted by fairy godmothers casting spells and copying them with magic. Along with her stealing, she also had a dislike of the nobility and royalty. She's caught stealing one time too many and sent to the Fairy Tale Reform School. At first, she just wants to serve her time and go home, but while she's there, she realizes that she has important work to do and growing to accomplish.

The story idea is pretty good, and I did like the characters. I just wanted more depth. I felt that the climax fizzled and the truly evil character is barely on screen more than what felt like a page or two. I realize this is an ongoing series, but where is the drama and the thrill? I was looking forward to seeing what the author would do with baddies turned good guys (sort of), but there were some missed opportunities.

I would still give this three stars overall because it's a cute concept with some nice touches (such as Pegasus rides and merpeople who have tanks with desks in them for class); Jill does evolve realistically as a person, and I liked her friends. Beneath the humor is the angst of a girl who is hurting seeing her siblings suffering from injustice, and she had the intention of making this right, even though she went down the wrong path. I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator was pretty good. She sounded very American, which snobby person that I am, really expect fairy tale people to have vaguely British accents or something (I'd even settle for French or Eastern European). It's a buzzkill when they sound like they are from Southern California.

I think younger kids would get a kick out of this. Older kids and tweens might be disappointed compared to all the great fantasy that's available for the MG/JV audience.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story, but the plot and scenes weren't always logical and this was a little too much like Harry Potter. Would be exciting for younger readers, though!

[Susana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Arc provided by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky through Netgalley

Release Date: March 3rd





If you're looking for a cute and funny middle grade book, look no further: Author Jen Calonita's story is bound to be a winner amongst its readers, whether they're younger or older.
The only necessary requisite?
One must have a sense of humour:

"(..)a room with a sign that says: Archery—Don’t lose an eye!
Announce yourself before entering."


With a feisty heroine, an interesting and fast paced plot, and great doses of humour, Flunked could be considered as the middle grade equivalent of Hex Hall, but instead of supernaturals, you have a special school run by fairy tale characters. Oh, and there's no romance..since the character is twelve years old.

“I was caught using fairy magic for personal gain, and my family got all bent out of shape about it.” She rolls her eyes. “Is there anything wrong with wanting the baker’s son to have a crush on you? I think not!”

My reaction: Baker's Son? Peeta! *.* (in my experience a book can never go wrong with Peeta comparisons)




Characters who were at times considered as the "bad guys", are now upstanding citizens determined to reform the *cough* morally dubious ways of other wrongdoers by any means possible.

There's counselling sessions _with the ex-evil queen_ and use and abuse of self help books ~runs screaming~.

There's Cinderella' and Snow White's stepmothers_ or as Gilly says: stepmonster _ , Wolf, as in: I ate your grandmother , Wolf, and the Sea Witch _ she has a big tank don't worry!_ as the famous teachers of this prestigious prison school.

"Name: Xavier Wolfington (formerly known as “the Wolf”)
Occupation:Professor of history at Fairy Tale Reform School.)
Likes: Peace and quiet, reading history books(..)
Dislikes: Talk of his former life (Never ever mention Granny!)

My reaction when I read about characters named "Wolf"...yes, my age is showing, lol




Unfortunately the Wolf in this story doesn't have all that much protagonist :/

As you can see, this has everything to work out..and it does! In a middle grade scale.

However, I can't help wishing that there had been more character development of the secondary characters, more interaction amongst all the characters...
Basically more development all around.

Also, there's quite a lot of tell instead of show in parts that would have been "awesome" if we could have "seen" them for ourselves.
Especially with the classes these kids have!

This story appears to have been written as a stand alone, however, I for one, wouldn't mind seeing more of these characters in a near future.

[Starr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't say whether it was good or bad because it just didn't hold my interest enough to keep going.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

*NOTE: This a review of the entire series.*

Even though I'm 27, every now and then I like to read a middle-grade novel. There's something magical about a good middle-grade book. I love getting swept up in a story of good versus evil, where the good guy always wins in the end. It just leaves you with a warm and cozy feeling. I was looking through the books on my Kindle and saw that I owned all of the Fairy Tale Reform School series, and decided to binge read it. I loved it. I flew through the entire series in less than a week.

I think the FTRS series is one of the best middle-grade series I've read recently. It reminded me a lot of Harry Potter, if Harry Potter had fairy tale creatures in it. There are many similarities, such as a constant change of professors, moving hallways, and a school setting. However, FTRS series isn't a Harry Potter copycat. It takes those tropes, and turns them into something completely unique and fun to read about. I loved trying to figure out how the kids were going to solve their problems. Just when I thought the books were getting predictable, it would take a completely different. route and surprise me all over again.

At first, I thought the series should have ended after the second book. I thought that there was no way the author could keep the series interesting without jumping the shark after the way book two ended, but I was completely wrong. She shocked me with how well she continued the story with the addition of Rumplestiltskin and the Stiltskin Squad. It kept things fresh, and got me re-interested in the storyline all over again. The very subtle political references had me cracking up laughing. My only complaint is that books three and four were a bit slow at times, but I think that's because the reader is introduced to so many new characters and plot mechanics. Everything changes, and with that comes a lot of world building.

I loved the FTRS series so much. It's one of my favorite middle-grade series I've ever read. Possibly one of my favorite series in general. I thought Switched was the last book in the series because it's the last book shown on Goodreads, but I hope it isn't. Switched left a lot of unanswered questions. I hope the author writes at least one more book in the series so we can get answers. I am looking forward to the spin-off series, Royal Academy, which comes out in late 2018. I can't wait to immerse myself back into this world, and hopefully see some more of my favorite characters. I recommend this series for anyone who wants to read a great middle-grade series with some fun fairy tale and fantasy elements.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flunked takes us on a not so typical fairy tale adventure.

Gillian is one of the children that live in the shoe. The fairy princesses in charge have enacted a magical shoe production, a production that has devastated Gillian's family financially. To make ends meet, Gilly has taken to a not so legal means to earning money…she is stealing. Because of her indiscretions she is sent to Fairy Tale Reform School.

Fairy Tale reform school is filled with the misfits, the students, and “reformed” villains, the teachers, of Enchantasia. Gillian and her group of new found friends uncover a plot to over through the princesses with the Reform School playing a key role in the evil revolution.

Twisted tales have become very popular of late in both adult and children literature. Flunked is Jen Calonita’s imaginative take on this new teen and tween storyline. In her telling, Calonita uses reformed villains to pull the “at risk of becoming villain” children back into their societies norms. She also uses the not so hero/heroine characters as the only hope to save Enchantasia.

The story is absolutely based for a younger audience. I found it enjoyable but written with the young at heart, with their decision making and actions fitting their ages. It had plenty of action and twists that also opens a lot of directions for further installments in this series. For me, I found it to be a little to uncomplicated for 5 stars but I’m sure this will be a huge hit with the tween crowd.

I received this ARC copy of Fairy Tales Reform School: Flunked from SOURCEBOOKS Jabberwocky in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication March 3, 2015.

[Lovely Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

I quite enjoyed this story.

In this world, Cinderella’s evil step mother has turned over a new leaf and wants to be good, so she heads up the Fairy Tale Reform School (FTRS) to rehabilitate young people who are on the path to villainy.

Gilly is a young girl with many brothers and sisters, and whose father’s cobbler shop is going under due to Cinderella banning the further production of glass slippers (which was his best selling item). To help her family put food on the table, Gilly resorts to thievery which lands her at FTRS.

At FTRS under the tutelage of scary former villains, Gilly finds a couple of unlikely friends who help her adjust, but also suspect the reformed villain faculty of hidden nefarious agendas.

[Melanie (TBR and Beyond) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this book a 3.5 and I'm sure most younger kids would adore this one. It's really cute and moves fast. Great characters and I loved the involvement of all the fairytale characters. I will most certainly check out the second book in this series.

[Anubha (BooksFullOfLife, LifeFullOfBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to know about the aftermath of all those fairytales, this would be a great follow up book where you can see what happened to the villains from Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Sleeping beauty. How the reigns of the princesses turn out and the class discrimination that still persists. A fun adventurous magical read that will keep you wanting more of the story!

[Sonja · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this was written for a younger audience and I tried to keep that in mind while reading it. It is a great idea for a story. However, with content like 'I planted my feet on the oriental rug beneath my feet' it was a tuff go. It also seemed a little choppy.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the worst fairy tale story I've read, but definitely not my favorite either. Gilly was a little too hypocritical and selfish for me to really like her, so I hope she does better in the rest of the series. The plot of a fairy tale reform school is interesting though.

[Gilly 2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of the series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (because this book needed more stars than just five for an honest review from me) Fairy Tale Reform School is an inspiring and creative series that answers a question all us fairy tale lovers have asked at some point: What happens to the villains after the Happily Ever After?

Reasons to read Fairy Tale Reform School:
- If you are into fairy tales and magical adventures full of daring adventures, wicked curses, pirate sword fights, giants, mermaids, fairies, and countless more fairy tale fun, this is definitely the book for you! The books move quickly, which I personally admire because there is never a moment when I am bored. Every page takes you on a new adventure!
- This book is great for people who are looking for a whole universe to enjoy rather than just a story! The book setting, the kingdom of Enchantasia, is fully developed on every end and keeps the audience up to date with Happily Ever After Scrolls - Enchantasia's number one news source! What better way to keep the readers informed on the universe than by showing them the daily news? On top of that, you can find another series that also takes place in Enchantasia at the same time as FTRS! Look for Royal Academy Rebels for more of the fairy tale adventure!
- Every magical aspect of a fairy tale story is reached in the most creative and exciting way! Do you believe the magic of the fairy tale is right there in the name: Fairies!? Read about Kayla Wingtip and her family's story! Is the pirate life for you? Read about Ollie Flunklehouse and his many stories he has about life on the sea! Are you more into the old folk tale creatures like trolls and ogres? Read about Maxine Hockler, the cheerful ogre who lived through the Troll War! There are plenty more enjoyable characters each with a very special fairy tale background!
- FTRS is an inspiring story of finding the hero within you and believing in yourself! The books are narrated by a twelve year old girl, Gillian Cobbler (Gilly), who is the oldest daughter of the village shoemaker in Enchantasia. After the Fairy Godmother copied her fathers creation - the glass slipper - and started creating her own, their business took a major downfall. That would be why Gilly is a thief. She steals objects from snobby royals because she thinks they would never miss the objects she takes and uses them to provide for her five younger siblings. But obviously, that wasn't the right thing to do. She is then sentenced to Fairy Tale Reform School where their mission is "to turn wicked delinquents and former villains into future heroes". Gilly and her new friends are sent on several wild adventures as they make their way through the world of reformation and learn a little more about the person they want to be! The character growth we see in Gilly throughout the series as she transforms from her thieving self to the kingdom known hero is a fun adventure to read and one that I have always loved. In the final book - CURSED - there is a ton of noticeable character growth in Gilly and the message of believing in yourself is a beautiful lesson that I'm glad I got to read. Great series for anyone who has doubt in themselves or believes they can't change their fate.

Reasons not to read Fairy Tale Reform School:
- Every copy in the world has already been purchased because they are SO GOOD!

Overall, I recommend this series to any child reader looking for a self-motivating, cute fairy tale retelling about what happened after the well known Happily Ever After.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**

Flunked is the first book in an adorable middle grade series called Fairy Tale Reform School. I really liked this book. It put a smile on my face the whole time I was reading it. Yes, it was a younger read than I was used to, but it was perfectly suited for it's middle grade audience. The heroine is Gilly and is around 12 or 13. She is caught stealing a hair clip and is shipped off to the Fairy Tale Reform School for the mischievous children on the path to becoming a villain. I think this is such a cute idea for a magical and funny story.

I really like that we got to see the "crime" that Gilly committed to get sent to reform school as it played out, rather than just starting the book with her already there and flashing back on what brought her in. I thought it gave the readers a great perspective on what her family is like, and gave us an idea of who Gilly is. I had a hard time calling her a mini villain because she didn't seem even close to evil, but I thought she did have some flair and interesting qualities that are not anything like your typical heroine. It made her more likeable, as strange as that sounds.



I loved the fairy tale reform school setting. The professors were all ex-villains. Come on, you know that sounds like a fun school to be at! And Gilly's friends are great. This book kind of had an Ella Enchanted feel to it. I'm not completely sure why, because the story is not even close to the same, but I just kind of pictured the town and the schools to be the kind of setting from the Ella Enchanted movie with Anne Hathaway. That kind of colorful faux olde world setting? (I would really love someone else that has read the book to tell me if they felt the same way, or if I am just weird?)

Bottom Line: Flunked is a super cute book in what I think will be a great middle grade series. Heck, not just for tweens. I liked this series, and I will be continuing on with it. I loved the humor in Jen Calonita's writing. Not to mention Flunked was a whole lotta fun to read.

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

[Margarita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusing, witty and full of magic - FLUNKED has a wonderful assortment of fairytales and their characters, most notably, their villains. A wonderful book that will make you think about what defines the good from the bad, giving second chances and who your true friends are.

Gilly is a 12 year old who has developed a Robin Hood complex due to her father's dying shoemaking business. She steals from the nobles in order to help put food in her siblings bellies and smiles on their faces. One of six siblings who live in a shoe, Gilly has brought it onto herself to take the risks to do what she can. She knows that if she is caught she will be sent to Fairytale Reform School and her siblings will suffer.
When Gilly pulls off her biggest heist to date, she is completely unaware of the trail she leaves behind until she is caught. Having to see the disappointment on her families faces is hard, but being sent away to school is even worse. Who will help and look after her siblings.

Fairytale Reform School was founded by the reformed "Wicked Stepmother", Flora. After realizing how badly she mistreated Ella, Flora decided to change her ways and what better way to complete the process than to extend a hand to others who have done wrong and help them find a way to better themselves. After reforming these "villains", she recruited them to do something worthy with themselves within society and asked them to join her faculty at the school. A few of these memorable characters are - the Werewolf that ate Little Red's grandmother, the Sea Witch and the Evil Queen, who is still obsessed with apples.
The school itself resembles a castle - with ornate rooms and furniture, and nothing is lacking. Gilly's classes and meals are better than anything else she's ever had in her life. She feels guilty for not being able to take care of her siblings, but also, for living better than them too.
However, strange things have been happening at the school. Unexplained disappearances and teachers and students acting differently... something is happening. And Gilly and her friends are going to find out what it is.

What I love most about this book is Gilly's personality, she is very strong-minded and not only sticks up for what she believes in but for others too. She won't tolerate any type of bullying towards anyone and is very loyal to what and who she believes in. Gilly is definitely someone you can count on. Her new friends all fit an important role in her life and situation. There is a little magic here and there, but by all means, this is no fairytale where magic fixes everything and things are swept away with a swish of a wand. Everyone has to work hard and your best is always expected.

The story is wonderfully written and told strictly from Gilly's point of view, primarily through conversations and her thoughts. We see and know precisely what Gilly does without unnecessary details, which is exactly what my boys enjoy.

Fun, sassy and bold - we cannot wait to read the next book in this series! One of the best middle grade books of this year!


*I received an eARC from the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

[Jacob · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sigh.

I got bamboozled by a glitzy cover and a description that sounds right up my ally. It happens. In a lot of ways I got what I expected: fairy tale land, criminal in a reform school, shades of Harry Potter. What I did not expect (whether rightly or wrongly) was how strong the Harry Potter vibes would be in terms of scenes, settings, descriptions, but without any attempt to bring them to life.

What I found myself thinking, was: This could be an outline.

Flunked feels like an expanded outline where plot points and characters are wheeled through without bothering to breathe, explain, or provide texture. For example, our main character changes. This is good. She's at reform school, she needs to change. This is also good because people don't like books where characters remain the same. However, this is a case where the old saying, "show, don't tell" comes into play--we're never shown how or why the character changes. She's given the setting and the event for that change, and afterwards she has changed, but we don't see that change happen within. It's an outline that's missing all the details that provide believability in character or setting.

The good news is that Flunked is a super quick read. But the only good thing about that for me is that it meant I finished the book; had I only been 1/3rd of the way through (say), I would be DNFing it so fast your head would spin.

Maybe Flunked is a cute, vapid novel for the younger side of the YA arena. But even that age can appreciate fun, engaging characters and plots that make sense, neither of which are provided here. There are better modern spins on fairy tales, and better Harry Potter-lite novels, and Flunked offers nothing else.

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute and fun book. A little fairy tale, a little mystery, a little action, quite a bit of adventure, and a whole lot of feel good cutness!

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost always enjoy the magic school trope, and this was a cute story. It made me want to ride a Pegasus! 3.5 stars

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Flunked was and easy read for all ages. I enjoyed it a lot and the reader was great.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually listen to books geared for middle school kids, but I'm so glad I took a chance on this one. It was just what I needed after finishing a dark YA novel. It's cleaver, funny, light, cute and charming. There were a few lessons learned and even a few twists too. The only problem I had was that the ending was really rushed and a little more character development would have been nice.

It is not a fairy tale retelling, but it is a story with familiar characters. All the evil, and now guilt ridden, characters from the fairy tales are teachers at Fairy Tale Reform School. The school was founded by no other than Cinderella's evil stepmother, Flora.

"After Miri the Magic Mirror showed Flora the torture she put Ella through, Flora vowed to change her ways. “I still can’t talk about the glass slipper incident without getting upset, but I will say that I did not encourage my girls to cut off part of their feet to fit in a shoe! I’m not insane!” Flora insists."

Being that the book takes place in fairy tale land aka Enchantasia, they had a unique way of communicating gossip, breaking news and happenings that I simply adored: "Happy Ever After Scrolls which, are brought to you by FairyWeb; magically appearing on scrolls throughout Enchantasia for the last 10 years!" Happily Ever After Scrolls latest invention is the mini magical scroll.

Letters were sent via Pegasus Postal Service - Flying Letters Since The Troll War!

Law enforcement was provided by the Dwarf Police Squad. “Snow White’s dwarves got sick of the mines but love their pickaxes, so Snow found them a job where they could still use weapons-law enforcement. The squad was a joke at first-not many people are afraid of dwarves- but then Princess Ella got wise and hired a bunch of guys who are rumored to be half ogre to be the squad’s muscle. Those guys are scary”

I can't wait for book 2!

[kennedy [mackenzie] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this series last year, and the final book has come out! So, I'm rereading all the books! I forgot how good this series was!

[Shruti · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story.
Although I'm not particularly attached to it yet, I look forward to continuing with the series.

[Jaycee Ann ✞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review contains a few random statistics, my personal thoughts, and a content review! 🩷

Book - Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School #1)
Author - Jen Calonita
Genre(s) - Middle grade fantasy
Published - 2015
Trope(s) - Found family
Recommended time to read - Sept or Oct

Setting - 5/5
Characters - 5/5
Writing - 4/5
Cover - 4/5
Vibes - 5/5
Plot - 4/5
Overall - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh my gosh it felt so amazing to be back in this world! This series was one of my favorites when I was younger (probably like 9 and 10) and I’ve been wanting to re-read it forever!

Listening on audiobook was a bit different than reading it like I originally did but it was still so fun. Of course Gilly is a little bit of a cliche “I’m a tomboy and I hate things that are girly and all that crap” kind of character but I still love her, as well as everyone else!

These books kind of remind me of the Descendants movies, if only in an opposite kind of way 😂

Age Rating - 9+

No cussing, God’s name used in vain a couple times, no romance, some fantasy violence though nothing too much

[Jillyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was first drawn into the cover for Flunked. I mean, look at how pretty it is! Plus, it's no secret that I have a deep-seeded love for all things fairy tale and fantasy. I knew I had to read this one, and I'm so glad I did.

Prepare to get swept into the land of storybook legends, where gnomes and fairies and humans live together in (general) harmony. The princesses that we all know and love rule over the kingdom, the commoners live in anything from cottages to giant boots (Just ask Gilly!), and the day's news is magically transmitted to your scroll so that you never miss a beat. Part of this harmony is caused by the Fairy Tale Reform School: a boarding school run by Cinderella's (previously) wicked stepmother and a few other baddies we know- Snow White's mom and the big bad wolf among them. Their goal is to take young hooligans and teach the villainy out of them to make them upstanding citizens of Enchantasia. After getting caught on her third offense of petty theft to help feed her starving family, it's hear that Gilly is shipped.

The reform school is like if you took the castle from the Magic Kingdom and combined it with Hogwarts. You can ride pegasi, get lost as the hallways keep changing, and take cool classes like sword-fighting. I really liked the world that Calonita was able to create. By taking familiar stories from childhood and adding this new twist, it makes for a very cool setting that I was eager to learn about over the course of the book.

Gilly is fascinated too- until she starts noticing some sinister and shady behavior happening at the school, especially as it prepares for its five year anniversary ball, which all the Royals will be attending. Soon she and her friends find herself going against the villains that they've only heard about in legends in order to save the school, the Royals, and themselves.

The action is well paced and Gilly is a character that we can all look up to. She's determined and strong, and even though she was placed into a reform school in order to redeem herself of her wicked ways, she has a heart of gold and learns just what exactly she's prepared to fight for, even if it means making some pretty tough decisions along the way. She's a hero you'll cheer for time and time again, alongside her new cast of friends.

I really hope that this is the start to a series. I would love to see what happens next and live more of Gilly and her friend's adventures. I think this is a great book that middle grade kids (and even younger kids) and lovers of fairy tales will both enjoy. Thanks so much to Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read the original review on my blog.

How is it that fairy tale retellings can still be popping up all over the place? Haven't we had enough of those already? The answer is no, because authors like Jen Calonita keep finding ways to make the classics fresh again. Until they can't do that anymore, retellings are here to stay. (And I love it!)

The little twist that makes Flunked so much fun is The Fairy Tale Reform School. Known throughout Enchantasia as the place where all bad kids go, it's run by Princess Ella's not-so-wicked-anymore stepmother, and the faculty includes her two daughters, Snow White's stepmother, a sea witch, and the Big Bad Wolf. When 12-year-old Gillian is caught stealing one times too many, she's sent packing from her family's shoe and into the waiting clutches of these supposedly reformed villains.

Soon, Gilly's suspicions are aroused by odd behavior from the teachers and the occasional gargoyle attack. Mystery starts crawling out of the woodwork as she and her new friend Jax begin investigating the oddities, especially once they learn that the princesses of Enchantasia -and the prey of the faculty's former nefarious activities- are coming to FTRS for a visiting day. Someone is out to harm the princesses, and who can Gilly trust in a school full of former villains?

The idea of a reform school for would-be villains is brilliant. It's so much fun getting to see not only our classic villains, but a band of mischievous juvenile delinquents all in one place.

Gilly has some great character development. Her string of petty thefts that lead to her stay at FTRS are born of necessity. At least, that's what she tells herself. As events push her to examine the lines between 'good' and 'evil', Gilly begins to realize the easy answers aren't always the best. And in a place where would-be villains go to amend their evil ways, Gilly learns what it is to be a hero.

I love Gilly's spunk and sass; it keeps the pages turning and the story upbeat. But I admit my favorite character here was her friend Jax, fellow thief and cocky troublemaker. (It's entirely possible this was born of his striking similarities to Chase Turnleaf, another favorite of mine, since I was just coming off the high of finishing The Ever Afters by Shelby Bach when I started this.)

There are great characters throughout the story, but it really benefits from the inclusion of so many former villains. How many of us love a bad-guy-wants-to-turn-good story? How many more of us obsess over bad guys WE want to turn good? I love seeing the villains used in this new way. It makes the story fun and unique.

Some elements of Flunked were predictable, but it was still a fun romp. A good book for anyone who loves fairy tales, and especially for the younger readers.

[Mandy Sickle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gilly comes from a poor family of shoe makers, they struggle just to have enough to even eat. With her sister’s upcoming birthday Gilly steals a comb for her thinking she made it home undetected. Looks like Gilly’s luck has run out she’s been caught for the third time. She’s forced to attend the Fairy Tale Reform school run by Flora the wicked step mother of Cinderella. For three months Gilly will spend her time at the school transforming from villain into a hero’s. The school is unlike anything she would have imagined studies, flying on Pegasus and so much more.

Gilly finds friends among her fellow misfits Jax and Kayla finding a bond with each. After only being at the school for a few short weeks they are attacked by Gargoyles and Professor Harlow is controlled forced to attack Snow. Thanks to her quick thinking Gilly saves Snow as well as the rest of her follow students only to be released from school. Something is going on at the Fairy Tale Reform School maybe it’s not doing as good as expected. Will Gilly leave or figure out what’s really going on?

I forgot that the characters are only 12 they seem much older. I liked Gilly she’s only doing what she could to take care of her family. While she may be a villain in the law’s eyes I don’t see her as one. I didn’t have any issues connecting with her as a character but I didn’t love her like I would have hoped. I like that she had her friends to support her on her new adventure at the school for Fairy Tale Reform.

I’ve had Flunked on my TBR forever based on the cover alone, and this week it worked perfect for my scavenger hunt challenge so I decided to give it a shot. The concept is like a boarding school but the author puts her own twist and turns it into a villain reform school. Flunked is a fast paced story that is filled with action, mystery and a whole lot of magic. Flunked is a middle grade story which isn’t my typical read but I enjoyed it one of those books you can read in a lazy afternoon. The author has a great writing style her story flows smoothly from start to finish it’s a captivating read. I enjoyed Flunked but I didn't love it, but I am curious to check out the next one. I think the only issue I had is I kept forgetting that the main character was so young.