Gr 4--7--"Once upon a time in the days of old, eleven fairies gathered at court before a child to hold. Only eleven, for the twelfth was dead and the thirteenth was missing." At the christening of Princess Eliana, members of the court speculate why the 13th fairy, Princess Carabosse, is missing. While the Kingdom assumes the baby has been born to King Vladimir and evil Queen Olga, the baby's actual mother is the newly dead Queen Rosanna. This series opener is broken into parts that tie the fairy tale to modern times. Part One begins with Filomena Jefferson-Cho embarking on an unexpected adventure. Filomena is a sixth grader in North Pasadena, CA, with overprotective adoptive author parents who are always telling her stories of fairies that steal kids. At school, Filomena is bullied and teased for being smart, adopted, and of mixed heritage (she is Black, Asian, and white), which propels her towards her love of reading and the "Never After" series. She, like many other die-hard fans, has eagerly awaited the 13th and final installment, only to be crushed to find out that the author mysteriously disappeared without completing the series. On her way home from the bookstore, she is followed by a boy who turns out to be the books' dashing hero, Jack the Giant Stalker. He claims the books are an actual history of the fairy tribes. Author de la Cruz injects humor into the fantastical adventure among the heavier topics, such as bullying. Jack and Alistair come to Filomena's aid, and the trio go through a portal into the real Never After. Filomena learns she may be the key to the missing Princess, and she and her new friends embark on a treacherous journey rife with dragons, ogres, and evil Queens. VERDICT This series debut has something for most readers--a complex female heroine, middle school angst, plenty of action, and magic--which will leave them eagerly turning the pages--Michele Shaw, formerly at Quail Run Elem. Sch., San Ramon, CA

Twelve-year-old Filomena Jefferson-Cho finds herself inside the magical world of her favorite fantasy series. Filomena lives in North Pasadena, California, with her mother, father, and their family pets. She is the beloved daughter of two neurotic writers who take overprotectiveness to a new level. While Filomena is just your average sixth grader who loves fairy tales--albeit one taking eighth grade algebra--unfortunately, she is also the victim of school bullying. Her life takes a turn for the fantastical when she meets Jack the Giant Stalker from her beloved Never After series; what Filomena thought were just stories turn out to be real. With her intimate knowledge of the books, Filomena travels to Never After in hopes of helping to defeat an evil queen. Equal parts whimsical and adventure-packed, Filomena's journey will entrance readers and have them rooting for the young, witty heroine. Filomena forges new friendships, confronts her bullies, and learns the truth about where she came from and who she really is. Though the villains are a bit one-dimensional, Filomena's character growth in combination with the highly entertaining delivery of her story will have readers eagerly awaiting the sequel. Filomena is described as ethnically ambiguous with curly dark hair, brown eyes, and brown skin; she was adopted by a Korean/Filipino father and British mother. A refreshing twist on well-known fairy tales. (Fantasy. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Filomena Jefferson-Cho, 12, is a huge fan of epic fairy tale mash-up series Never After, and she's anticipating the release of the 13th and final volume--until she learns that the long-deceased author apparently never wrote it. When the saga's hero, Jack the Giant Stalker, appears in her quiet hometown of North Pasadena, pursued by an ogre, she discovers that everything described in the books is true. Inadvertently accompanying Jack back to the lands of Never After, Filomena is swept up in a struggle between good and evil occurring in both worlds. The adopted daughter of interracial parents who has "curly dark hair, dark almond-shaped eyes, and skin the color of maple syrup," Filomena suffers bullying at school, making "escaping her world... one of her favorite pastimes." In this fantasy series opener, de la Cruz (Gotham High) plays with familiar fairy tale elements--riddles, quests, fantastical characters--while throwing in a heavy dose of wish fulfillment. The story stumbles somewhat where the two worlds overlap, and though late developments truncate their own emotional heft, it's a fast-paced fantasy that Land of Stories fans will enjoy. Ages 10--14. Agent: Richard Abate, 3Arts Entertainment. (Dec.)

Filomena is a big fan of the Never After books, a fantasy series set in the world of the "real" stories behind the fairy tales, and on the day the last book is finally meant to be released, she experiences a small, hair-raising, supernatural adventure in place of reading about one. Soon after, though, she finds out that the stories from her books are absolutely real. When she gets an opportunity to ditch school for an adventure in the world of Never After, it's a relief: she's tired of being bullied harshly for her mixed heritage, her distinctive fashion choices, her good academics, and the fact that she's adopted, and even though her family loves her deeply, she's eager to find a team of friends and allies outside home. Fans of fantasy and fairy tales of all kinds will delight in catching all the references to classics from "Little Miss Muffet" to Lord of the Rings, and the twist-filled plot moves along quickly with plenty of action and snappy banter. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: De la Cruz is no stranger to the best-seller lists, and a massive marketing campaign will make sure this new series starter gets plenty of attention from her many fans.