San Francisco Bay Area, California

Once upon a time, there was a widower, a quirky inventor, but a loving father. His beautiful daughter, Cindy Ellis, attended Castle High School with her two best friends forever (BFF), Lizzie and Georgie. The father remarried, thinking to provide companionship for himself and a new family for Cindy. His new wife, Irina, was haughty, as were her two daughters, who hated Cindy, thinking her inferior and treating her like a servant. Then one day, the worst happened, Cindy’s father died, leaving her in the not so tender care of Irina and her daughters. Irina had no thought to waste any money on Cindy, whom she put to work at her spa. In desperation, Cindy conceived a plan; she applied to attend Manderly Prep, the snobby high school her stepsisters attended. She would use her grades at this prestigious school as a springboard to attend a good college, preferably on the east coast, and never come back. She was on a full scholarship, so from the first day of school, her stepsisters wanted nothing to do with her; she was on her own. Can she succeed in the shark-infested waters of Manderly Prep? Can she find new best friends and, dare I say it...a boyfriend?

If MANDERLY PREP sounds a little like a version of Cinderella, it is. What young girl has not read the classic folk tale and dreamed of herself as its main character? With its clear definition of unjust oppression and triumphant reward, versions of Cinderella appear to find appeal all over the world. Carol Culver has created an up-to-date version of this beloved tale, including the prince (a studly Italian soccer player named Marco), a masquerade (high school dance), and a lost slipper (in this case a cell phone) that leads the prince to her door, all elements sure to delight young readers. They will also recognize the way the author portrays high school with its many pitfalls. This is the first attempt at writing for a younger audience for this veteran romance writer and she plans a series, the next of which, RICH GIRL, will be out next year. MANDERLY PREP is a great light reading choice for the winter.

Lisa Baca