Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Audiobook Review: Flunked by Jen Calonita


Series: Fairy Tale Reform School #1
Unabridged
Narrator: Kristin Condon
5 hrs. 17 min.
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Published: 3/1/15
Source: Audiobook Jukebox for review
Would you send a villain to do a hero's job? An exciting new twisted fairy tale series from award-winning author Jen Calonita. 
Full of regret, Cinderella's wicked stepmother, Flora, has founded the Fairy Tale Reform School with the mission of turning the wicked and criminally mischievous into upstanding members of Enchantasia. 
Impish, sassy 12-year-old Gilly has a history of petty theft and she's not too sorry about it. When she lifts a hair clip, she gets tossed in reform school-for at least three months. But when she meets fellow students Jax and Kayla, she learns there's more to this school than its sweet mission. There's a battle brewing and she starts to wonder: can a villain really change?
My thoughts:
I was actually thinking this one was YA as I went into it even though the blurb does specify that Gillian is 12 years old. It didn't bother me in the least and I know already several kids I would recommend this MG audiobook.

The audiobook is just long enough to tell a story and short enough to keep the MG crowd interested. This would be a great story to take along on a car trip. It is also cute enough to keep the parents interested. Kristin Condon does an excellent job of narration. While her male voices aren't too masculine it works here since the characters haven't fully hit puberty. Kristin really keeps the story moving and interesting.

The story on the whole is a retelling where some of the fairy tale villains have reformed and are setting up a school where they are trying to catch delinquents of Enchantasia early and keep them off the villain list. This creates a cute world where everything we know is either "fact" or an exaggeration of the truth. I always find these things fun.

I give this audiobook 4 stars. I think fans of Ella Enchanted will find the same fun tongue in cheek retelling of their favorite fairytale worlds. It is also a great way to get kids into audiobooks or just a bit calmer during a long car trip. The main character is growing as, I assume, the series grows. I think it will be a fun ride.

16 comments:

  1. I adored Ella Enchanted Melissa, so I'm thinking this might be a fun read for me even if it's a tad younger than what I usually pick up. Definitely going to recommend it to my cousins as well!!

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  2. This looks super cute...I may suggest to my nieces!

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  3. Sounds adorable! Another one to share with the nieces/nephews.

    Karen @For What It's Worth

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  4. Oh this sounds perfect for our roadtrip this summer! I like ones that are entertaining for the adults as well as the kids. And that cover is adorable!

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  5. I thought this was a cute read too- and I like that it didn't really focus on romance and the like. I know it's MG, but sometimes it's still included, and I like to get away from that at times.

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  6. Ah yes I was very curious about this one but when I realized it was MG I didn't ask for it... maybe I should have, it sounds really nice.

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  7. Ahh I loved Ella Enchanted. This one has the cutest cover though way too young for me. Glad you had a good time with it Melissa even if the ages was a little surprise :)

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  8. I really loved Ella Enchanted! I think I might want to give this a listen even if it's a little too young for me. :-) Great review!

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  9. I didn't read Ella Enchanted but I loved the movie. This one sounds so stinking cute. I'll have to see if my public library has this one.

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  10. I think I may like this one. Being that I am a big fairy-tale fan, I will surely like it.

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  11. LOL--reformed fairy tale villains. That's awesome.

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