Never After: The Broken Mirror

by Melissa de la Cruz

Overview

Real life and fairy tales collide in Never After: The Broken Mirror, book three of the thrilling middle-grade saga perfect for fans of The Land of Stories series from the #1 New York Times bestselling creator of the Descendants, Melissa de la Cruz.

The Never After crew is back for another twisted adventure. This time, they’re off to Snow Country—that is, after they rescue the beleaguered Lord Sharif of Nottingham from the evil Robin Hood, who has been plaguing the land with his thievery and mischief.

But Robin’s antics aren’t the only dangers afoot in the Kingdom of Never After. At the behest of her daughter, the evil Cinderella, Queen Olga has turned Prince Charming into a Frog after his wedding to the beautiful Hortense. And how could we forget the ominous Prophecy, which still looms large over Filomena and her friends?

Along with Jack, Alistair, Gretel, Beatrice, Byron Bessley, and some new Snow Country pals like Rose Red and a chatty magic mirror, Filomena sets off to find the only ones who can save the kingdom once and for all: The League of the Seven – a group of fearless warriors devoted to fighting the ogres at any cost.

Still, new threats lurk around every corner, both in Never After and back home in North Pasadena . . . Even with the League of the Seven’s help, can Filomena and her friends rescue the land from Olga’s clutches? Or will the ogres finally prevail?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250827265
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	12/06/2022
Series:	The Chronicles of Never After , #3
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	279,185
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Melissa de la Cruz is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Publishers Weekly, and internationally bestselling author of many critically acclaimed books for readers of all ages, including the Alex&Eliza trilogy and the Descendants novels. Melissa lives in California with her husband and their daughter.
MELISSA DE LA CRUZ is the #1 New York Times, #1 Publisher’s Weekly and #1 Indie Bound bestselling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for readers of all ages, and edited the inspiring anthology of true stories, Because I Was a Girl. She grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. At Columbia University, she majored in art history and English. Melissa de la Cruz lives in West Hollywood with her husband and daughter.

Editorial Reviews

*A Kids’ Indie Next List pick*

"This third series installment offers more action-filled heroic quests...Alongside the magical fun there is emotional depth as Filomena and Jack struggle with acting courageously and also allowing themselves to share their true feelings of fear, loneliness, and helplessness. Another absorbing fairy-tale adventure." - Kirkus Reviews

"An engaging third book to the Never After series. Melissa de la Cruz is sure to delight fans of this fractured fairy tale." - School Library Journal

From the Publisher

03/01/2023

Gr 3–6—Filomena, Jack, Alistair, Beatrice, Byron Bessley, and Gretel have a whole new set of trials before them. Heading for Snow Country to save Never After from the fate of the ogres and King Richard, the group of six knows it's a race against time before the kingdom is lost to evil. Not only is Never After threatened, but so is Filomena's adoptive mother's health in Pasadena. After being sidetracked by the wily Robin Hood, the team arrives at Princess Jeanne's castle where they learn her crown has been stolen and she can't be crowned. To add to that, the evil Queen Olga is at it again, turning Prince Charming into a frog and even crossing into the mortal world. On the search for the League of Seven, who can save the kingdom, Filomena and her friends make an unlikely discovery. VERDICT An engaging third book to the "Never After" series; de la Cruz is sure to delight fans of this fractured fairy tale.

School Library Journal

2022-10-11
Filomena and her friends’ latest quest gets derailed by Robin Hood and his thievery.

Filomena Jefferson-Cho and her three best friends, Jack the Giant Stalker, Alistair, and Gretel, are on their way to Snow Country to offer their aid in finding a lost fairy. Their quest gets derailed when Robin Hood steals their belongings. Princess Jeanne of Northphalia enlists their help in retrieving the crown he stole from her as well. After rescuing Lord Sharif of Nottingham from Robin Hood, they discover that King Richard the Lionhearted is trying to steal the throne from the princess—and he needs the crown to make it official. Things get worse: In Eastphalia, Prince Charlie has turned into a frog, and even true love’s kiss won’t undo the curse. Meanwhile, back in the mortal world, Filomena’s adoptive mother has come down with a mysterious illness, and Filomena must return to her. Along the way, new friends join the quartet, and together they attempt to find the League of Seven who can save them all. This third series installment offers more action-filled heroic quests centering realistically drawn tween characters. Alongside the magical fun there is emotional depth as Filomena and Jack struggle with acting courageously and also allowing themselves to share their true feelings of fear, loneliness, and helplessness. The world of Never After is full of ethnically and racially diverse characters.

Another absorbing fairy-tale adventure. (Fantasy. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews