What's New

"Stanley subtly twists strands of the Cinderella story until it's something quite new and fine. . .What raises this above other re-created fairy tales is the quality of the writing, dotted with jeweled description and anchored by the strong values -- loyalty, truth, honor. Stanley helps readers understand nobility, not in the sense of aristocracy, but as it signifies dignity and decency. The gilt-and-red book jacket makes the book look like a wrapped present."

"Stanley has brewed a magical elixir that will warm the hearts of readers . . . a 21st century fairy tale, thoroughly enjoyable in its own right."

"Stanley deftly spins her various threads into a gossamer narrative that shimmers both brightly and darkly . . . Once begun, it will be hard to put down."

School Library Journal, Best Books of 2006; Booklist, Editors’ Choice 2006; Book Links, Lasting Connections of 2006; Book Links, Best New Books for the Classroom; Book Sense 2006 Summer Children's Picks List; New York Public Library, Books for the Teen Age for 2007; Anderson's Bookshop Mock Newbery List, 2006; Nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award; Nominee for the Georgia Book Award, 2007-2008; Nominee for the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award, 2009; Starred Reviews, Booklist, School Library Journal, Kirkus.

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"A classy retelling of a classic myth highlighting the meaning of real companionship."

"A mischevious turnaround on the Pygmalion myth and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, [Stanley] blends the classical and the contemporary with sly exaggeration. . . Stanley's fresh artwork, which mixes the grandeur of old classical forms and the absurdity of the new, is in perfect balance with the parody."

"Highly humorous . . . enhanced by [Stanley's] trade- mark meticulously detailed art, a great deal of fun."

THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE ALLBRIGHT ACADEMY
A sequel to The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine

a novel by Diane Stanley
HarperCollins

Franny is thrilled when she's accepted by the Allbright Academy, an elite private boarding school designed to train leaders. But she knows she's not as smart as the other kids there--or as beautiful, accomplished, or mature. The fact is, the Allbright students--from their shining teeth and flawless complexions to their sky-high test scores and long lists of honors--are absolutely perfect. Then the Allbright magic begins to rub off on Franny, too. The question is: Is this a good thing?

Can Franny and her friends, Cal, Brooklyn, and Prescott unravel the Allbright Adcademy's secret, or will they, too, succumb to its eerie perfection?

"Reassembling the cast of The Mysterious Matter of I.M. Fine, Stanley delivers another humorous and thoroughly enjoyable mystery . . . Stanley hooks readers from the start . . . . the conclusion does not disappoint."

"This suspenseful story features an all-too-plausible conflict between authoritarian control and personal freedom. The action is brisk and exciting, with authentic and often insightful dialogue. There is also a strong underlying theme of individual courage and self-determination."