Cinderella Smith by Stephanie Barden

Cinderella Smith, by local Seattle author, Stephanie Barden, illustrated by Dianne Goode, is a present-day story of a Cinderella (not her real name, and one she didn't get from having a wicked stepmother or by sleeping by an ashy fireplace) who faces some of the same problems as her fairy-tale namesake.

Ferreting out all the original Cinderella elements woven throughout the 148 pages of this novel makes for a fun story, along with the realistic characters dealing with issues facing children for centuries: combining families through remarriage, handling bullies, wanting to be the star of the show, frustration with personal limitations and quirks, and making new friends.

Cinderella remains that character everyone is rooting for, even when everything is going against her.  A wave of a magic wand won't fix things instantly, but this Cinderella is smart enough to keep her friends close while trying to solve her own problems.