Book Rating:  

Cloaked by Alex Flinn Book Desciption:

I’m not your average hero. I actually wasn’t your average anything. Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop to help his mom make ends meet. But a little magic changed it all.

It all started with the curse. And the frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.

There wasn’t a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I’ve ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Everglades.

Don’t believe me? I didn’t believe it either. But you’ll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got CLOAKED.

Overview:

Cloaked by Alex Flinn is yet another retelling of seven classic fairy tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Frog Prince, The Six Swans, The Golden Bird, The Valiant Tailor, The Salad and The Fisherman and His Wife. These fairy tales were seamlessly woven together to create a new story about young shoe repairer named Johnny who aspires to become a popular shoe designer. However, Johnny’s dream was forced to take a backseat because he’s too busy making ends meet. This changes when he meets Victoriana, a publicly disgraced princess who asks him to search for her brother. Johnny was reluctant at first.. until he discovers that the princess was telling the truth: magic does exist. Will Johnny succeed in his quest? That’s up to you, dear readers to find out.

Characters:

Johnny

What makes Johnny a likeable hero is the fact that he is oozing with determination. He embarks on this quest for the sole purpose of providing comfort and stability for his mother. And like most heroes, this Johnny is also fraught with flaws. You will be frustrated by his lack of focus and constant failure to follow very simple instructions.

Meg

At first, Meg takes on the role of a doting, supportive bestfriend. However, this changes when her character suddenly becomes more interesting after the subsequent pages. Johny will discover that there is, in fact, more to Meg than what meets the eye. As Meg tries to rescue the hero from one mishap to another, readers will start to appreciate her not just for her shrewdness but also for her foresight.

Victoriana

Victoriana holds the crown for being the most mysterious and cunning character in this book. Using what could be considered as a huge display of intelligence — she manages to fool the whole world by displaying a very carefree attitude and also facilitate a secret investigation about the whereabouts of her brother.

Plot

The story’s plot often takes a few twists and turns that might make readers feel frustrated. The hero is often subjected to trials that he of course, always fails to perform. All in all, the plot seems rushed — this becomes very apparent when Johnny jumps from one crisis to another. The fairy tales incorporated in this story blends well. In fact, these fairy tales greatly contribute to the length of the book.

Raves

All the magical elements (save for one, but that will be discussed later) were seamlessly incorporated in Johnny’s very modern world.

Meg as a supporting character and love interest made the book more interesting.

Rants

The magic cloak. As a magical artifact, the cloak doesn’t seem to blend well in the story. It’s too conspicuous to not be noticed. Perhaps, if Alex Flinn chose a coat or a hat instead, it would be more effective.

The Verdict

Cloaked by Alex Flinn, like most of Flinn retellings is a delightful read. But if you are a perfectionist, you might find one or two elements that might disappoint you.

Recommendations

Cloaked by Alex Flinn is suitable for ages 9 and up.

No excessive violence.

No reference to any sexual act.

This book is also recommended to young adults and young at hearts who still believe in magic.

Thank it ?