SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: THE STOLEN SLIPPERS
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.melissa-delacruz.com/
CITY: Hollywood
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 344
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born September 7, 1971, in Manila, Philippines; immigrated to United States, 1985; naturalized U.S. citizen, 2013; daughter of Bert and Ching de la Cruz; married Michael Johnston (an architect and writer), October, 2002; children: Mattie.
EDUCATION:Columbia University, B.A., 1993.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Journalist, novelist, and editor. Computer programmer for both Bankers Trust and Morgan Stanley, New York, NY, 1993-2001. Consulting producer for Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys, Sundance Channel, 2010-11, and Witches of East End, Lifetime Television, 2013-14. Cofounder and codirector of YALLWEST (young-adult book festival); member of advisory board of Facing History and Ourselves (nonprofit). Senior fashion editor, Hintmag.com. Worked as a child model and a fashion and beauty editor.
AVOCATIONS:Spending time with family, shopping, visiting museums, reading, traveling.
AWARDS:Quick Picks for Reluctant Young-Adult Readers designation, American Library Association (ALA), 2004, for The Au Pairs; Books for the Teen Age selection, New York Public Library, ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young-Adult Readers designation, and Best Children’s Books selection, Bank Street College of Education, all c. 2005, all for Fresh off the Boat; ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young-Adult Readers designation, 2005, for Skinny-Dipping; Best of the Best selection, Chicago Public Library, and ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young-Adult Readers designation, both 2006, both for Blue Bloods; Books for the Teen Age selection, 2007, for Crazy Hot; Books for the Teen Age selection, c. 2007, and ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young-Adult Readers designation, 2008, both for Masquerade; ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young-Adult Readers designation, 2016, for The Isle of the Lost.
WRITINGS
Contributor to anthologies, including Mistletoe: Four Holiday Stories, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2006; Twenty-One Proms, edited by David Levithan and Daniel Ehrenhaft, Scholastic, 2007; Reality Matters: Nineteen Writers Come Clean about the Shows We Can’t Stop Watching, edited by Anna David, It Books (New York, NY), 2010; and Snow in Love: Four Stories, Point (New York, NY), 2018. Contributor to periodicals, including Allure, CosmoGirl, Feed, Glamour, Gotham, Hamptons, Hamptons Country, Lifetime, Manhattan Style, Marie Claire, McSweeneys, Nerve, New York Press, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Seventeen, and Teen Vogue. Author of columns “Shop Tart” and “Beauty Duty.” Author of screenplays, including Angel Falls.
Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys, was adapted as a reality television series, Sundance Channel, 2010-11; Blue Bloods was adapted for graphic novel by Robert Venditti, art by Alina Urosov, Disney-Hyperion, 2013; Witches of East End was adapted as a television drama of the same name, Lifetime Television, 2013-14; The Descendants was adapted for a television movie starring Kristen Chenoweth and Dove Cameron, 2015; Summer on East End has been optioned for television; Disney purchase media rights for Twenty-nine Dates.
SIDELIGHTS
A former journalist, Melissa de la Cruz is the author of best-selling novels for teens, middle graders, and adults. While de la Cruz is best known for her “Au Pairs,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Ashleys” young-adult novel series, she has also created stand-alone stories, such as The Ring and the Crown, an historical romance, and the coming-of-age novel Something in Between. She turns to high fantasy in her “Descendants” media tie-in novels for tweens. She is also the author of the series “Alex and Eliza,” “Chronicles of Never After,” and “Queen’s Secret” for young adults.
Born in the Philippines, de la Cruz moved from Manila to San Francisco, California, with her family at age twelve. In Manila the well-off Cruz family had employed a staff of nine, including a chauffeur; as she later recalled to Amy Larocca in New York, upon arriving in the United States, “we suddenly had this suburban, immigrant life.” De la Cruz’s teen years provided the fodder for her novel Fresh off the Boat, and she became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2013.
After graduating as salutatorian of her class at San Francisco’s Convent of the Sacred Heart, de la Cruz attended Columbia University, where she majored in English and art history. She spent time as a computer programmer in New York City, and then worked as a journalist covering trends and fashions for women’s magazines. She combined her interests while writing fiction and her first adult novel, Cat’s Meow was released in 2001, with her young-adult debut, The Au Pairs, following three years later.
The Au Pairs and its sequels were inspired by the vacations de la Cruz and her husband took in the Hamptons, a resort area frequented by wealthy Manhattan residents. In the series opener readers meet Eliza, Mara, and Jacqui. Coming from different backgrounds—stuck-up Eliza hails from upstate New York, selfish and beautiful Jacqui is from Brazil, and Mara is a socially naïve, working-class girl from Massachusetts—the three teens are hired to take care of the youngest four offspring of the wealthy Perrys at the family’s summer home. Over the course of the summer, romance takes precedence over work as Mara dates the dishy Ryan Perry and Jacqui pursues his handsome brother Luke. While noting that references of teen sex, drug use, and celebrity will win over many teen readers, Amanda MacGregor added in Kliatt that de la Cruz’s “strong writing and interesting characters help set this book apart.”
The further exploits of Eliza, Mara, and Jacqui are chronicled in Skinny-Dipping, Sun-Kissed, and Crazy Hot. In a review of Skinny-Dipping in School Library Journal, Michele Capozzella predicted that de la Cruz’s “Au Pairs” series will appeal to fans of Zoey Dean’s “A-List” novels and Cecily von Ziegesar’s “Gossip Girl” saga due to its focus on “high fashion, fabulous parties, unlimited alcohol, sex, and celebrities.” “Designer labels and movie star names fall like hailstones,” quipped Ilene Cooper, the critic adding in her Booklist review that teens will find The Au Pairs and its sequels “hard to put down.”
The dark side of a family’s history is exposed in de la Cruz’s Blue Bloods, in which a group of rich Manhattan teens have powers that extend beyond their good looks, family wealth, and social connections. Twins Mimi and Jack Force, intellectual Schuyler Van Allen, and Texas transplant Bliss Llewellyn are all students at Duchesne, a prestigious prep school where the aggressive Mimi now perches atop the social pecking order. When the four reach age fifteen, they learn that they are immortal vampires who are reborn in a new infant body every generation. Now welcomed into the Conclave, a group led by the city’s oldest vampire families, the teens learn the rules that allow them to remain undetected. They feel invulnerable, until they realize that someone is deliberately targeting young vampires in a series of gruesome murders. A Kirkus Reviews writer dubbed de la Cruz’s first “Blue Bloods” novel “a juicy, voyeuristic peek into the lives of rich Manhattanites.”
Described by a Kirkus Reviews contributor as “a tasty and alluring sequel for the vampire-sex-and-fashion set,” Masquerade revolves around how a spell designed to evoke a Silver Blood results in the death of one of the coven’s vampires. Along the way, Kingsley is revealed to be a Venator, a Silver Blood who resists his nature and works to keep Blue Bloods safe. Revelations find the entire Conclave venturing to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a place of importance because the mountain atop which stands the famous “Christ the Redeemer” statue imprisons Leviathan, a powerful Silver Blood who is a brother to Lucifer. De la Cruz expands the history of the Blue Bloods in The Van Alen Legacy, which takes readers back “into the time of ancient Rome and far beyond to their origins as angels and demons,” as Vikki Terrile observed in her Voice of Youth Advocates critique. Other “Blue Bloods” novels include Misguided Angel, Bloody Valentine, and Lost in Time.
Paranormal beings are also central to de la Cruz’s “Summer on East End” series for teen readers. In Triple Moon readers meet Mardi and Molly Overbrook, twin witches and daughters of the Norse god Thor. The twins spend the summer in North Hampton, learning to harness their powers after being suspected of causing the death of two classmates. Triple Moon “mixes an epic story cycle and ancient legends with a summer beach romance, supernatural mystery, and teens-gone-wild tale,” observed a Kirkus Reviews critic.
In Double Eclipse, the second installment in de la Cruz’s “Summer on East End” series, Mardi and Molly learn that they may be referenced in a disturbing ancient prophecy. Writing in Voice of Youth Advocates, Debbie Wenk deemed this novel “a very entertaining read.”
In addition to her series work, de la Cruz has written several stand-alone novels, including Fresh off the Boat, which a contributor to Kirkus Reviews described as a “witty, trendy, coming-of-age story.” Here her story follows Vicenza Arambullo, a wealthy Filipino immigrant who experiences culture shock after her family moves to the United States. “ Fresh off the Boat is a satisfying and quietly humorous read,” Stephanie Squicciarini reported in Kliatt, and Amy Patrick remarked in School Library Journal that “the story shines because of its character development and the depiction of the cultural divide.”
In the semi-autobiographical Something in Between, de la Cruz “presents a timely and thought-provoking look at the complex reality of being young and undocumented in the United States,” according to a Publishers Weekly critic. An ambitious high-school senior, Jasmine de los Santos stands poised to reap the benefits of years of hard work: a full-ride scholarship to Stanford University. The teenager’s dreams are dashed, however, when she learns that her Filipino-born parents allowed their visas to expire years ago and the family now faces deportation. Complicating matters further, Jasmine is dating Royce Blakely, the son of a Congressman currently working to derail an immigration reform bill. “Provocative, eye-opening and poignant, Something in Between is a timely read in a troubled era,” as Anita Lock stated in BookPage.
Life in the fast-lane party culture is de la Cruz’s focus in the standalone novel Angels on Sunset Boulevard, as a dangerous cult is spawned by an Internet party site that attracts teens with its “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll” themes. School Library Journal contributor Corinda J. Humphrey explained that Angels on Sunset Boulevard is a “commentary on followers versus leaders and the ease with which teens are influenced by peer pressure.”
In Girl Stays in the Picture four teens meet in St. Tropez while filming a motion picture designed to reignite the career of a starlet fresh from rehab. As Amy S. Pattee stated in School Library Journal, the ‘behind-the-scenes’ premise and lightheartedly gossipy tone” of Girl Stays in the Picture “will win over general readers of popular fiction.”
Set in an alternate twentieth-century Europe, The Ring and the Crown follows the political and romantic maneuvering of several young royals. Aelwn Myrddyn, the daughter of the powerful sorcerer Merlin, returns from exile to learn that her childhood friend and heir to the Franco-British Empire, Princess Marie-Victoria, is facing a politically expedient marriage to Prince Leopold of Prussia. Meanwhile, Isabelle of Orleans journeys to London to reclaim Leopold, to whom she was engaged, while New York socialite Ronan Astor falls for Leopold’s younger brother, Wolf, during her voyage across the Atlantic.
“The intrigue and plots in the royal court change these relationships in unexpected ways,” wrote Deborah L. Dubois in appraising de la Cruz’s novel for Voice of Youth Advocates. A Kirkus Reviews writer stated that in The Ring and the Crown the author “effectively plaits real-world history together with what-ifs both magical and political to create a fizzy period soap opera.”
De la Cruz teamed up with her husband, Michael Johnston, to write the “Heart of Dread” trilogy of dystopian romances. In Frozen the couple introduces Natasha Kestal, a sixteen-year-old casino dealer living in New Vegas, considered a shining jewel in the toxic, ice-covered wasteland that is now dubbed the Remaining States of America. Hearing rumors of an unspoiled oasis known as the Blue, Nat embarks on a dangerous quest to locate this mythic paradise that is led by mercenary Ryan Wesson. “This swift-moving, action-packed plot is a compelling read that readers will quickly devour,” as Susan Hampe commented in Voice of Youth Advocates.
In Stolen, a sequel, Nat develops her newfound magical abilities, fulfilling her destiny as a drakonrydder while boyfriend Wes searches for a long-lost sister who possesses fantastic yet dangerous powers. The “Heart of Dread” trilogy concludes in Golden as Nat and Wes join forces to save the world from Eliza’s machinations. In Booklist, Debbie Carton applauded “the giddy pace, nonstop action, and comfortably predictable romance” de la Cruz weaves within Stolen.
A tie-in to a popular Disney movie, de la Cruz’s middle-grade novel The Isle of the Lost was described as a “fun little romp through practically every Disney movie ever made” by Mandy Laferriere in School Library Journal. Captain Hook, Shere Khan, and other defeated villains have been placed in permanent exile on the Isle of the Lost, a domed land mass where they are prevented from using magic. When a hole opens in the dome covering the island, four of the evil-doers’ children—Carlos (Cruella De Vil), Mal (Maleficent), Evie (the Evil Queen), and Jay (Jafar)—band together to locate the powerful scepter once belonging to Maleficent. The quartet’s adventures continue in Return to the Isle of the Lost.
Alex and Eliza is the first book in a historical fiction series focused on Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler. In an interview with Elise Cooper, contributor to the No Apology Book Reviews website, de la Cruz explained how she developed the idea for the series. She stated: “I took my family to see the Hamilton play about two years ago. It overwhelmed me and it helped me feel I too belonged to the American story. My daughter, nine years old at the time, became obsessed with Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. She was drawing all of these pictures of Eliza, and writing all of these things. I was so excited she wanted to find out more about her so I researched to find answers to my daughter’s questions. I got caught up in the love story, but the inspiration came from wanting to impress my child.” She told Bonnie Lynn Wagner, writer on the Broadway World website: “All the stuff that is in the novel that is similar to Hamilton [the musical] is actually stuff from the real letters so the similarity is because we were both using stuff from history. I wanted to tell a very different story.”
Love and War: An Alex and Eliza Story is the second installment in the series. It finds newlyweds Alex and Eliza dealing with family, having children, and moving to New York city. The Revolutionary War winds down, and Alex becomes more politically involved, which strains his marriage to Eliza. A Kirkus Reviews contributor noted: “Challenges for women in this period are well-depicted and add to the heart of the story.” Kevin Beach, a reviewer in Voice of Youth Advocates, commented: “It is apparent that the author conducted thorough research in fleshing out the story and it is well written.”
De la Cruz draws inspiration from Pride and Prejudice, the celebrated Jane Austen book in Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe. In this reimagining of the tale, Darcy Fitzwilliam is an investment banker in New York, who is unsure about marrying her rich but insensitive boyfriend, Carl. She returns to her small hometown in Ohio to spend Christmas with her parents and reconnects with her neighbor, Luke, who is also ambivalent about his current relationship. After kissing under the mistletoe, Darcy and Luke cannot deny their attraction to one another. They debate upending their respective lives to be together. In an interview with a writer on the Shaz’s Book Blog, de la Cruz discussed her choices in updating the Austen classic. She stated: “It always bothered me that Lizzy Bennet had so little options, like if Darcy didn’t marry her, she was going to be a poor spinster. So I wanted to write about a woman who had the world at her fingertips—so I thought why not make Darcy an alpha female? It’s also a homage to two of my favorite novels—Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld, and Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin.” “De la Cruz’s Christmas romance is quick, witty, and a must for fans of Austen retellings,” suggested a Publishers Weekly critic.
Because I Was a Girl: True Stories for Girls of All Ages, a volume edited by de la Cruz, was released in 2017. Sharon Rawlins, critic in Booklist, explained: “This uplifting book features thirty-eight short memoirs of diverse, accomplished women and girls of all ages.” Contributors include Francesca Zambello, Holly Knight, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Dolores Huerta. A Kirkus Reviews writer described the volume as “an inspiring collection and an encouragement to young girls from all walks of life.” “Thoughtful, encouraging, and honest, this compilation should inspire readers looking for guidance,” asserted a contributor to Publishers Weekly. Amanda Garrity, reviewer in Voice of Youth Advocates, suggested: “This highly recommended purchase … is for anyone seeking inspirational stories of success through perseverance.”
Someone to Love is a stand-alone young adult novel starring Olivia Blakely, a girl from a powerful family. Olivia suffers from bad self-esteem, which leads her to develop an eating disorder and self-harm habits. Making art is a singular bright spot in her life. Olivia is forced into the spotlight when her dad runs for California governor, causing her bad coping mechanisms to become worse. Meanwhile, she realizes she is in love with her best friend. Savannah Patterson, a contributor to Booklist, commented: “Filled with … teenage angst, this tale will be relevant to many young adults trying to survive daily pressures.” Writing in School Library Journal, Ashley Leffel asserted: “Self-love and acceptance succeed as overlying themes that don’t feel didactic.”
In Twenty-nine Dates, a teenage Korean girl named Ji-Su Kim is sent to California to attend a prestigious high school. Before she moves, she begins going on dates arranged by Ms. Moon, a matchmaker. In America, Ms. Moon sets her up with more boys. Ji-Su’s dates do not turn out well, but she develops crushes on her school friends, Dave and Austin. “This novel will please teens looking for a light read,” predicted Elizabeth Kahn in School Library Journal. A Kirkus Reviews critic described the book as “a surefire hit wherever lighthearted romances are popular.” Molly Horan, contributor to Booklist, remarked: “Twenty-nine Dates is a sweet, unique take on the high-school rom-com.”
(open new)The historical fiction novel All for One places Alexander Hamilton and his wife, Eliza, in New York City’s social scene. While he builds his law practice, she steps up her work with the city’s orphans after discovering she is pregnant. Alex’s upcoming duel with Aaron Burr, however, creates tension in the household. A Kirkus Reviews contributor opined that All for One is “a fitting end to a popular series.”
In The Birthday Girl, fashion designer Ellie de Florent-Stinson decides to throw herself a grand fortieth birthday party despite the domestic problems she faces. She reflects on how her age makes it increasingly difficult for her to succeed in her career and navigate the vicious social circles she occupies. A Kirkus Reviews contributor claimed: “Scandalous and bittersweet, our heroine’s charmed life seems to teeter on designer stilettos as she gets closer to the truth of who she really is.”
With Queen’s Assassin, Shadow longs for adventure and shuns the courtly life imposed on her by her mother. Instead of returning to court, she goes to rescue Caledon, the queen’s assassin. Together they infiltrate a neighboring kingdom to upset a conspiracy against Renovia. A Kirkus Reviews contributor described it as being a “pleasantly formulaic light fantasy with an appealingly strong female lead.”
In the graphic novel, Gotham High, seventeen-year-old Bruce Wayne has returned to Gotham City after being kicked out of his prestigious boarding school. He later makes friends with Jack Napier, Harvey Dent, and Selina Garcia Kyle, who turn out to have ulterior motives. A Kirkus Reviews contributor said the story is “fast-paced and entertaining.”
With Jo & Laurie, eighteen-year-old Jo struggles to write a sequel to her novel and provide for her family. She pushes back against requests for a romance story and also rejects advances from her friend, Laurie, in de la Cruz’s spin on Little Women. A Kirkus Reviews contributor stated: “Inspired by a classic, this story is best suited for those eager to revisit romance in the context of Little Women.”
In the fantasy novel, The Thirteenth Fairy, Filomena is being bullied at school. After she meets Jack the Giant Stalker, she learns of a fantastical world and travels there to help vanquish an evil queen. A Kirkus Reviews contributor referred to it as “a refreshing twist on well-known fairy tales.”
The Queen’s Secret is the sequel to The Queen’s Assassin. Shadow has been crowned Queen Lilac of Montrice but still manages secret rendezvous with her assassin lover, Caledon, while avoiding her husband. When Caledon goes off to Renovia, Lilac is left feeling envious of his ability to go adventuring while she is trapped in the palace. A Kirkus Reviews contributor lamented that “sometimes-awkward writing … inconsistent characterization, and uneven pacing plague the text.”
In High School Musical, a Utah high school drama department decides to join a High School Musical convention in Wyoming. There, they meet some of the original cast and set out to make their school’s reputation rise. A Kirkus Reviews contributor found it to be “a lighthearted and charming read.”
With The Stolen Slippers, Jack the Giant Stalker has returned to recruit Filomena once again. This time Cinderella, who stole her step-sister’s magical slippers, is causing problems, leading to the group of friends trying to get the slippers back and stopping a world-ending prophecy. A Kirkus Reviews contributor observed that the fantasy novel “switches up well-known fairy tales and fantastical stories in an exciting way.”
In Cinder & Glass, fifteen-year-old Cendrillon de Louvois struggles to adapt to court life in Versailles of 1682. She befriends the king’s illegitimate son, Auguste, but becomes a slave to her step-mother after her father dies. Cendrillon enters a competition to woo the prince just to get away from her step-family. But being back at the palace brings up feelings she has for Auguste. A Kirkus Reviews contributor called it “an intriguing historical twist on a beloved fairy tale.”(close new)
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, July 1, 2004, Ilene Cooper, review of The Au Pairs, p. 1833; April 15, 2005, Debbie Carton, review of Fresh off the Boat, p. 1447; May 15, 2006, Jennifer Mattson, review of Blue Bloods, p. 56; May 1, 2007, Whitney Scott, review of Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys: True Tales of Love, Lust, and Friendship between Straight Women and Gay Men, p. 56, and Jennifer Mattson, review of Angels on Sunset Boulevard, p. 81; September 15, 2007, Jennifer Mattson, review of Masquerade, p. 61; July 1, 2009, Debbie Carton, review of Girl Stays in the Picture, p. 52; May 15, 2012, Annie Bostrom, review of Serpent’s Kiss, p. 31; August 1, 2014, Sarah Hunter, review of Vampires of Manhattan, p. 14; November 1, 2014, Pam Spencer Holley, review of The Ring and the Crown, p. 72; November 15, 2014, Debbie Carton, review of Stolen, p. 45; May 15, 2015, Maggie Reagan, review of The Isle of the Lost, p. 67; October 15, 2015, Melissa Moore, review of Triple Moon, p. 46; August 1, 2016, Briana Shemroske, review of Something in Between, p. 64; October, 15, 2017, Savannah Patterson, review of Someone to Love, p. 54; December 15, 2017, Sharon Rawlins, review of Because I Was a Girl: True Stories for Girls of All Ages, p. 93; November 15, 2018, Molly Horan, review of Twenty-nine Dates, p. 52.
BookPage, October 1, 2016, Anita Lock, review of Something in Between, p. 26.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, January 1, 2014, Kate Quealy-Gainer, review of Frozen, p. 563; June 1, 2014, Kate Quealy-Gainer, review of The Ring and the Crown, p. 510.
Children’s Bookwatch, December 1, 2020, review of The Thirteenth Fairy.
Horn Book Guide, March 22, 2014, April Spiska, review of Frozen, p. 106; September 22, 2014, Anita L. Burkam, review of The Ring and the Crown, p. 104; March 22, 2015, Claire E. Gross, review of Stolen, p. 105.
Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2004, review of The Au Pairs, p. 535; March 15, 2005, review of Fresh off the Boat, p. 350; April 1, 2006, review of Blue Bloods, p. 344; March 1, 2007, review of Angels on Sunset Boulevard, p. 220; April 15, 2007, review of Masquerade; May 15, 2009, review of Girl Stays in the Picture; May 1, 2011, review of Witches of East End; July 1, 2012, review of Serpent’s Kiss; April 1, 2014, review of The Ring and the Crown; October 15, 2014, review of Stolen; April 15, 2015, review of The Isle of the Lost; September 15, 2015, review of Triple Moon; September 15, 2017, review of Because I Was a Girl; March 15, 2018, review of Love and War: An Alex and Eliza Story; November 1, 2018, review of Twenty-nine Dates; February 15, 2019, review of All for One; June 1, 2019, review of The Birthday Girl; December 1, 2019, review of The Queen’s Assassin; February 1, 2020, review of Gotham High; May 15, 2020, review of Jo & Laurie; October 15, 2020, review of The Thirteenth Fairy; February 1, 2021, review of The Queen’s Secret; April 1, 2021, review of High School Musical; December 1, 2021, review of The Stolen Slippers; January 15, 2022, review of Cinder & Glass.
Kliatt, September 1, 2005, Amanda MacGregor, review of The Au Pairs, p. 18; September 1, 2006, Stephanie Squicciarini, review of Fresh off the Boat, p. 21.
Library Journal, May 15, 2007, Anna Katterjohn, review of Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys, p. 103; June 1, 2012, Jennifer Anderson, review of Serpent’s Kiss, p. 91.
Los Angeles Times Book Review, August 12, 2001, Mark Rozzo, review of Cat’s Meow, p. 10.
New York, July 30, 2001, Amy Larocca, “Fall Style,” author profile.
New York Times, November 14, 2004, Penelope Green, review of The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-Inch Heels and Faux Pas, p. 15.
Publishers Weekly, July 30, 2001, review of Cat’s Meow, p. 63; June 21, 2004, review of The Au Pairs, p. 64; May 9, 2005, review of Fresh off the Boat, p. 72; June 5, 2006, review of Blue Bloods, p. 64; June 26, 2006, review of Skinny-Dipping, p. 54; March 5, 2007, review of Angels on Sunset Boulevard, p. 62; March 26, 2007, review of Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys, p. 76; January 14, 2008, review of The Ashleys, p. 58; April 25, 2011, review of Witches of East End, p. 106; January 27, 2014, review of Frozen, p. 188; July 14, 2014, review of Vampires of Manhattan, p. 55; August 15, 2016, review of Something in Between, p. 75; September 4, 2017, review of Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe, p. 73; October 9, 2017, review of Because I Was a Girl, p. 70; November 5, 2018, review of Twenty-nine Dates, p. 70; January 24, 2022, review of Cinder & Glass, p. 57.
School Library Journal, June 1, 2004, Tracy Karbel, review of The Au Pairs, p. 136; April 1, 2005, Amy Patrick, review of Fresh off the Boat, p. 130; July 1, 2005, Michele Capozzella, review of Skinny-Dipping, p. 101; June 1, 2006, Jane Cronkhite, review of Sun-Kissed, and Sharon Rawlins, review of Blue Bloods, both p. 152; April 1, 2007, Corinda J. Humphrey, review of Angels on Sunset Boulevard, p. 130; August 1, 2007, Sharon Senser, review of Masquerade, p. 114; August 1, 2009, Amy S. Pattee, review of Girl Stays in the Picture, p. 102; October 1, 2013, Ryan P. Donovan, review of Frozen, p. 120; April 1, 2014, Marissa Lieberman, review of The Ring and the Crown, p. 161; December 1, 2014, Elizabeth L. Kenyon, review of Vampires of Manhattan, p. 81; July 1, 2015, Mandy Laferriere, review of The Isle of the Lost, p. 75; November 1, 2015, Kimberly Garnick, review of Triple Moon, p. 113; September 1, 2016, Amy Thurow, review of Something in Between, p. 149; November 1, 2017, Ashley Leffel, review of Someone to Love, p. 84; December 1, 2018, Elizabeth Kahn, review of Twenty-nine Dates, p. 81.
Seventeen, March 1, 2017, review of Alex & Eliza, p. 23.
Voice of Youth Advocates, April 1, 2009, Vikki Terrile, review of Revelations, p. 62; August 1, 2010, Vikki Terrile, review of The Van Alen Legacy, p. 263; December 1, 2013, Susan Hampe, review of Frozen, p. 72; August 1, 2014, Deborah L. Dubois, review of The Ring and the Crown, p. 80; December 1, 2015, Ed Goldberg, review of Triple Moon, p. 68; December 1, 2016, Debbie Wenk, review of Double Eclipse, p. 70; December 1, 2017, Amanda Garrity, review of Because I Was a Girl, p. 76; April 1, 2018, Kevin Beach, review of Love and War, p. 55.
ONLINE
Broadway World, https://www.broadwayworld.com/ (April 28, 2017), Bonnie Lynn Wagner, author interview.
Cynsations, http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/ (September 25, 2007), Cynthia Leitich Smith, author interview.
Deadline, https://deadline.com/ (December 17, 2018), Anita Busch, author profile.
Hypable, https://www.hypable.com/ (April 10, 2020), Danielle Zimmerman, author interview.
L.A. Parent, https://www.laparent.com/ (October 20, 2017), Elena Epstein, author interview.
Leann Reads Books, https://leannreadsbooks.home.blog/ (March 2, 2021), Leann Pettit, author interview.
L.M. Durand’s Little Book Corner, https://lmdurand.com/ (May 30, 2020), L.M. Durand, author interview.
Melissa de la Cruz website, http://melissa-delacruz.com (May 1, 2022).
Nerd Daily, https://thenerddaily.com/ (November 30, 2020), author interview.
No Apology Book Reviews, https://www.noapologybookreviews.com/ (May 12, 2018), author interview.
Publishers Weekly, http://www.publishersweekly.com/ (August 1, 2013), Wendy Werris, interview with de la Cruz and Michael Johnston.
Scifi Pulse, https://www.scifipulse.net/ (July 16, 2019), Nicholas Yanes, author interview.
Shaz’s Book Blog, https://shazsbookblog.blogspot.com/ (November 9, 2017), author interview.
Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/ (October 6, 2016), Everdeen Mason, author interview.
Young Entertainment, https://youngentertainmentmag.com/ (May 17, 2021), author interview.
Young Folks, https://www.theyoungfolks.com/ (April 9, 2020), Brianna Robinson, author interview.
Melissa de la Cruz is the #1 New York Times, #1 Publisher’s Weekly and #1 IndieBound bestselling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for readers of all ages. Many of her more than fifty books have also topped USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists and been published in over twenty countries.
De la Cruz’s novel, The Isle of the Lost, the prequel to the Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants, spent more than fifty weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, fifteen at #1, and has over a million copies in print. Descendants starring Kristen Chenoweth and Dove Cameron was the #1 cable TV movie of 2015, and #5 of all time, and its soundtrack the #1 bestselling album on iTunes. The series’ subsequent books, Return to the Isle of the Lost and Rise of the Isle of the Lost, were also New York Times bestsellers for many weeks.
De la Cruz is also known for the Blue Bloods series (with three million copies in print), and the Witches of East End series. Her recent book releases include New York Times bestsellers The Queen’s Assassin and the Alex & Eliza series, as well as the graphic novel Gotham High and The Birthday Girl. Her next release is her upcoming middle grade series launch, Never After, publishing December 2020.
De la Cruz’s Hallmark Christmas movies, Christmas in Angel Falls and Pride Prejudice and Mistletoe (based on her novel), were both the top-rated movies for their Christmas season on the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. 29 Dates, her YA novel about a Korean exchange student, will soon be a feature-length movie on Disney’s streaming service, Disney+.
Melissa is also the founder and principal of Melissa de la Cruz Studio at Disney Publishing, which will create and package books in every genre and age range but with a focus on middle grade and young adult, from a diverse group of new and established writers that will appeal to all the platforms across the Disney company for a global audience. The projects will reflect Melissa’s humor and taste and range from adventure, romance and fantasy to contemporary stories.
Melissa de la Cruz is the co-director of YALLFEST (Charleston, SC) and the co-founder of YALLWEST (Santa Monica, CA), the two largest and most vibrant young adult book festivals in the country, attracting more than 30,000 readers every year.
Melissa de la Cruz 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. She lives in West Hollywood with her husband and daughter.
Melissa De La Cruz
Philippines (b.1971)
Wife of Michael Johnston
Melissa de la Cruz is the #1 New York Times, #1 Publisher’s Weekly and #1 IndieBoundbestselling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for readers of all ages. Her more than thirty books have also topped the USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists and have been published in over twenty countries.
A former fashion and beauty editor, Melissa has written for The New York Times, MarieClaire,Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
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, California with her husband and daughter.
Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Romance, Young Adult Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Romance
New Books
February 2022
(paperback)
The Stolen Slippers
(Chronicles of Never After, book 2)March 2022
(hardback)
Cinder & GlassJune 2022
(paperback)
Jo & Laurie
June 2022
(hardback)
A Secret PrincessJuly 2022
(hardback)
Dona Esmeralda, Who Ate EverythingJuly 2022
(hardback)
After Life
(Blue Bloods, book 8)
December 2022
(hardback)
Rise of the Seven
(Chronicles of Never After, book 3)
Series
Au Pairs
1. The Au Pairs (2004)
aka Beach Lane
2. Skinny-Dipping (2005)
3. Sun-kissed (2006)
4. Crazy Hot (2007)
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Blue Bloods
1. Blue Bloods (2006)
2. Masquerade (2007)
3. Revelations (2008)
4. The Van Alen Legacy (2009)
5. Misguided Angel (2010)
6. Lost In Time (2011)
7. The Gates of Paradise (2013)
8. After Life (2022)
Keys to the Repository (2010)
Bloody Valentine (2010)
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Angels On Sunset Boulevard
1. Angels On Sunset Boulevard (2007)
aka Angels on Sunset Strip
2. Angels Lie (2009)
3. The Strip (2009)
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Ashley Project
1. The Ashley Project (2007)
aka The Ashleys
2. Social Order (2008)
aka Jealous?
3. Birthday Vicious (2008)
4. Popularity Takeover (2008)
aka Lip Gloss Jungle
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Girl
1. Girl Stays in the Picture (2009)
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Beauchamp Family
0.5. Diary of the White Witch (2012)
1. Witches of East End (2011)
aka Witches of the East
2. Serpent's Kiss (2012)
3. Winds of Salem (2013)
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Wolf Pact
1. Wolf Pact, Part 1 (2012)
2. Wolf Pact, Part II (2012)
3. Wolf Pact, Part III (2012)
4. Wolf Pact, Part IV (2012)
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Heart of Dread (with Michael Johnston)
1. Frozen (2013)
2. Stolen (2014)
3. Golden (2016)
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Blue Bloods Coven
1. The Vampires of Manhattan (2014)
2. White Nights (2017)
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Ring and the Crown
1. The Ring and the Crown (2014)
2. The Lily and the Cross (2017)
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Descendants
1. The Isle of the Lost (2015)
2. Return to the Isle of the Lost (2016)
3. Rise of the Isle of the Lost (2016)
4. Escape from the Isle of the Lost (2019)
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Summer on East End
1. Triple Moon (2015)
2. Double Eclipse (2016)
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Alex and Eliza
Alex and Eliza (2017)
Love & War (2018)
All for One (2019)
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Descendants: Graphic Novel
1. The Isle of the Lost: The Graphic Novel (2017)
2. Return to the Isle of the Lost: The Graphic Novel (2019) (with Robert Venditti)
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Chronicles of Never After
1. The Thirteenth Fairy (2020)
2. The Stolen Slippers (2022)
3. Rise of the Seven (2022)
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High School Musical
High School Musical (2020)
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Queen's Secret
1. The Queen's Assassin (2020)
2. The Queen's Secret (2021)
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S.Q.U.A.D
1. The S.Q.U.A.D. (2021)
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Novels
The Girl Can't Help It! (2001)
Fresh Off the Boat (2005)
Cat's Meow (2010)
Surviving High School (2016) (with Lele Pons)
Something in Between (2016)
Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe (2017)
Someone to Love (2018)
29 Dates (2018)
The Birthday Girl (2019)
Jo & Laurie (2020) (with Margaret Stohl)
The Queen's Secrets (2021)
Cinder & Glass (2022)
A Secret Princess (2022) (with Margaret Stohl)
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Omnibus
Mistletoe (2006) (with Hailey Abbott, Aimee Friedman and Nina Malkin)
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Collections
Witches 101 (2011)
Snow in Love (2018) (with Aimee Friedman)
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Picture Books
Dona Esmeralda, Who Ate Everything (2022)
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Graphic Novels
Gotham High (2020)
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Novellas
The Five-Year Hitch (2021)
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Non fiction
How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less (2003)
The Fashionista Files (2004)
Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys (2007) (with Tom Dolby)
Because I Was a Girl (2017)
Melissa de la Cruz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Melissa de la Cruz
Melissa de la Cruz at LA Time Festival of Books 2013.jpg
Born September 7, 1971 (age 50)
Manila, Philippines
Occupation Writer
Language English
Nationality American
Alma mater Columbia University
Genre Young Adult and Teen Fiction
Notable works Blue Bloods, Witches of East End
Years active 1996–present
Spouse Michael Johnston
Children 1
Website
www.melissa-delacruz.com
Melissa de la Cruz (born 1971) is a New York Times bestselling Filipina-American author known for her work in young adult fiction. She has written several series of young adult novels, including the Au Pair series and the Blue Bloods series, and a contemporary fiction series following The Beauchamp Family, as well as a number of stand-alone novels.
Contents
1 Early life and education
2 Personal life
3 Career
4 Series
5 Bibliography
6 References
7 External links
Early life and education
Melissa de la Cruz was born in Manila, Philippines and says that she has wanted to be an author since she was eleven years old.[1]
She immigrated to the United States with her family when she was 13, in 1985.[2] The family settled in San Francisco, where she graduated from Convent of the Sacred Heart High School. She went on to study art history and English at Columbia University in New York City.[3][4] After graduation, she worked as a computer consultant.[5]
Personal life
De la Cruz is married to author Michael Johnston,[6][7] with whom she co-authored the Heart of Dread series.[2]
She lives in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, California with her husband and daughter.[8][9]
Career
She wrote her first full-length novel at 22 while living in New York City and working at Bankers Trust.[5] The novel ultimately didn't sell, but she received a suggestion by an editor at Little, Brown to try becoming a journalist to work on her professional writing credits and started working freelance.[1][5] She published her first essay in New York Press in 1996 and worked as a beauty and fashion editor up until she sold her first novel, The Cat's Meow, in 1998.[1][5] De la Cruz has published articles with The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Teen Vogue, and Harper's Magazine.[10] After her first novel's publication in 2001, she started pursuing writing full-time, after getting laid off from the U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley.[5]
Her work as a fashion writer for Marie Claire was the inspiration for How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less which she co-authored with Karen Robinovitz.[11]
Her work as a nanny and her visits to The Hamptons formed the background for the book series The Au Pairs.[12] With the first published in 2015, she has also written the original novels for Disney's Descendants franchise.
Series
Au Pairs – The first book in this series about three girls working as au pairs in The Hamptons, The Au Pairs, was published in 2004
Blue Bloods – A vampire novel series, with the first novel, Blue Bloods, published in March 2006[13]
The Ashleys – The first book in a series about girls who attend an exclusive preparatory school, The Ashleys: There's a New Name in School, was published in 2008.
The Beauchamp Family - The first book in a series about a family of witches, Witches of East End, was released in June 2011. It was adapted into a television series by Lifetime in 2013, with the show lasting two seasons before it was cancelled.[14]
Wolf Pact - This spin-off from the Blue Bloods series was released from September to December 2012 as four short e-books. It was later published in paperback.
Heart of Dread - The first novel Frozen, co-written with her husband Michael Johnston, was released on September 17, 2013[15]
The Ring & the Crown - A historical fiction series about five young adults embroiled in love, politics, and magic during a London coming-of-age season.
Alex & Eliza - A historical fiction young adult series following the romance between American founding father Alexander Hamilton and his wife Elizabeth Schuyler.
29 - A young adult contemporary series focusing on a South Korean teen and her path to finding love.
Bibliography
Au Pairs
The Au Pairs (2004)
Skinny Dipping (2005)
Sun-Kissed (2006)
Crazy Hot (2007)
Blue Bloods
Blue Bloods (2006)
Masquerade (2007)
Revelations (2008)
The Van Alen Legacy (2009)
Misguided Angel (2010)
Lost in Time (2011)
Gates of Paradise (2013)
Vampires of Manhattan (2014)
White Nights (2017)
Blue Bloods Novellas
Keys to the Repository (2010)
Bloody Valentine (2010)
The Ashleys
There's a New Name in School... (2008)
Jealous? You Know You Are... (2008)
Birthday Vicious (2008)
Lipgloss Jungle (2008)
The Beauchamp Family
Prequel: Diary of the White Witch (2012)
Witches of East End (2011)
Serpent's Kiss (2012)
Winds of Salem (2013)
Heart of Dread, co-authored with Michael Johnston
Frozen (2013)
Stolen (2014)
Golden (2016)
The Ring & the Crown
The Ring & the Crown (2014)
The Lily and the Cross (2017)
Summer on East End
Triple Moon (2015)
Double Eclipse (2016)
Disney Descendants
The Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel (2015)
Return to the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel (2016)
Rise of the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel (2017)
Escape from the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel (2019)
Alex & Eliza
Alex and Eliza (2017)
Love & War (2018)
All for One (2019)
29
29 Dates (2019)
29 Boyfriends (2019)
Never After
The Thirteenth Fairy (2020)
Stand-alone novels
Cat's Meow (2001)
How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less (co-authored with Karen Robinovitz) (2003)
The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-Inch Heels and Faux Pas (2004)[16]
Fresh off the Boat (2005)
Angels on Sunset Boulevard (2007)
Girl Stays in the Picture (2009)
Wolf Pact (2012)
Surviving High School: A Novel (2016)
Something In Between (2016)
Pride & Prejudice & Mistletoe (2017)
Someone to Love (2018)
Once Upon A River (2018) [17]
Gotham High (2020) [18]
Jo & Laurie (co-author) (2020)
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: The Road Trip (2021)
Cinder & Glass (2022)
Anthologies
Mistletoe (contributing author) (2006)
"Shelter Island" in the anthology 666: The Number of the Beast (2007)
21 Proms (2007)
"A Manhattan Love Story" in anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys (2007)[19]
"Shelter Island" a short story in anthology The Eternal Kiss (2009)
"Code of Honor" in A Thousand Beginnings and Endings, edited by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman (2018)
Melissa de la Cruz is the #1 New York Times, #1 Publishers Weekly and #1 IndieBound bestselling author of Isle of the Lost and Return to the Isle of the Lost as well as many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for readers of all ages. Her books have also topped the USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists and have been published in more than twenty countries.
A former fashion and beauty editor, Melissa has written for the New York Times, Marie Claire,Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, the San Francisco Chronicle,McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and Fox News.
Melissa 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. Today she lives in Los Angeles and Palm Springs with her husband and daughter.
Home Writers Corner Author Interviews
The Nerd Daily·Writers Corner·November 30, 2020·3 min read
Q&A: Melissa de la Cruz, Author of ‘Never After’
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Real life and fairy tales collide in Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy , book one in the new middle-grade Never After series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Descendants series, Melissa de la Cruz.
Would you please give us a short intro to who you are and what you write?
I’m the author of over sixty books for readers of all ages and am mostly known for my many bestselling series from Blue Bloods, Witches of East End, Alex and Eliza, to Disney’s Descendants series.
Can you tell readers about the plot in Never After?
Never After is about 12-year-old Filomena Jefferson-Cho, a huge fan of the Never After series of books, who finds herself living the pages of her favorite fairy tales. It’s a twist and retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story, when I discovered the original Grimm’s fairy tale did not end with the prince waking up Sleeping Beauty with true love’s kiss, but with an ogre mother-in-law, death, bloodshed and betrayal. I thought, ooh this will be fun to play with. What if the evil fairy wasn’t evil at all?
You’ve written adult, middle grade, young adult, fantasy, contemporary – it seems as if you’ve written in all the genres and age ranges, and I’m sure I’m missing some. What is your favorite genre and age group to write and why?
I don’t have a favorite, I very much enjoyed writing in the YA category for a long time, it was about ten years between my first adult novel and my second one because I was writing mostly YA. Now I’m really enjoying writing for the middle grade audience, as young readers are delightful. I usually have more than three projects going at once in different stages for different readerships.
As a little girl, were you captivated by fairy tales and which was your favorite? Which is the scariest fairy tale and why?
I think my favorite fairy tale is Sleeping Beauty for sure, I’ve always been fascinated by the evil fairy. What was her motivation? Why was she so angry? I think maybe the scariest is Rumpelstiltskin, because he wants the queen’s baby. That’s so frightening and creepy.
What is the inspiration behind writing Never After? Was there a moment where you said, “I’ve got to write this book!”?
I was at dinner with my agent and we were hashing out my idea for this fantasy meets reality story, and I literally stood up and said “AND IT’S CALLED NEVER AFTER!” It was a lightbulb moment and I knew it was going to be really fun to write.
What was the first piece of writing you ever had published?
I wrote an essay for the New York Press about racial identity.
When did you say to yourself, “Okay, now I am officially a REAL writer!”? Can you tell us about that defining moment?
When I sold my first novel to Simon and Schuster. It was truly the happiest moment of my life, I had been trying to be a published author since I was 11 years old. It was such a validation that my work was good enough to be published.
If you weren’t a writer, what other job would you want to have and why?
I’ve been a computer programmer, a journalist, a fashion editor and a beauty editor. I probably would have leaned into some kind of lifestyle consulting company. My husband, who used to be an architect, and I, when we were younger said we should have a company that tells rich people what to buy, where to vacation, how to decorate their houses. We had very strong opinions on style and where to go, what was worth your hard-earned money. Something like Goop would have been fun to create. But we like writing books.
See also
Writers Corner
Q&A: Jane Igharo, Author of ‘The Sweetest Remedy’
Do you have a set writing schedule? What do you need to have near you (or NOT need) in order to write?
I tend to work best in the mornings before lunch and in the evenings after dinner. So that’s been my schedule for the longest time. But on deadline I write all the time, so the last month of deadline I work 15-18 hour days just getting that book in shape. Basically all my waking hours are spent writing the book.
Can you tell us what’s next after the second Never After book?
I believe we will have a third book for sure, as to more than that, can’t say yet!
Words of inspiration for other writers trying to get published?
Don’t give up! Keep knocking on that door, it will open if you persist!
What is something that readers don’t know about you?
I was a child model and on the cover of a teen magazine when I was eleven years old.
Will you be picking up Never After? Tell us in the comments below!
‘Gotham High’ Interview: Author Melissa de la Cruz on Reinventing Iconic American Superheroes
BRIANNA ROBINSON APRIL 9, 2020DC Ink
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The Au Pairs. Blue Bloods. Alex & Eliza. The Descendants. The Witches of East End. For over twenty years, Melissa de la Cruz has been at the helm of some of the most beloved and favorite YA series. Her work has transcended mediums, inspiring TV series and movies. And now, with DC Comics and fantastic artistry from Thomas Pitilli, she’s turned her pen toward a graphic novel inspired by the high school years of iconic superheroes and villains: Batman, Catwoman and The Joker, adding her own fantastic spin to these well-known characters.
Gotham High is available now. Before you order a copy from your local library or bookstore, read on to find out more of her process and who among her previous characters reminds her most of Bruce, Selina and Jack.
TYF: Was your process while writing a graphic novel different from your process for writing prose novels?
Melissa de la Cruz: Yes, it’s a different kind of craft – more like screenwriting than writing a novel.
TYF: What excited you most about this project?
Melissa de la Cruz: To be able to reinvent an iconic American superhero like Batman – that is such a thrill and I’m very proud to be part of the DC universe.
DC Ink
TYF: What was it like writing such established characters–especially as teenagers?
Melissa de la Cruz: It came pretty naturally, I have been a YA writer for over 20 years, it was easy to imagine the origins of characters I’ve known forever. For instance, everyone knows Bruce Wayne is a billionaire and that his parents were killed in front of him and that Alfred his butler was his mentor – so how can I keep to the template but tell a different story? It’s like a puzzle. It was fun to figure it out.
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TYF: What was it like working with Thomas Pitilli on the artwork–was it collaborative or independent?
Melissa de la Cruz: Collaborative in that I would send Thomas images for certain things that I really cared about what they looked like – the character looks we nailed pretty early – Jack was the hardest – then I would send images of what I wanted Selina to be wearing, K-Pop stars for Ivy, then pictures of the Harvard Club in NYC for Bruce’s study, and pictures of Chinatown… then everything else Thomas took the lead on – it was great! I loved everything!
TYF: Who, if any of your characters, are as similar to teen Bruce, Selina and Jack?
Melissa de la Cruz: From my novels? Hmmm. I feel like all my characters are pretty distinct. But here goes. Selina might be a little bit like Mimi Force from Blue Bloods. Jack maybe a little bit like Wes from Heart of Dread Series. Bruce – I’m not sure I’ve written a guy who’s that alienated but maybe Cal from the Queen’s Assassin keeps to himself as well. :)
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TYF: This book is being compared to Riverdale and Gossip Girl but set in the DC Universe. Are you a fan of these shows and how did they influence you while writing Gotham High?
Melissa de la Cruz: I’m a huge Gossip Girl fan – but I’ve been writing Gossip Girl stuff before Gossip Girl – so I would say Gossip Girl was influenced by me. ;) My kid was a big fan of Riverdale, but I’m more of a Beverly Hills 90210 fan girl. :)
TYF: Are you hoping to work on more Gotham High in the future?
Melissa de la Cruz: Absolutely! :)
INTERVIEW: MARGARET STOHL & MELISSA DE LA CRUZ, AUTHORS OF JO & LAURIE – FFBC TOURS
MAY 30, 2020 L.M. DURAND
Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl and Melissa De La Cruz banner
Today, I’m thrilled to share this very sweet interview I have the pleasure to host with two passionate and talented authors, Margaret Stohl and Melissa De La Cruz. On June 2, 2020, Jo & Laurie, their retelling of Little Women, will be out in the world and I can’t wait for it.
This young adult historical fiction is published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers. This post is part of their Blog Tour hosted by FFBC Tour.
Don’t miss after the interview all the bonuses: Book Excerpt + Audiobook Excerpt + Pre Offer Offer + US Giveaway.
Q&A: Margaret Stohl and Melissa De La Cruz
JO & LAURIE
Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl and Melissa De La Cruz book cover
How did you start this collaboration and why this story in particular?
Mel: I had been toying with the idea of some kind of Little Women retelling for years and when I spoke to Margie about it, together we figured out the ‘right’ way to do it.
Margie: I studied for a PhD in 19th century American Literature and American Studies at Stanford and Yale. I’d been wanting to write a book like this ever since.
How did you share the work?
Mel: I wrote the outline, Margie wrote the sample and set the ‘tone’ and wrote the first half, I wrote the second half and then we both revised the book from top to bottom. At this point, we don’t remember what we each wrote. It just became one book.
Margie: We also fought like sisters about everything we passionately cared about. Imagine two Jo Marches writing one book! But we loved it, and we love each other, and each other’s writing…or this never would have worked.
What part did you enjoy the most when you wrote this story?
Mel: I loved seeing the characters come back to life, which Margie did, she excavated and brought them back and it was delightful to be back in the Little Women world. I enjoy writing all the romantic scenes.
Margie: I loved writing the sisters and how they connect and torment and adore each other. It reminds me of my own daughters. And I have a huge garden, where I work through a ton of my own plot problems, so it was really fun to write “Vegetable Valley,” a chapter where the Marches work out their own plots via their garden.
Do you have a favorite place to write?
Mel: Writing is a job. I work at my desk. I’m not sure if that’s a favourite place, but that’s where the work is done and it’s a pleasant place.
Margie: I write in a room covered with whiteboard walls. Literally covered, I had them painted with whiteboard paint. So my brain sort of spills out and splashes across all the walls around me. I don’t know that I could write anywhere else now.
What is your last 5 star read?
Mel: I recently finished Tayari Jones’s An American Marriage. It’s a searing, unputdownable read.
Margie: I loved Veronica Roth’s Chosen Ones and I’m right now reading Curtis Sittenfeld’s Rodham. They’re both just amazing storytellers.
Is there anything you can tell us about the book that is not in the blurb or a spoiler?
Mel: There is a charming villain in it that you have not met before who is delightfully snobby and a lot of fun to write.
Margie: The book takes a few unexpected twists in the romance department, even aside from what the title implies.
If you could describe yourself in three words or emojis, what would you would they be?
Mel: Almost Made Valedictorian
Margie: Whiteboard Superhero Farmgirl
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS!
Jo & Laurie – Synopsis
Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl and Melissa De La Cruz synopsis
Bestselling authors Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz bring us a romantic retelling of Little Women starring Jo March and her best friend, the boy next door, Theodore “Laurie” Laurence.
1869, Concord, Massachusetts: After the publication of her first novel, Jo March is shocked to discover her book of scribbles has become a bestseller, and her publisher and fans demand a sequel.
While pressured into coming up with a story, she goes to New York with her dear friend Laurie for a week of inspiration—museums, operas, and even a once-in-a-lifetime reading by Charles Dickens himself!
But Laurie has romance on his mind, and despite her growing feelings, Jo’s desire to remain independent leads her to turn down his heartfelt marriage proposal and sends the poor boy off to college heartbroken. When Laurie returns to Concord with a sophisticated new girlfriend, will Jo finally communicate her true heart’s desire or lose the love of her life forever?
Melissa de la Cruz shares why it’s important for kids to believe in themselves in her new HSMTMTS book
Mordechai Laub BlogBooksBooks - InterviewsFeaturedHSMTMTSInterview May 17, 2021 4:09am 1,042
Melissa de la Cruz is the author of the book High school Musical: The Musical: The Series: THE ROAD TRIP. The book sends the Wildcats on a crazy can’t-miss opportunity—a High School Musical convention in the next state. All the characters that are loved from the series are explored in this book, and in a different environment! Melissa lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and daughter. YEM was able to speak with Melissa about her inspirations for the book, her writing process, and some challenges she overcame while writing the book.
Young Entertainment Mag: What inspired you to write High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: THE ROAD TRIP?
Melissa de la Cruz: I loved the revival of the High School Musical franchise. I thought it was so witty and well-done and so modern. So when they asked me if I wanted to be involved, of course I said yes! I knew it would be a fun gig.
YEM: Did you watch Season 1 of the Disney+ series, what did you think of the series as a whole, do you have a favorite scene? Are there any scenes where you’re like “I wish I wrote that?”?
Melissa: I did watch it. My daughter was 12 when it came out and I once again was the “cool mom.” She was in 2nd grade when I did Descendants. While I also write screenplays my first love is books, so I was excited to contribute to the story in my ideal platform. Of course, I wish books could sing though? Ha!
YEM: Which character was your favorite to write and why? And which character do you most relate to?
Melissa: I think EJ is really fun to write, but I think because of my age I relate the most to Miss Jenn. I definitely am a slightly kooky, given to grandeur older lady now lol.
YEM: Did you work with Tim Federle on this? If yes what was that experience like? Did you read his book Better Nate Than Ever (Isn’t it amazing?!) ?
Melissa: Yes! Tim was amazing to work with—I am very lucky as he let me have as much fun with the characters and story as I wanted. There were no restrictions. He was a great cheerleader and very inspiring. Oh yes, I have read Tim’s books and love them!
YEM: Is there a message within the book that you would like your readers to leave with after reading the book?
Melissa: I think it’s so important for kids to believe in themselves, in their talents and dreams. And also to rely on the power of friendship and loyalty and working as a group. That’s what I’ve always loved about the High School Musical property.
YEM: What was your writing process like when writing this book?
Melissa: I wrote an outline and then wrote the chapters. The Instagram vignettes came naturally as a way to move the story forward in a dynamic way that would be fun to write.
YEM: What is something that you learned about yourself through writing High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: THE ROAD TRIP?
Melissa: That I am a huge Troy/Gabrielle fan as well! My daughter watched the original series when she was much younger, and we had a great time revisiting that for the book. So it was fun to see Nini and Ricky bring that dynamic back!
YEM: What was the first Young Adult book that inspired you to become a writer? And if you could have written any book, which book do you wish you could have written?
Melissa: For me, growing up in the 1980s, The Lord of the Rings was the YA book that inspired me. I loved the story of friendship and loyalty and risking it all to save the world.
YEM: What’s a good starting point for someone who wants to become a writer?
Melissa: Keep reading! Writers are readers.
YEM: What was one challenge you had while writing this book and how did you overcome it?
Melissa: I think trying to tell a great story while also bridging the two seasons is always the challenge of these types of books. It was the same challenge I had in writing the Descendants books. But I always love letting readers into the interior life of characters they’ve grown to love. That’s why we read books – to get into their heads. You can’t do that with a TV show.
YEM: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Melissa: It’s all going to be amazing. Just wait and see.
Please find Melissa de la Cruz’s High school Musical: The Musical: The Series: THE ROAD TRIP at any online or local book seller.
BOOKSFEATURES
11:00 AM EDT, APRIL 10, 2020
Melissa de la Cruz talks ‘Gotham High’: ‘The worst enemies to have are former friends’
BY DANIELLE ZIMMERMAN
New book releases 2021: September includes ‘Cursed Carnival,’ Marvel, more
Gotham High, Melissa de la Cruz’s new YA graphic novel, takes all of your favorite DC Comics characters and reenvisions them as high schoolers with a Riverdale flair. As you might expect, we had a lot of questions, but Melissa de la Cruz was more than happy to answer!
There are so many fun character surprises in Gotham High, not to mention quite a few exciting twists along the way. Fans of Batman, Catwoman, and even the Joker, will find a lot to love in this new graphic novel.
Being that there’s so much to explore and dive into, it’s hard not to wonder about the creation and even future of this fun world.
So, we went to the source and asked Melissa de la Cruz some of our most burning questions. (Hopefully, they’re some of yours too!)
Author Melissa de la Cruz talks ‘Gotham High’ representation, universe creation, and more!
1. What motivated you to write a graphic novel that pulled in a whole slew of classic DC characters rather than just a handful (like your DC YA graphic novel predecessors did)?
I am a franchise/series author. What is most exciting to me is creating the universe, so for me, I wanted to write a big story; it just came naturally.
Like if Bruce is in high school, then of course Selina and Jack are there… and Harvey and Ivy and Dick Grayson… I like to imagine the whole world instead of just one character’s story.
Gotham High - Selina and Bruce
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2. What character was the most fun for you to explore while writing (and why)?
Re-imagining Bruce Wayne was super fun, taking the things that we know about his background: billionaire, parents killed in front of him at a young age, a mentor named Alfred — and then figuring out how to still keep within those parameters, but also, re-invent it to our current time.
I don’t think I ever really understood how much of an outsider people of color feel to the mainstream culture until I saw Hamilton, and seeing someone like Thomas Jefferson be played by an African-American actor, Alexander Hamilton by a Puerto Rican actor, and Eliza Schuyler by an Asian actress was so powerful, so moving — it was such a statement that said, “We are part of America’s story too.”
So often with Asian characters, we are sidekicks or minor extras. I remember when I sold my first book to Hollywood, my dad, an investment banker who had his own chauffeur in Manila when we were growing up, was so excited and he said jokingly, “I’ll play the driver!”
Because we understand that’s the only place we’re allowed to be in pop culture. But times are changing, and I was really excited to be part of that change. My brother, my male cousins, they were so excited to find out I was writing a Chinese-American Batman.
3. Were there any characters that you wanted to rope into Gotham High but just couldn’t find a way to make it work?
I wanted to have a little more of Robin in — he was cut from a few scenes. I would have loved to have been able to explore that friendship more.
4. Coming from the world of “traditional” YA, what surprised you most about the process of writing a graphic novel?
It’s an entirely different creative process — much more like writing a screenplay. You have to think about how to tell the story in images, and how those images play out on the page. So there was a learning curve for sure. You can’t just have a bunch of talking heads — that’s boring.
Gotham High - Bruce and Jack
5. One of the aspects of Gotham High that I found most interesting was the relationship between Bruce and Jack. They’re not not friends, but they’re also not BFFLs by any means. What was most important to you when striking that balance between the two?
I wanted to show that they could have been good friends, that they had a lot in common and that they liked each other. I think the worst enemies to have are former friends because they know you so well.
And there’s a real sense of betrayal, that someone you used to like, maybe even love, now hates you. It’s an experience that’s part of life and I thought it would be more interesting to have that in their background than just animosity — that’s so boring and flat.
6. Selina Kyle is very much the central figure in Gotham High. What about her as a character inspired you to weave this high school origin story around her rather than another character?
Selina definitely became more important in the story as the writing went on. It started out as a “Bruce” book. But Selina finds a way to make it all about herself LOL! She’s a great character, very dynamic and sharp, and you never know what she is thinking. As the story progressed, she just ended up hogging the limelight. That’s what Selina does.
7. Is Gotham High a concept that you could see yourself turning into a series? Or do you feel satisfied with it as a one-off “What if?” story?
Absolutely. I’m a series writer. My vampire series numbers 18 books, which include four spinoff series within the universe. I’m also a series reader — I love when the story goes on and on. And on. :)
About ‘Gotham High’ by Melissa de la Cruz and Thomas Pitilli
'Gotham High' full cover
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Alex and Eliza and The Witches of East End, comes a reimagining of Gotham for a new generation of readers.
Before they became Batman, Catwoman, and The Joker, Bruce, Selina, and Jack were high schoolers who would do whatever it took–even destroy the ones they love–to satisfy their own motives.
After being kicked out of his boarding school, 16-year-old Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City to find that nothing is as he left it. What once was his family home is now an empty husk, lonely but haunted by the memory of his parents’ murder.
Selina Kyle, once the innocent girl next door, now rules over Gotham High School with a dangerous flair, aided by the class clown, Jack Napier.
When a kidnapping rattles the school, Bruce seeks answers as the dark and troubled knight–but is he actually the pawn?
Nothing is ever as it seems, especially at Gotham High, where the parties and romances are of the highest stakes … and where everyone is a suspect.
With enchanting art by Thomas Pitilli, this new graphic novel is just as intoxicating as it is chilling, in which dearest friends turn into greatest enemies–all within the hallways of Gotham High!
Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz and Thomas Pitilli is now available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository, or Indiebound. Also, don’t forget to add it to your Goodreads “to read” list!
MELISSA DE LA CRUZ DISCUSSES HER CAREER AND HER LATEST BOOK “ESCAPE FROM THE ISLE OF THE LOST: A DESCENDANTS NOVEL”
"...It’s just the way I’m wired. I like to work, and my work also doesn’t feel like work. Also there’s a lot of adrenaline in meeting deadlines..."
by Nicholas YanesJuly 16, 2019
With a lifelong love of reading, especially fantasy stories, Melissa de la Cruz has dreamed of being a professional writer since she was eight. As an adult De la Cruz has gone on to write or co-write a few dozen books in various genres. In addition to writing critically acclaimed novels about au pairs in the Hamptons (The Au Pairs) and vampires (Blue Bloods), she has also written the Isle of the Lost series which is part of Disney’s Descendants franchise. Wanting to learn more about her career and her latest Descendants novel, I was able to interview De la Cruz for ScifiPulse.
You can learn more about De la Cruz by checking out her homepage and following her on Twitter at @MelissadelaCruz.
Nicholas Yanes: Growing up, what were some stories you loved experiencing? Are there any you still enjoy revisiting?
Melissa de la Cruz: I was a huge fantasy reader – my favorite books of all time are the Lord of the Rings and the Dune series. I re-read them every couple of years. I can quote from both books.
Yanes: When did you know you wanted to pursue a career as a writer? Was there a specific moment in which this goal crystalized for you?
De la Cruz: I just loved reading. I liked to escape into books, reading is my earliest happy memory. Around eight years old I started writing my own books. I never gave up on it, I held on to that ambition – that somehow I would write books for a living – ever since I was a kid. I sold my first novel at 27, and when I did I felt like I had been waiting 20 years for this moment.
Yanes: While studying your background I was blown away by just how much you’ve written. How do you structure your writing time? Any suggestions for how to avoid distractions?
De la Cruz: It’s just the way I’m wired. I like to work, and my work also doesn’t feel like work. Also there’s a lot of adrenaline in meeting deadlines. You have to give in to the stress and the pressure, I find that tends to eliminate distractions. I also either am “on” or “off.” When I am working, I am solidly, completely immersed and can write a draft in a short period of time. Then I take time off and don’t do any writing for the same time period. I’m not the kind of person with a regular schedule. I’m either working all the time or slacking off all the time. I find the slacking off period is just as important as the creative period. You need to take breaks and re-fill the well and let your mind wander and be curious.
I think it’s really important to have a support system of family and friends who understand that sometimes I’m totally available to hang out and sometimes I disappear from their lives for months. I don’t disappear from my kid or my husband, but months will go by and they will be the only people I see. It’s important to have priorities.
Yanes: One of your latest books is Escape from the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel. What was the inspiration for this story?
De la Cruz: As always, the Descendants novels are inspired by the classic Disney movies, in this volume our heroes are graduating from high school. I wanted to celebrate a traditional American graduation experience – the senior pranks, the fancy baccalaureate events.
Yanes: The backbone of the Descendants franchise are the television-movies. How do you tell a unique story with character growth while keeping the characters in line with the television-movies?
De la Cruz: They’re the same characters whether they are on the page or on screen. The books and the movies work well together, as the books round out the characters a bit more and show their inner lives. I picture the characters as the actors in the movies. It feels seamless.
Yanes: In the process of writing Escape from the Isle of the Lost did any of the characters take on a life of their own?
De la Cruz: They need to come alive on the page for the books to have that spark, I would say they all have a life of their own for sure.
Yanes: It is clear from your Descendants novels that you have a deep love for Disney characters. How did it feel to be able to play with these Disney characters? On this note, are there any other Disney characters and worlds that you really want to explore?
De la Cruz: It was really fun, I didn’t realize how much of a Disney kid I was until I started writing the first book and it all came so naturally as they were a huge part of my childhood. I was given the entire Disney universe to play with, so I feel pretty satisfied in that front, there’s nothing that was taboo. I was even able to work in Moana references in the series – my daughter’s favorite, so that was super fun.
Yanes: While the Descendants is made for children and teens, it also has a large number of grownup fans. How do you approach writing for multiple age groups?
De la Cruz: I mostly write for myself. I don’t think of the audience. I entertain myself, and I’m glad other people enjoy it.
Yanes: When people finish reading Escape from the Isle of the Lost, what do you hope they take away from the experience?
De la Cruz: I hope they had fun visiting with our beloved characters again and are excited for the movie!
Yanes: Finally, what else are you working on that people can look forward to?
De la Cruz: I have an adult thriller The Birthday Girl out in August, and next year I have a graphic novel Gotham High about Batman, the Joker and Catwoman in high school, and a new YA fantasy romance The Queen’s Assassin. And more Disney books in the works!
Remember, you can learn more about De la Cruz by checking out her homepage and following her on Twitter at @MelissadelaCruz.
And remember to follow me on Twitter at @NicholasYanes, and to follow Scifipulse on Twitter at @SciFiPulse and on facebook.
Author Interview: Melissa De La Cruz
march 2, 2021by leann pettit, posted in uncategorized
Leann Reads Books: What was your inspiration for the world of Never After?
Melissa De La Cruz: A little bit of Lord of the Rings, a little bit of Los Angeles. There are some fun LA jokes in the book, like Jack lives in Vineland which is north of Lankershim, which only people who live in Los Angeles would get. It’s an homage to Piers Anthony’s books where the fantasyland looks a lot like Florida.
LRB: How did you decide which fairy tale characters to include?
Cruz: They just kind of come naturally. I love the story of Schehazerade, and also Ali Baba, so I had to have them. Jack and the Beanstalk, because I love the name Jack. I try to use fairyale characters everyone has heard of so they get the reference.
LRB: Who is Alistair modeled after?
Cruz: Alistair is sort of inspired by a friend of mine in college who was hilarious.
LRB: What made you want to write a fairy tale retelling?
Cruz: I love fairy tales and I love twisting and retelling them to see how far I can change the story while still remaining true to the spirit of it.
LRB: Do you have any writing quirks? Or any superstitions while you’re working on a book?
Cruz: Not really. I can work anywhere. Hospital rooms. Train stations. Your dining table.
LRB: What authors or books do you draw inspiration from?
Cruz: Stephen King was my favorite author as a teen, and just they way he is so kind to his readers, and his worldview in general is so generous, I am very inspired by him.
de la Cruz, Melissa ALL FOR ONE Putnam (Young Adult Fiction) $17.99 4, 16 ISBN: 978-0-525-51588-3
The highs--and difficult lows--of the marriage between Alexander Hamilton and his wife, Eliza.
De la Cruz (29 Dates, 2018, etc.) concludes her series based on the life of the Founding Father. As before, she weaves facts from Hamilton's life with imagined incidents and dialogue. Here, Alex and Eliza have settled into marriage and the social life of New York City as he continues to build a law practice and struggles to earn enough money. The couple is overjoyed when Eliza discovers she is pregnant, and the happy news propels Eliza to work even harder at helping the city's orphans. She also indulges in a bit of matchmaking for her brother, John, encouraging his interest in the young parentless woman they have welcomed into their home. At the same time, Alex is caught up in helping the mysterious Mrs. Maria Reynolds, who has been abused by her husband: As much as Alex has tried to put his past behind him, the memories of his own mother's problems with men have never quite gone away. Eliza, who is away from home during this time, and extremely ill, is barely back on her feet when she learns Alex is about to engage in a duel with Aaron Burr over a secret revealed. Once again, there is lively dialogue and a strong cast of secondary characters; fans will not be disappointed.
A fitting end to a popular series. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 12-adult)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
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"de la Cruz, Melissa: ALL FOR ONE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A573768662/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f2e309d3. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
de la Cruz, Melissa THE BIRTHDAY GIRL Dutton (Adult Fiction) $27.00 8, 6 ISBN: 978-1-5247-4377-2
On her 40th birthday, a fashion designer reflects on everything she has--and everything she stands to lose--as the life she thought she left behind catches up to her.
Ellie de Florent-Stinson is throwing an epic birthday party for herself at her mansion in Palm Springs, and no one seems to be looking forward to it, least of all her. Though she's grateful to be married with four kids, her home life is less than ideal: Her husband is unemployed, her twin boys are wild, and her daughter is being bullied at school. Her stepdaughter makes an appearance at the party, but so does her husband's vicious ex. Worst of all, if she doesn't come through with a new business deal soon, Ellie's company will go bankrupt--thinking of her age, she laments that fashion has changed. In alternating chapters, de la Cruz (All for One, 2019, etc.) contrasts the glamorous but vacuous world of the back-stabbing elite with gritty but often sweet memories of Ellie's impoverished youth living next door to her best friend in an Oregon trailer park. In a flashback set 24 years in the past, Leo (as Ellie was then called) and Mish are celebrating Leo's 16th birthday by shoplifting at the mall and meeting up with Mish's boyfriend (who's Leo's secret crush). Mish is the heart of the story--a true friend who shouts "It's your birthday! We! Are! Celebrating!" even if "celebrating" means little more than sneaking liquor and trying to find a better place to hang out. If Ellie's adult friends could be this sincere, she might feel less alone. But something happens by the end of the Sweet 16 party that Ellie will spend the rest of her life trying to forget, and on the night of her 40th birthday, someone from her past will come back to remind her.
Scandalous and bittersweet, our heroine's charmed life seems to teeter on designer stilettos as she gets closer to the truth of who she really is.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"de la Cruz, Melissa: THE BIRTHDAY GIRL." Kirkus Reviews, 1 June 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A587054483/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8204a85a. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
de la Cruz, Melissa THE QUEEN'S ASSASSIN Putnam (Young Adult Fiction) $18.99 2, 4 ISBN: 978-0-525-51591-3
A young woman, raised in obscurity and trained in magic, rescues a handsome boy and sets off to save her kingdom in this duology opener.
In a kingdom where the only magical knowledge to escape centuries of tyrannical rule belongs to women, Shadow wants to go on adventures. She's connected to both the palace and the Guild, a group of mostly female magic-wielding assassins and adventurers. Unfortunately, her mother has just recalled her to court, where she'll be expected to wear fancy gowns and jewels and maybe be married off. Rebellious Shadow runs off to rescue Caledon Holt, the Queen's Assassin, who is bound to the Queen until he finds the hidden magic scrolls. Chapters alternate between Cal's and Shadow's perspectives as the pair reluctantly partner up to infiltrate a neighboring kingdom and root out the conspiracy trying to destroy Renovia. From perpetual frustration to all-in love, this is more about the romance than the world, although the world--with strong women, marriage equality, and characters of varying skin tones--certainly has its strengths, lightly realized though it is. This is a classic plucky heroine fantasy in the vein of Tamora Pierce and Kristin Cashore, with some modern tweaks.
Pleasantly formulaic light fantasy with an appealingly strong female lead. (Fantasy. 12-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
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"de la Cruz, Melissa: THE QUEEN'S ASSASSIN." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A606964319/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=53d6b4a4. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
de la Cruz, Melissa GOTHAM HIGH DC (Young Adult Fiction) $16.99 4, 7 ISBN: 978-1-4012-8624-8
The high school beginnings of favorite Batman comic characters.
Seventeen-year-old Bruce Wayne just got kicked out of the fancy boarding school his Uncle Alfred sent him to when his parents died. Now he's back in Gotham City, living in the family home and attending Gotham High. Bruce runs into his childhood neighbor Selina Garcia Kyle, who invites him to a party where he meets cardsharp Jack Napier, who becomes a new friend. One day, high school classmate Harvey Dent is kidnapped while trying on Bruce's leather coat, and Bruce gets shot with a tranquilizer dart. Bruce, convinced he, not Harvey, was the real target, goes on a hunt to find the truth. As he uncovers more information, he discovers that his new friends aren't what they seem. Narrated by Selina, the story puts Batman, the Joker, Catwoman, and other Batman favorites into a teenage setting, giving them more of a backstory. De la Cruz's (The Queen's Assassin, 2020, etc.) graphic-novel debut is dark and alluring. The characters do what they need to survive, creating suspense. Pitilli's (Archie, 2019, etc.) vivid and captivating illustrations are the highlight of this graphic novel, and the darker palette adds to the ominous feel. Bruce's mother was Chinese from Hong Kong, and his father's ethnicity is not specified; Selina is Latinx, and there is diversity in secondary characters.
Fast-paced and entertaining. (Graphic fiction. 13-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
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"de la Cruz, Melissa: GOTHAM HIGH." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Feb. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A612619050/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=aaf41be6. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
Stohl, Margaret JO & LAURIE Putnam (Teen None) $18.99 6, 2 ISBN: 978-1-9848-1201-8
Josephine “Jo” March struggles to manage her emotions, write a sequel to her successful novel, and support her poor family financially.
Her editor and readers desire a story of love and marriage, which 18-year-old Jo rejects. Jo refuses marriage for herself and rebuffs the affections of her charming, wealthy, longtime friend Laurie in this spinoff of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women that takes place in 1869, between the publication of the two parts of the original novel. The meticulously imitated historical language includes the perhaps overused exclamation “Christopher Columbus!” Scenes from the classic are reimagined or referred to in ways that alternately stir feelings of nostalgia, confusion, and disappointment over the absence of the rich, nuanced character development found in the original. Readers might also struggle to believe certain plot points, such as the beloved March father's choosing to be an absentee dad or younger sister Amy's falling ill in a manner oddly similar to Beth in the classic. Those who want to believe Jo’s defiance of societal norms might be puzzled by the extent to which she and other members of the “gentle sex” quickly blush in the company of men and are susceptible to jealousy. While some might appreciate this new interpretation, fans of the classic may prefer to stick to their own imaginings. Main characters are white.
Inspired by a classic, this story is best suited for those eager to revisit romance in the context of Little Women. (historical note) (Romance. 14-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Stohl, Margaret: JO & LAURIE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A623602908/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=cf62fc43. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
de la Cruz, Melissa NEVER AFTER Roaring Brook (Children's None) $16.99 12, 1 ISBN: 978-1-250-31121-4
Twelve-year-old Filomena Jefferson-Cho finds herself inside the magical world of her favorite fantasy series.
Filomena lives in North Pasadena, California, with her mother, father, and their family pets. She is the beloved daughter of two neurotic writers who take overprotectiveness to a new level. While Filomena is just your average sixth grader who loves fairy tales—albeit one taking eighth grade algebra—unfortunately, she is also the victim of school bullying. Her life takes a turn for the fantastical when she meets Jack the Giant Stalker from her beloved Never After series; what Filomena thought were just stories turn out to be real. With her intimate knowledge of the books, Filomena travels to Never After in hopes of helping to defeat an evil queen. Equal parts whimsical and adventure-packed, Filomena’s journey will entrance readers and have them rooting for the young, witty heroine. Filomena forges new friendships, confronts her bullies, and learns the truth about where she came from and who she really is. Though the villains are a bit one-dimensional, Filomena’s character growth in combination with the highly entertaining delivery of her story will have readers eagerly awaiting the sequel. Filomena is described as ethnically ambiguous with curly dark hair, brown eyes, and brown skin; she was adopted by a Korean/Filipino father and British mother.
A refreshing twist on well-known fairy tales. (Fantasy. 10-14)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
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"de la Cruz, Melissa: NEVER AFTER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A638165993/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b2d22261. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy
Melissa De La Cruz
Roaring Brook Press
33 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003
www.roaringbrookpress.com
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
781250311214, $16.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Never-After-Book-One-Thirteenth/dp/1250311217
Nothing ever happens in Filomena's sleepy little suburban town of North Pasadena. The sun shines every day, the grass is always a perfect green, and while her progressive school swears there's no such thing as bullying, she still feels bummed out. But one day, when Filomena is walking home on her own, something strange happens.
Filomena is being followed by Jack Stalker, one of the heroes in the Thirteenth Fairy, a series of books she loves about a brave girl and her ragtag group of friends who save their world from an evil enchantress. She must be dreaming, or still reading a book. But Jack is insistent--he's real, the stories are real, and Filomena must come with him at once!
Soon, Filomena is thrust into the world of evil fairies and beautiful princesses, sorcerers and slayers, where an evil queen drives her ruthless armies to destroy what is left of the Fairy tribes. To save herself and the kingdom of Westphalia, Filomena must find the truth behind the fairytales and set the world back to rights before the cycle of sleep and destruction begins once more.
Critique: A unique and thoroughly enjoyable action/adventure fantasy novel by an author with a genuine flair for originality and a touch-tone perfect sense of narrative storytelling, "Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy" will prove to be an immediately and enduringly popular addition to elementary school, middle school, and community library collections for young readers ages 10-14. It should be noted for personal reading lists of all dedicated fantasy fans that "Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Macmillan, 9781250247940, $34.99, CD).
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
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"Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy." Children's Bookwatch, Dec. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A648418768/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=400ef6a3. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
de la Cruz, Melissa THE QUEEN'S SECRET Putnam (Teen None) $18.99 3, 2 ISBN: 978-0-525-51594-4
Romantic fantasy turns into lovelorn politicking in this duology closer and follow-up to The Queen’s Assassin (2020).
Formerly feisty assassin-in-training Shadow is now Queen Lilac of Montrice, still secretly meeting her lover, Chief Assassin Caledon Holt, while managing to avoid her (nice, hound-loving) husband. But the evil Aphrasian monks are still a threat, and when Cal rides off with attractive apprentice Rhema, 19-year-old Lilac fears she’s lost him. Cal’s adventures take him back to Renovia and to the frightening Aphrasian stronghold of Baer Abbey; Lilac, previously accustomed to a similarly adventurous life, feels increasingly imprisoned in the Montrician castle. While the somewhat flimsy fantasy world offers some decent adventure and intrigue, most of the alternating narrative (Lilac’s in first-person present tense, Cal’s from close third-person) consists of the lovers’ being jealous and angry while circumstances hold them apart while Lilac works much harder to avoid consummating her year-old marriage than she does to govern. Sometimes-awkward writing, usually due to the limitations of present-tense narration, inconsistent characterization, and uneven pacing plague the text. Physical descriptors are few and far between, but the world is established as diverse in terms of race (for example, Lilac’s mother is dark-skinned) and sexuality (Lilac’s aunt is in a same-sex marriage).
Purely for completists. (map) (Fantasy. 12-16)
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"de la Cruz, Melissa: THE QUEEN'S SECRET." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Feb. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A650107598/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ef30831d. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
de la Cruz, Melissa HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Disney-Hyperion (Children's None) $17.99 5, 4 ISBN: 978-1-368-06184-1
The East High theater crew heads to a High School Musical fan convention.
The story picks up after the first season of the mockumentary-style Disney+ show, set in the real Salt Lake City school where the original Disney musical was filmed. Fresh off the drama department’s production of High School Musical, show choreographer Carlos finds out there’s an HSM convention in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, featuring workshops and meet and greets with the cast and crew. Drama teacher Miss Jenn proposes a last-minute field trip so she can lure a guest star for their spring musical and transform East High into a Fame level program. A breezy and fun read, the book contains chapters that offer pithy first-person accounts from each character, including quirky Miss Jenn; Carlos and his boyfriend, Seb; recently reunited couple Nini and Ricky and their BFFs, Kourtney and Big Red; popular senior E.J. and his songwriter cousin, Ashlyn; and talented triple threat Gina. The plot includes references to the series and themes straight from the musical: nurturing your talent, showing others how much they matter, and acknowledging the importance of teamwork. Although race isn’t mentioned overtly, the characters are cued as racially diverse, following the casting of the TV show. Fans will appreciate the inside jokes, but explanations in the text make it accessible even to those unfamiliar with the program.
A lighthearted and charming read. (Fiction. 10-14)
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"de la Cruz, Melissa: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Apr. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A656696600/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d17e5cc9. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
de la Cruz, Melissa THE STOLEN SLIPPERS Roaring Brook Press (Children's None) $16.99 2, 1 ISBN: 978-1-250-31123-8
Filomena and her friends are back for another adventure as they try to save Never After.
Filomena Jefferson-Cho, 12, has just returned from stopping the evil ogre queen in Never After, the world she once thought to be just fiction. Suddenly, her friends Jack the Giant Stalker; Jack's sidekick, Alistair; and Gretel, the Cobbler's daughter, appear at her door in North Pasadena asking for help once again. It seems Cinderella is not the innocent orphan bullied by her stepmother and stepsisters that the mortal world believes her to be. She is actually a thief who stole a pair of glass slippers--which hold magic powers--from her stepsisters, Hortense and Beatrice. The four friends travel across multiple kingdoms of Never After to retrieve the glass slippers and stop the Prophecy that spells out the end of their world. The journey isn't easy, and many creatures want to eat them along the way, including the gingerbread-house witch and the Beast. As Jack struggles with what it means to be a hero, Filomena learns how important words are and how truths and lies can completely change the end of a story. This entertaining sequel is full of humor and daring escapades, and the ending nicely sets things up for the next entry. Ethnic and racial diversity are naturally woven into the story.
Switches up well-known fairy tales and fantastical stories in an exciting way. (Fantasy. 10-14)
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"de la Cruz, Melissa: THE STOLEN SLIPPERS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A684108431/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c18cbdab. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
Cinder & Glass
Melissa de la Cruz. Putnam, $18.99 (336p) ISBN 978-0-593-32665-7
Set in 1.682 France, this progressive "Cinderella" reimagining from de la Cruz (the Queen's Assassin duology) takes inspiration from stories about Louis XIV's court. When le Marquis de Louvois and his 15-year-old daughter, Cendrillon, move from the country to a chateau near Versailles, Cendrillon hopes to follow in her late mother's footsteps and become a ladyin-waiting to royalty. Those dreams are dashed, however, when her father dies unexpectedly after marrying a virtual stranger. Cendrillon's new stepmother, Lady Catherine Monvoisin, fires every servant but seamstress Elodie, 15, and forces Cendrillon to cook and clean for her and her daughters. Desperate to improve her own situation as well as Elodie's, Cendrillon (posing as "Lady Cinder") accompanies her godmother to a ball thrown to find Prince Louis a bride. Louis chooses Cendrillon, while her stepsisters and 22 others vie for his heart in a The Bachelor-style competition, but Cendrillon's feelings for Louis's illegitimate half brother, Auguste, make concentrating on it difficult. De la Cruz offsets a slow start and slight plot with bold, self-empowered female characters, rich historical detail, and tender queer and straight romances. All characters cue as white. Ages 14-up. Agent: Richard Abate, 3Arts Entertainment. (Mar.)
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"Cinder & Glass." Publishers Weekly, vol. 269, no. 4, 24 Jan. 2022, p. 57. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A691684940/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0be0f385. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
de la Cruz, Melissa CINDER & GLASS Putnam (Teen None) $18.99 3, 8 ISBN: 978-0-593-32665-7
Trapped in a life of servitude to her cruel stepfamily, Cendrillon enters a competition to win the prince's heart even though she truly loves his brother.
It's 1682, and 15-year-old Cendrillon de Louvois has moved to Versailles with her father. It is a dream come true, but becoming a courtier is more complicated than she imagined. Cendrillon struggles to fit in until she befriends Auguste, the king's illegitimate son. When her father dies soon after remarrying, her new stepmother and stepsisters make Cendrillon do household chores, ending her dream of court life and her relationship with Auguste. When the king announces that his son, the grand dauphin, will choose 25 girls to woo before selecting one as his bride, Cendrillon joins the competition; despite her dislike of the prince, she is desperate to escape her stepmother. Joining the ranks of possible brides--against her stepmother's wishes--brings her back into contact with Auguste, and their mutual attraction is reignited, forcing Cendrillon to choose between love and freedom. Featuring characters based on actual historical figures from King Louis XIV's reign, this is an entertaining retelling of "Cinderella." Between her move to Versailles and courtship by the prince, readers get a good look inside the French court through Cendrillon's story. Characters read as White.
An intriguing historical twist on a beloved fairy tale. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 12-18)
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"de la Cruz, Melissa: CINDER & GLASS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Jan. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A689339977/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a65d649e. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.