Quick Qs and As with Kay Cassidy

Kay Cassidy is the author of the inspiring debut novel, The Cinderella Society, which is now available, the host of Living Your Five™, and the founder of Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™ reading program for kids and teens! And today I'm lucky enough to have an interview with her to post here on Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf.

Though first, here's the offical book blurb and book teaser for The Cinderella Society.

What a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn't want to wear it anymore?

Sixteen year old Jess Parker has always been an outsider. So when she receives an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret society of the most popular girls in school, it's like something out of a fairy tale. Swept up by the Cindys' magical world of makeovers, and catching the eye of her Prince Charming, Jess feels like she's finally found her chance to fit in.

Then the Wickeds--led by Jess's arch-enemy--begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers there's more to being a Cindy than reinventing yourself on the outside. She has unknowingly become part of a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and now the Cindys in charge need Jess for a mission that could change everything.

Overwhelmed, Jess wonders if The Cinderella Society made a mistake in choosing her. Is it a coincidence her new boyfriend doesn't want to be seen with her in public? And is this glamorous, secret life even what she wants, or will she risk her own happy ending to live up to the expectations of her new sisters?

I opened the card, my hands trembling in dread and the faint remnants of what I used to call hope, as a tiny silver high-heel pin bounced into my hand.

I juggled the pin for a second, barely managing to keep it from falling, and flipped open the note with my other hand. The words inside were not a message but an invitation that sent shivers down my spine:

Your presence is requested at The Grind.
Tonight, 7 p.m.
Wear the pin.
Discretion MANDATORY.

~~

Q and A:

What are the top three reasons why teens everywhere should pick up The Cinderella Society come April?

Well, first… I need to say that I don't think there's any book on the planet that every teen needs to read. What I love about fiction is that there's something for everyone – we don't have to read something just because everyone else is doin' it. ;-)

That said, here are the three things that most people tend to mention in the emails I get: 1) girl power rocks, 2) hot guys and kissing are fun, and 3) having backup like the Cindys is something most people wish they had (I know I do!). :-)

To me The Cinderella Society shows that in being not only your own person, but comfortable in your own skin, you can become the best you can be, which leaves me to wonder why you choose to emphasize this very important message in your writing?

I think it's hugely important and not just to teens either. Most adults I know are still trying to make peace with who they are and get comfortable in their own skin. If you can accomplish that as a teen, WHOA… the sky's the limit!

What were you like as a teen? Were you similar to Jess in any ways?

Jess and I are a lot alike (though she pretty much wipes up the floor with me when it comes to volunteering – she's the queen). We both had our insecurities, we were both cheerleaders who never felt like part of the in crowd, and we have a similar sense of humor.

You’re the mastermind behind The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™, a free reading program for teen and youth librarians, which leaves me to wonder what inspired you to start this up? Also did you ever think in the beginning that it would became as popular as it is today?

It always makes me sad to hear how few kids and teens are reading. It's hard to make reading the cool thing to do in an age where technology rules supreme! But instead of sitting on the sidelines going, "Gee whiz, that's a bummer," I decided to do something about it. I'm a big believer in making a difference by using our own unique skills and interests, and this seemed like a natural way for me to do that. I created a fun, book trivia challenge with prizes for readers and for librarians that I sponsor and fund myself. Local librarians in the US and Canada can register to participate, so it brings kids back to the library again and again – another thing that I love about it!

Honestly? I had no idea it would grow as quickly as it did. I just celebrated the one-year anniversary of The Great Scavenger Hunt ContestTM this month, and there are more than 550 participating libraries in that short time. It amazes me every day. Best of all, kids and teens are having a blast with it and trying new books they might not have tried otherwise. I think that's awesome!

For all those eager to read the sequel to The Cinderella Society can you share with us a bit about what’s to come?

Right now I'm working on the sequel to The Cinderella Society, titled Cindy on a Mission. It follows the further adventures of Jess and the Sisters as the Wickeds launch an offensive that threatens everything the Cindys hold dear. Cindy on a Mission will be on shelves in Spring 2011.

~~

Oooh, I'm very exicted about Cindy on A Mission! Thanks Kay!

To find out more about Kay, as well as to find out where you can purchase your own snazzy copy of her book, head on over to www.kaycassidy.com!

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

Summary from Goodreads:

When the Prom Queen becomes your fairy godmother…

Sixteen year old outsider, Jess Parker, gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join a secret society of popular girls dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. The Cinderella Society guides all new recruits through its top secret ultimate life makeover. It’s all part of preparing them to face down the Wickeds and win. Determined not to let the Cindys down, Jess dives in with a passion. Finally, a chance to belong and show the world what she’s made of.

… be careful what you wish for.

Jess’s transformation wins her the heart of her dream crush and a shot at uber-popularity. Until the Wickeds–led by Jess’s arch enemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers the real force behind her exclusive society. It’s a high stakes battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys in power need Jess on special assignment. When the mission threatens to destroy her dream life come true, Jess is forced to choose between living a fairy tale and honoring the Sisterhood… and herself.

What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?
 
Review:
 
The Cinderella Society was certainly something fresh, exciting, and fab, but, sadly enough, I wasn't always as completely enthralled in it as much as I thought and hoped I would be.

Jess is a girl that I'm positive many girls will come to adore, root for, and relate to as I did. Since she was a funny, fearless, and stand-up-for-what-you-believe-in type of teen (even with the slight insecurity issues she had at times) which are three adjectives that I definitely hope for when summing up a main character. I loved the fact that she stood up for the Reggies (Regular people) even when the Cindys weren't always approving of it. Plus, I liked the different types of characters Kay introduced through The Cinderella Society because each had their own distinctive and unique personality leaving them to be easy to tell apart from the others.

Because of the fact that I adored the main characters, you probably would take that I had no type of problems with this book, but I did. Two to be exact. One was the fact that the execution of this amazing idea was mostly down in a slow pace allowing me to have no trouble putting this book down for long intervals of time. Though, with saying that, I did LOVE the idea of the Cindys (You seriously don't know how much I would love to be part of their society.), the Wickedes, the Reggies, and the situations that went along with them; and on a hopeful note, by the end, I could see much promise and excitement in what's to come in the sequel dropping 2011. The other tiny problem was with Jess's love interest who at times seemed like the typical boyfriend cliché in teen books these days; since he was the typical drool-worthy popular boy who hides his sensitive side with a mean guy guise because of past family troubles. I seriously didn't see what the huge appeal in him was for most of the book, but by the end, I was staring to like him, just a bit, but that's still an improvement, right? :)
 
My favorite and most important part of The Cinderella Society had nothing to do with the characters or the plot specifically, but the message it broght through it. A message that I find extremely important in today's celebrity infused world. What's that message, you may ask? Well, it's that no matter who you are or where you come from, YOU can make a difference in the world even if it is small, and be the best and brightest star out there when you have a little faith in yourself.

In all, The Cinderella Society is definitely an important book for teen girls that I will be high suggesting come March even with the slight problems I had. And here’s to hoping that the sequel will prove to AH-mazing!
 
Grade: B
 
The Cinderella Society comes out April 13, 2010!
 
Source: Kay's personal ARC Tour for the book. Thanks, Kay! :)