Book Review: Cloaked by Alex Flinn

Cloaked by Alex Flinn is a young adult novel that takes several fairy tales and remixed them into something new and entertaining. The story is a coming of age story, a romance, an exciting adventure and a humorous tale of magic. The fairy tales that you might recognize within Cloaked include the Frog Prince, Shoemaker and the Elves, the Six Swans, the Fisherman and His Wife, and the Brave Little Tailor. There are also mention of lesser-known tales like The Salad and The Golden Bird. My fairy tale love was thrilled that there was even a reference from my favorite fairy tale inspired play, Into the Woods . If you do not know any of the stories used do not worry, the lack of fairy tale geekdom will not lessen your enjoyment of this story. There is enough excite med, thrills, and humor to entertain readers of all ages.

Cloaked is the story of seventeen-year-old Johnny, who works with his mother in the family's shoe business. He spends his days repairing shoes in the small shop, located inside a ritzy hotel in South Beach Florida. One day a princess from a foreign country comes to stay at the hotel and Johnny's world is turned upside day. The princess schemes to get some alone time with Johnny, and proceeds to tell him that her brother has been turned into a frog and that she need's Johnny to save him for her. Johnny does not believe her, but the offer of money and marriage to the princess gives him a way to take care of his mother and the business so he goes along with her story. The princess gives him some special tools to help him on the quest, and his best friend Meg does as well even though she seems well aware that he is lying to her about something. Everyone around Johnny seems to believe in magic, and in the midst of the journey, Johnny comes to believe in magic as well. However, his good heart and honesty might still be the most powerful magic of all. There are evil witches, giants, talking animals, curses, gunshots and kidnappings that keep readers on their toes and highly entertained as they join Johnny on his quest.

I fully admit to loving young adult literature and fairy tales, so having enjoyed Flinn's work with fairy tales before I started Cloaked with high hopes. I was not disappointed. The use of lesser-known fairy tales and the modern twists offered really made this a book that I feel comfortable recommending to anyone willing to pick up a book labeled as young adult. I know that many adults avoid the young adult section in fear of trudging through teen-age angst, but just do it. If you like strong characters struggling to do what is right, heroes that feel doubt in themselves and have flaws that make them real, then you will enjoy this novel. If you love fairy tales that are well told, or retold, then you will enjoy this book. If you enjoy fantasy or magic in your stories in any context then you will enjoy this book. Johnny is a good hearted, though sometimes a little slow, character that wants to do the right thing by his mother, friends, princess and everyone else. Meg is a strong girl with more patience and strength than many adults. The characters are all well formed, with flaws and actions that make the come alive and feel real. I found myself caring about the characters, even the secondary ones, and feeling like I knew them as I read.

Cloaked drew me into Johnny's world, even as he discovered that his world was nothing like he originally thought. The story is well told, the characters and world convincingly built, and the fairy tales blended superbly. I highly suggest reading this book to teens and adults. While the market for fairy tale retellings is generally aimed at those of us of the female persuasion, Cloaked and the other reimaginings by Flinn are likely to appeal to readers of bother genders. I think that mature readers in elementary and middle schools could also enjoy this book, as well as adults. There is no sexual content, a mention of a kiss or two with absolutely no detail, and while there are some suspenseful moments, there is no violence or situations that I think would cause even younger readers nightmares or uncomfortable moments. I am already looking forward to what ever Flinn puts out there next!