Step into the enchanting world of Grimmtastic Girls, where fairy tale heroines trade glass slippers for school adventures and battle a mysterious evil society! This delightful middle-grade series by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams reimagines classic characters like Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White as students at Grimm Academy, blending magical charm with relatable school drama. Perfect for young readers who love fairy tales with a modern twist, Grimmtastic Girls is a sparkling journey through friendship, courage, and self-discovery.
In the whimsical land of Grimmlandia, these iconic characters face typical tween challenges—crushes, friendships, and school rivalries—while unraveling the sinister plans of the E.V.I.L. Society. With its playful tone and empowering themes, the series captivates readers aged 8–12, offering a fresh spin on beloved stories.
How Grimmtastic Girls Began
Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams, the dynamic duo behind the bestselling Goddess Girls series, launched Grimmtastic Girls in 2014 with Scholastic Inc. Inspired by their love for fairy tales and knack for crafting relatable heroines, they envisioned a world where classic characters attend a magical boarding school. Their goal? To blend the enchantment of Grimm’s fairy tales with modern middle-school struggles, creating stories that resonate with young readers. The result was a vibrant series that transforms familiar tales into empowering adventures.
The Heart of Grimmtastic Girls
The Grimmtastic Girls series spans eight books, each told from the perspective of a different fairy tale heroine. In Cinderella Stays Late, Cinda navigates her first week at Grimm Academy, dodging her wicked stepsisters’ schemes and uncovering an E.V.I.L. Society plot to ruin Prince Awesome’s ball. Her magical glass slippers help her save the day, setting the tone for the series’ blend of magic and mischief. Red Riding Hood Gets Lost follows Red, a talented actress with stage fright, as she gets lost in Neverwood Forest and faces Wolfgang, a potential E.V.I.L. member, with her trusty magic basket.
Rapunzel Cuts Loose dives into Rapunzel’s struggle with her enchanted, fast-growing hair, which gains uncontrollable magical powers. Alongside her friends, she hunts for a treasure to save Grimm Academy. Snow White Lucks Out explores Snow’s battle with bad luck and her stepmother, Ms. Wicked, a known E.V.I.L. member, while her magical tiara grants invisibility. The series weaves themes of friendship, self-confidence, and teamwork into a fantastical setting, with Grimm Academy’s magical library and quirky teachers like Mother Goose adding charm.
The playful narrative style, sprinkled with fairy-tale slang like “That’s so Grimm!”, keeps the tone light and engaging. Each heroine’s unique magical charm—glass slippers, a wicker basket, an onyx comb—ties into their fairy tale while empowering them to face challenges, making the series both nostalgic and fresh.
Why Grimmtastic Girls Resonates
Grimmtastic Girls has carved a niche in middle-grade fantasy by offering diverse, relatable heroines who tackle real-world issues like bullying and self-doubt through a fairy-tale lens. Fans praise its creative retellings and empowering messages, with reviews highlighting its appeal to young readers who love princesses and adventure. The series’ focus on female friendship and resilience continues to inspire, making it a beloved choice for parents and educators seeking stories that blend fun with meaningful lessons.
Its lasting appeal lies in its ability to make classic tales accessible to modern audiences. By placing heroines in a school setting, Holub and Williams bridge the gap between timeless stories and contemporary struggles, ensuring Grimmtastic Girls remains a gem in children’s literature.
- Published: 2014–2016
- Books: 8
- Age Range: 8–12
- Authors: Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
- Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Grab Cinderella Stays Late and dive into the magical world of Grimmtastic Girls, where fairy tales meet friendship and adventure awaits!