Where to Start Reading Grimmtastic Girls
For the best reading experience, you should start the series with the very first book, Cinderella Stays Late. Unlike some middle-grade series where the books can be read in any random order, Grimmtastic Girls features an overarching mystery centered around the sinister E.V.I.L. (Extremely Villainous Iniquitous League) Society. The clues, character introductions, and friendships build sequentially from book to book, culminating in the final showdown in the eighth volume.
Grimmtastic Girls Books in Publication and Chronological Order
The chronological order of the series matches its publication order exactly. Written by co-authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams, the series was released between 2014 and 2016. Each novel is told from the perspective of a different Grimm Academy student as she discovers her unique magical charm and works to protect the school.
- Cinderella Stays Late (2014) – Focuses on Cinda (Cinderella), a athletic tomboy who loves masketball. She must navigate her first week at Grimm Academy, deal with her wicked stepsisters' schemes, and save Prince Awesome's ball using her magic glass slippers.
- Red Riding Hood Gets Lost (2014) – Follows Red, an aspiring actress battling stage fright. She gets lost in the Neverwood forest while trying to deliver a basket and must determine if the mysterious Wolfgang is a member of the E.V.I.L. Society.
- Snow White Lucks Out (2014) – Centers on Snow White, who is plagued by bad luck and targeted by her wicked stepmother, Ms. Wicked (a teacher at the academy). Her magical charm is a tiara that grants invisibility.
- Rapunzel Cuts Loose (2014) – Follows Rapunzel as she tries to control her fast-growing magical hair using an onyx comb charm. Together with her friends, she searches for a hidden treasure to help save the school.
- Sleeping Beauty Dreams Big (2015) – Focuses on Rose (Sleeping Beauty), a daredevil who is cursed to avoid all sharp objects after her twelfth birthday. She must stay awake and find her own magical charm before it is too late.
- Goldilocks Breaks In (2015) – Centers on Goldilocks, a new student desperate to fit in. She is tempted by the E.V.I.L. Society but ultimately decides to act as a double agent to help her friends.
- Snowflake Freezes Up (2016) – Follows Snowflake, a student who is unsure of her true fairy-tale destiny. Fearing her freezing magic makes her a villain, she acts cold toward her classmates to keep them safe.
- Gretel Pushes Back (2016) – The series finale focusing on Gretel as she faces her fears, including memories of the candy cottage, and joins her friends to defeat the E.V.I.L. Society once and for all.
The Lore of Grimmlandia: Grimm Academy & The E.V.I.L. Society
The series is set at Grimm Academy, a magical boarding school in the fairy-tale realm of Grimmlandia. The school is led by Principal Rumplestiltskin and staffed by other classic figures, including Mother Goose. Students use enchanted items called magic charms—special items like Cinda's glass slippers or Rapunzel's black onyx comb—that choose their owners and bond with them, granting unique abilities.
The central conflict in each book involves the students uncovering plots by the E.V.I.L. Society, a league of classic fairy-tale villains. The society includes students' relatives like Cinderella's stepsisters (Malorette and Odette) and teachers like Ms. Wicked, who actively recruit vulnerable students to cause chaos on campus.
What to Know Before You Start: Sister Series and Adaptations
Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams are well-known for writing magical school series. If you enjoy the style of Grimmtastic Girls, you will likely appreciate their other collaborations:
- Goddess Girls: A much longer series (over 20 books) set at Mount Olympus Academy, where Greek goddesses and gods navigate middle school. Though they share a similar tone and structure, there are no official crossovers between Grimmlandia and Mount Olympus.
- Heroes in Training: A companion series focusing on young Greek gods like Zeus and Poseidon on mythological quests.
- Little Goddess Girls: A series tailored for slightly younger readers (ages 6–9) featuring younger versions of the mythological goddesses.