Where to Start Reading Alex Flinn
Alex Flinn’s bibliography split into two distinct paths: contemporary young adult realism that tackles sensitive teen issues, and modern, spellbinding fairy-tale retellings. Depending on your personal tastes, there are two ideal entry points:
- For Realism Fans: Start with her debut novel, Breathing Underwater (2001). This critically acclaimed story focuses on the realities of teen dating violence, drawing from Flinn's real-life experiences as an attorney handling domestic abuse cases.
- For Fantasy and Fairy-Tale Fans: Start with Beastly (2007). A modern New York City retelling of Beauty and the Beast, this novel launched her popular Kendra Chronicles series and was adapted into a major motion picture in 2011.
The Kendra Chronicles Reading Order
The Kendra Chronicles is Flinn’s primary connected series. While each novel reimagines a different classic fairy tale, they are unified by the presence of Kendra Hilferty, an immortal witch who plays a central role in setting each story's events in motion. We highly recommend reading these in publication order, as Kendra’s overarching personal storyline, history, and magical development progress across the books.
- Beastly (2007) – Kendra curses a wealthy, vain teenager named Kyle, transforming him into a beast. He must find true love to break the spell.
- Beastly: Lindy's Diary (2012) – A companion novella that retells the events of Beastly from the perspective of Lindy, the girl who captures Kyle's heart.
- Bewitching (2012) – This installment delves deep into Kendra’s backstory, detailing how she became a witch during the plague era and centering on a modern-day Cinderella-style story involving a girl named Emma.
- Mirrored (2015) – A modern spin on Snow White, following the lives of Celine and Violet. Kendra acts as a guide and guardian as the characters deal with issues of beauty, body image, and jealousy.
- Beheld (2017) – The final novel connects four distinct fairy tales (including Little Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin, East of the Sun and West of the Moon, and The Ugly Duckling) as Kendra travels through different historical eras to find James, her lost warlock love.
The Breathing Underwater Duology
Flinn’s contemporary debut has a direct companion novel that explores the aftermath of an abusive relationship. These two books should be read in chronological order:
- Breathing Underwater (2001) – Told from the perspective of Nick Andreas, a teen boy ordered by a judge to attend domestic violence classes and keep a journal after assaulting his girlfriend, Caitlin.
- Diva (2006) – Follows Caitlin’s perspective after the breakup. Having secured a restraining order against Nick, Caitlin attempts to heal, redefine herself, and pursue her dream of becoming a singer at a performing arts high school in Miami.
Standalone Fairy-Tale Retellings
Flinn has written several standalone fairy-tale retellings. While they share a similar magical-realism tone with the Kendra Chronicles, they are completely self-contained, do not feature Kendra, and can be read in any order:
- A Kiss in Time (2008) – A modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Princess Talia is woken up from her 300-year sleep by a modern American teenager named Jack, forcing her to adapt to the 21st century.
- Cloaked (2011) – A mash-up of classic stories including The Frog Prince and The Elves and the Shoemaker. It follows Johnny, a south Florida shoe repairman tasked by a princess with finding her brother, who has been turned into a frog.
- Towering (2013) – A dark, contemporary retelling of Rapunzel centering on a girl named Rachel trapped in a tower, and Wyatt, the boy who discovers her.
Other Contemporary Standalone Novels
Beyond her fairy-tale retellings, Flinn has penned several standalone contemporary novels that deal with peer pressure, family struggles, and self-discovery:
- Breaking Point (2002) – Explores school violence and peer pressure as a new student named Paul struggles to fit in at an elite school and falls under the influence of a manipulative classmate.
- Nothing to Lose (2004) – A mystery centering on a teen named Michael who runs away to join a traveling carnival while being haunted by the disappearance of his mother's abusive boyfriend.
- Fade to Black (2005) – A novel told from three perspectives (Alex, Clinton, and Trippe) exploring the aftermath of a hate crime directed at a high school student with HIV.
- Girls of July (2019) – A multi-POV summer story about four teenage girls with differing backgrounds and personal struggles who bond while spending a month together in a cabin in the Adirondacks.
- Love, Jacaranda (2020) – A modern retelling of the classic novel Daddy-Long-Legs. Told entirely through emails, it follows a foster child named Jacaranda who receives a scholarship to an elite performing arts school from an anonymous benefactor.
Short Stories and Anthology Contributions
Flinn has also contributed individual short stories to multi-author young adult anthologies:
- "Keep Smiling" in Destination Unexpected (2003) – A short story about personal journeys and unexpected encounters.
- Contribution in Twice Told: Original Stories Inspired by Original Artwork (2006) – A collection of short stories written in response to drawings by artist Scott Hunt.
- "Fight or Flight" in Taking Aim: Power and Pain, Teens and Guns (2015) – A story examining the impact of gun violence on teenagers.
What to Know Before You Start
Flinn’s realistic fiction features heavier themes, including domestic violence, abuse, illness, and peer pressure, which she treats with a raw, honest approach designed to engage reluctant young adult readers. Her fairy-tale retellings, by contrast, lean heavily into magical realism, humor, and romance. Flinn frequently employs male points of view, a stylistic choice that helps her stories reach a broad audience of teen readers.