Discussion Guide: Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy
Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy by Melissa de la Cruz
Ages 10-14
On Sale Now!
Discover a new middle-grade fantasy saga from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Descendants series, Melissa de la Cruz, where real life and fairy tales collide!
Nothing ever happens in Filomena Jefferson-Cho’s sleepy little suburban town of North Pasadena. The sun shines every day, the grass is always a perfect green, and while her progressive school swears there’s no such thing as bullying, she still feels bummed out. But one day, when Filomena is walking home on her own, something strange happens.
Filomena is being followed by Jack Stalker, one of the heroes in the Thirteenth Fairy, a series of books she loves about a brave girl and her ragtag group of friends who save their world from an evil enchantress. She must be dreaming, or still reading a book. But Jack is insistent—he’s real, the stories are real, and Filomena must come with him at once!
Soon, Filomena is thrust into the world of evil fairies and beautiful princesses, sorcerers and slayers, where an evil queen drives her ruthless armies to destroy what is left of the Fairy tribes. To save herself and the kingdom of Westphalia, Filomena must find the truth behind the fairytales and set the world back to rights before the cycle of sleep and destruction begins once more.
Praise for Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy:
Finalist in the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards!
A New York Times Bestseller
“Equal parts whimsical and adventure-packed, Filomena’s journey will entrance readers and have them rooting for the young, witty heroine… A refreshing twist on well-known fairy tales.” – Kirkus
“A fast-paced fantasy that Land of Stories fans will enjoy.” – Publishers Weekly
“Fans of fantasy and fairy tales of all kinds will delight in catching all the references to classics from “Little Miss Muffet” to Lord of the Rings, and the twist-filled plot moves along quickly with plenty of action and snappy banter.” – Booklist
“This series debut has something for most readers—a complex female heroine, middle school angst, plenty of action, and magic—which will leave them eagerly turning the pages.” – School Library Journal, starred review
