An annoying hodgepodge of stilted, cloying verse; a modern New York City setting; and traditional elements. But each of those elements is not quite what it should be. The sisters are cruel for no apparent reason (they're not even step-sisters), and Cinder-Elly inexplicably submits to their abuse. There's also a Prince Charming who is a basketball player and a glass sneaker instead of a slipper. The three girls are all invited to one of his games and there's really nothing stopping Cinder-Elly from going-her sisters are walking; so why can't she? Her "Godmother" appears and transforms her clothing into a new outfit, even though she looked just fine before. Prince notices her because she catches a flyaway ball and throws it back to him; he asks her out for a pizza. There are the expected problems with time running out and the search for the owner of the glass sneaker. And yes, "everyone lived/Forever happy." Flat, modern watercolors try their best to add to the hip feeling this story tries to portray, but they are often as cluttered as the text. A jumbled path that leads nowhere. Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.