THE TOTALLY NOT WICKED STEPMOTHER

Perhaps stepmothers aren’t as cruel as folklore has led us to believe.

When a child learns that their family is getting a new stepmother, they are skeptical. After all, Cinderella, Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel all had stepmothers who were “TOTALLY wicked” and “B-A-D.” Surely the new stepmother, Holly, will be assigning arduous chores. But instead, she helps renovate the protagonist’s bedroom, painting the ceiling blue to resemble the sky. And while fairy-tale stepmothers abandon their kids in the woods, Holly saves the day when the family is lost on a hiking trip. Though the child isn’t entirely convinced of Holly’s benevolence, the new stepmother continues to score points through gestures of affection, like putting notes in lunches, saving school artwork, and offering support after the protagonist sustains an injury. As the protagonist’s trust in their stepmother grows, they try out new names for her, such as Stepster and Steppypants, before settling on Holly. Layouts alternate between full-page spreads and vignettes, creating plenty of visual movement along with bright and welcoming colors. This is a simple lesson, shared humorously and earnestly, about how fears and pre-judgments can shift with experience. Holly, the narrator, and the rest of the family are light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Totally genuine and fills a gap by showcasing positive outcomes in blended families.