I don't read a whole lot of middle grade, but to be honest when I read the synopsis, I didn't know it was, I knew I liked the premise though. Books about being able to know what others are thinking has always intrigued me and it sounded like a cute read that had the potential for some depth.
Seeing Cinderella did not disappoint. Callie is awkward and on this side of nerdy, which helped me to relate with her, being quiet but sometimes seen as stuck up is something that I feel could be a part of my life's story, so even though Callie is a little younger than my usual protagonist, I had no problem connecting with her. She goes through quite a bit of character growth throughout the novel as well as discovering a lot about other people and the way they think as well as discovering how she thinks and feels about things without censoring herself through her best friend.
There was always something going on and I appreciated the drama class, the teachers, Callie's mom, and the fleshed out secondary characters. Ana is one that I really enjoyed and wondered what was going on with her. I figured it out before the reveal (as with quite a few things in this book) but it didn't diminish my enjoyment. I also grew to like Stacy more than I thought I would.
Seeing Cinderella was a quick read for me, I read it all in two sittings, and enjoyed it.
It was funny at times, and had some emotional punch, all at the exact right timing to keep the story going and me interested. It captured middle school insecurities, and drama pretty well and made me smile, but never ever wish to live over again.
I liked how everything wrapped up and I felt like it left Callie and the other characters in a good place.

Bottom Line: Quick and cute read with a quirky main character. ( )

Middle school drama including a bully locker mate, a best friend who has a new best friend, and let's not forget the deadbeat Dad.

Callie gets glasses, which not only help her to see better but which also let her read people's thoughts. Maybe other folks have problems also?

Mouse becomes more confident, learns to reach out to others and ends up starring in a play even though she only wants to be behind the scenes. She even gets the boy.... ( )

Callie feels out of place in her middle school. Her best friend, Ellen, and Stacy, a new girl, seem to be getting closer and leaving Callie out. Callie also has a crush on Scott, a cute boy at school, but she is convinced he and his friend Charlie see her only as someone to be mocked. But Callie's perceptions change when the eye doctor gives her a pair of glasses that let her see the thoughts of everyone around her. At first, Callie doesn't know what to do with her new powers, but as she sees what people around her are thinking, she learns that the way she regards the world might not be accurate. Of particular note is the nuanced, sensitive way the author treats shyness and the way it is perceived by others; Callie is mistakenly believed to be snobby because she is quiet and shy. Callie's struggles with friendship are sympathetically portrayed, and the story engages thoughtfully with the negative effects of a one-sided friendship, and whether it is better not to have that kind of friend. Recommended for readers struggling with friendships, shyness, and/or the transition to middle school. ( )

a fun middle grade Cinderella-themed story with a positive lesson. ( )

What would you do if you discovered that you could read other people’s thoughts?

It’s not bad enough that Callie Anderson has to get glasses just before the start of middle school, but they are the ugliest glasses she has ever seen. Yet those huge, geeky lenses and fat black frames hide a secret. These glasses show Callie what other people are thinking. Maybe they will actually help her. And she can use all of the help she can get. She’s lost in math and Spanish classes. Her best friend seems to be drifting away. And her parents’ marriage is falling apart. But can Callie follow the eye doctor’s instructions and learn to use the glasses wisely?

Full review at: http://www.librarypoint.org/seeing_cinderella_lundquist ( )