Hello, Cruel Heart by Johnson, Maureen

An electric new story of teenage Cruella de Vil in an original novel inspired by the upcoming Walt Disney Studios Live Action Film, Cruella.

Swinging London, Summer 1967. Sixteen-year-old Estella, gifted with talent, ingenuity, and ambition, dreams of becoming a renowned fashion designer. But life seems intent on making sure her dreams never come true. Having arrived in London as a young girl, Estella now runs wild through the city streets with Jasper and Horace, amateur thieves who double as Estella's makeshift family and partners-in-(petty)-crime. How can Estella dedicate herself to joining the ranks of the London design elite when she's sewing endless costumes and disguises for the trio's heists?

When a chance encounter with Magda and Richard Moresby-Plum, two young scions of high society, vaults Estella into the world of the rich and famous, she begins to wonder whether she might be destined for more after all. Suddenly, Estella's days are filled with glamorous parties, exclusive eateries, flirtations with an up-and-coming rock star, and, of course, the most cutting-edge fashions money can buy. But what is the true cost of keeping up with the fast crowd--and is it a price Estella is willing to pay?

Author: Maureen Johnson
Publisher: Disney Press
Published: 04/06/2021
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.50w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9781368057769
Age Range: 12-UP

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.2
Point Value: 9
Interest Level: Middle Grade Plus
Quiz #/Name: 514441 / Hello, Cruel Heart


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 02/15/2021
Booklist 03/01/2021 pg. 52
School Library Journal 03/01/2021 pg. 102

About the Author
Maureen Johnson is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of several YA novels, including 13 Little Blue Envelopes, The Name of the Star, and Truly Devious. She has also done collaborative works, such as Let it Snow (with John Green and Lauren Myracle), recently released as a full-length Netflix film. She has an MFA in writing from Columbia University and lives in New York City. Visit her website at maureenjohnsonbook.com