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bluenicorn's review against another edition
2.0
I've got a lot of issues with this book. Granted, I have a lot of issues with princess books, and the Cinderella story, in general, but something about this one got to me even more. Cinder Edna lives a life parallel to Cinderella- but deals with everything differently. Instead of being sad that she lives a life of abused servitude, she's all "hey whatever, man, it happens!" Instead of being pretty, she is plain. She takes a bus to the ball, because unlike Cinderella, "Cinder Edna didn't believe in fairy godmothers." She meets the prince's brother, and they bond over recycling and tuna casseroles and bad jokes, but she's got to go catch the bus.
Superficially, it sounds great- the dream for the young reader doesn't have to be beauty, or marrying a handsome prince. The dream can be knowing yourself and being okay with being a real, un-idealized woman. Finding a man who enjoys your sense of humor is more important than finding a super-handsome boring man. My issue, however, is that it comes at the expense of Cinderella. At every turn, Cinderella is painted as, basically, a dumb, helpless blonde. She is putting on lipstick at the alter. And she is gazing off in what we can interpret as boredom or wistfulness or disappointment at the end- her life and story are "less than" Cinder Edna's. I don't like that. I don't like putting down one type of woman in order to build up another- it's damaging and counterproductive. I like that she is able to sort of save herself, instead of being saved by the prince (which is still arguable), but... not every person is there on their journey. Leave Cinderella alone- she may not be in the same place but she's handling her life in the only way she knows how to. She doesn't need to be shamed for that- she needs understanding. I can't believe I just wrote that, but whatever- it's staying.
Superficially, it sounds great- the dream for the young reader doesn't have to be beauty, or marrying a handsome prince. The dream can be knowing yourself and being okay with being a real, un-idealized woman. Finding a man who enjoys your sense of humor is more important than finding a super-handsome boring man. My issue, however, is that it comes at the expense of Cinderella. At every turn, Cinderella is painted as, basically, a dumb, helpless blonde. She is putting on lipstick at the alter. And she is gazing off in what we can interpret as boredom or wistfulness or disappointment at the end- her life and story are "less than" Cinder Edna's. I don't like that. I don't like putting down one type of woman in order to build up another- it's damaging and counterproductive. I like that she is able to sort of save herself, instead of being saved by the prince (which is still arguable), but... not every person is there on their journey. Leave Cinderella alone- she may not be in the same place but she's handling her life in the only way she knows how to. She doesn't need to be shamed for that- she needs understanding. I can't believe I just wrote that, but whatever- it's staying.
barnettbunch's review against another edition
5.0
A fun twist on Cinderella that shows what is really important when searching for your prince charming.
panda_incognito's review against another edition
2.0
The concept of this book sounded fun, but it's extremely preachy and heavy-handed, more focused on judging Cinderella and the crown prince than on celebrating Cinder Edna and the man she meets. If this had just been about Edna and Rupert, it could have been a charming, offbeat romance, but the pages wasted mocking the conventional pair dragged down the story and made this unpleasant.
It does, however, make me want to read a good Cinderella retelling where the prince is an awkward nerd with lots of odd interests. I would love that.
It does, however, make me want to read a good Cinderella retelling where the prince is an awkward nerd with lots of odd interests. I would love that.
quoththegirl's review against another edition
4.0
Very cute retelling! I appreciate the practicality and gumption of the title character.
wendylioness's review against another edition
5.0
This is possibly one of the cleverest picture books about Cinderella I've ever read. So cute and witty and modern.
cswirl1's review against another edition
5.0
This picture book was a very interesting twist on a a classic princess fairy tale. Cinderella is a classic, but I think that I like Cinder Edna much better. In this story, Cinderella and Cinder Edna are next door neighbors who have a very similar home life. Both girls have evil stepsisters and stepmothers who treat them terribly, but that is when the silimarities stop. Cinderella excepts her life, and mopes in the cinders of her house while Cinder Edna tries to find ways to make herself feel better. On the night of the royal ball both girls want to go, but while Cinderella has her fairy godmother do everything for her, Cinder Ednagets herself ready and to the ball all on her own. The girls both meet a prince, and while Cinderella meets the handsome Prince Randolph, Cinder Edna meets Prince Rupert who is almost exactly like her. The fall in love instantly but are t orn apart in a similar fashion as the original story.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I had never thought about Conderella being incapable of doing anything for herself until I had read this story. I found that after I had read the story, I liked Cinder Edna better than I liked Cinderella. She was much more independent and wanted to do things on her own, which is what I was like when I was young. I think that if I would have read this story when I was younger I would have loved it.
The illustrations in the book are very colorful and vivid. The details that are in the images are so great and they really get you into the story. My favorite parts of the book are when the illustration is on one side of the page opening and the words are on the other side. The words are bordered in various images that have to do with the full bleed images on he other side. For example, on the third opening of the book, Cinder Edna is helping her stepmother and stepsisters get ready for the ball on one page and on the other the words are bordered by things that women use to get ready like combs, mascara, lipstick, etc.
Overall, I feel that this story would be great to read to girls who like princess stories. It gives a fresh spin on the Cinderella story that I feel many girls nowadays could relate to. I really enjoyed this book and I know that I will read it to my students in class and I think that they will enjoy it as well.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I had never thought about Conderella being incapable of doing anything for herself until I had read this story. I found that after I had read the story, I liked Cinder Edna better than I liked Cinderella. She was much more independent and wanted to do things on her own, which is what I was like when I was young. I think that if I would have read this story when I was younger I would have loved it.
The illustrations in the book are very colorful and vivid. The details that are in the images are so great and they really get you into the story. My favorite parts of the book are when the illustration is on one side of the page opening and the words are on the other side. The words are bordered in various images that have to do with the full bleed images on he other side. For example, on the third opening of the book, Cinder Edna is helping her stepmother and stepsisters get ready for the ball on one page and on the other the words are bordered by things that women use to get ready like combs, mascara, lipstick, etc.
Overall, I feel that this story would be great to read to girls who like princess stories. It gives a fresh spin on the Cinderella story that I feel many girls nowadays could relate to. I really enjoyed this book and I know that I will read it to my students in class and I think that they will enjoy it as well.
cmbohn's review against another edition
5.0
A story of another girl who meets another prince. Lots of fun. Shows that "happy ever after" comes in lots of different shapes.