A review by infin8jester
Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson

5.0

I remember reading this book as a kid and it pops up in my thoughts every so often, so when it came in a shipment tote at work today I obviously had to read it again. Edna is my freakin' GIRL. She is presented as a parallel to Cinderella-- they're neighbors who are both stuck living with/working for their stepmothers and stepsisters. However, while Cinderella is crying by the fireplace about her undesireable living situation, Edna is tuning that hardship into cold, hard SKILLS. Edna knows a ton of recipes for tuna casserole, has her own birdcage cleaning business on the side, and taught herself to play the accordion. While Cinderella is next door having a fairy godmother magic her to the ball, Edna is taking the bus to the same ball in a dress she put on layaway with her birdcage cleaning money. Edna is smart, interesting, and capable, and what she lacks in fairy godmothers she more than makes up for in agency. Edna is cool. Be like Edna.