book review for cinderella story

A Summary and Analysis of the Cinderella Fairy Tale

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘Cinderella’ is, of course, a classic fairy story, a ‘rags to riches’ tale about a kind-hearted girl who suffers various hardships only to marry the prince of the kingdom. Why is Cinderella called Cinderella? Since she is shunned by the rest of her family (especially the stepsisters), the poor girl sits among the ashes in the chimney corner – hence her cindery name.

The ‘rags to riches’ transformation comes about when Cinders, who wishes to attend the royal ball, has her wish granted and subsequently meets the prince. Although she has to flee the ball and return home – losing one of her slippers in the process – the prince searches for and finds her, thanks to what is perhaps the most romantic shoe-fitting in all of literature. So far, so familiar.

The earliest appearance of the Cinderella story in print was in 1634 in the Pentamerone , a collection of oral folk tales compiled by Giambattista Basile, a Neapolitan soldier, poet, and courtier. Here Cinderella is called Cenerentola.

In 1697, French writer Charles Perrault published the story of Cendrillon, a variation on the story. Perrault added several details now intrinsically associated with the story – notably the pumpkin, the fairy godmother, and the glass slipper – to Basile’s version, which already featured the wicked stepmother and the evil stepsisters, as well as the prince figure (though in Basile’s he is a king rather than a prince) who hunts for the owner of a slipper (though it isn’t glass in Basile’s version). Perrault’s version would form the basis of the hit 1950 Disney film Cinderella , which in turn inspired Kenneth Branagh’s 2015 live-action remake.

But in fact the story is even older than these seventeenth-century versions: ‘Ye Xian’ or ‘Yeh-Shen’ is a Chinese variant of the Cinderella story that dates from the ninth century. A detailed plot summary can be found here .

But even this isn’t the oldest version of the story: a tale dating back to the 1st century BC, more than a thousand years before even the Chinese ‘Ye Xian’, is perhaps the earliest of all Cinderella narratives. The story is about a Thracian courtesan, Rhodopis, who ends up marrying the King of Egypt . It even features a royal figure searching for the owner of a shoe, suggesting that it is the progenitor of all later Cinderella stories.

In the nineteenth century, the Brothers Grimm offered a slightly different version of the tale in Aschenputtel . The Grimms’ retelling of the fairy tale is somewhat … well, grimmer than the Basile or Perrault versions.

At the end of the Grimms’ version of the story, the stepsisters’ eyes are pecked out by birds to punish the sisters for their cruelty towards their sibling – a violent conclusion you won’t find in Disney. In order to try to dupe the prince into thinking they are the wearers of the missing slipper, each of the stepsisters cuts off part of her own foot to make it fit, but the blood that fills the slipper gives the game away. Indeed, the Chinese ‘Ye Xian’ telling of the Cinderella story ends with the stepmother and ugly sisters being crushed to death in their caves by stones. In the Disney film they get off lightly, to say the least.

What’s more, in the Brothers Grimm version of the Cinderella story, the slipper is not glass, but gold. There is disagreement among scholars and commentators as to whether the glass slippers that first appear in Perrault’s version (and, subsequently, in many famous retellings and adaptations of the tale) were the result of Perrault’s mishearing vair (French for ‘squirrel’s fur’) for verre (French for ‘glass’).

The majority of experts reject such a theory. The website Snopes.com states that Perrault intended the slippers to be made of glass all along, and wasn’t acting on an error, while another site suggests that the glass slipper was perhaps ‘an ironic device since it is a fragile thing’, so might be seen as a form of artistic licence.

Interestingly, the ‘error’ theory – that Perrault was not inventing an iconic literary trope but simply mishearing one word for another – appears to have been put about by the French novelist Honoré de Balzac. So, although Perrault added the glass slippers, it was most likely not down to a mishearing (especially since the word vair was not in common use when Perrault was writing) but to creative licence.

Roald Dahl updated the fairy tale of Cinderella in 1982 in his R evolting Rhymes. The most significant Dahlian detail in his verse retelling of the tale comes near the end, when one of the stepsisters replaces the glass slipper with her own shoe. But even though the shoe subsequently fits the sister’s foot perfectly (as you’d expect), the prince declines to marry her and instead – cuts her head off.

The tyrannical prince does the same to the other stepsister, and Cinderella’s head would have been done for too, had her fairy godmother not intervened and saved her – granting Cinderella’s wish to be married to an ordinary husband rather than a prince who would, let’s face it, make Prince Joffrey look like Oliver Twist.

So that’s a happy ending, just not the one you find in traditional fairy tales.

Before the Disney film of 1950, and long before the 2015 Kenneth Branagh remake, there were many film adaptations, the first of which (from 1899) can be seen here .

If you enjoyed this post, you might find something of literary interest in our summary of the curious history of ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ , 25 great facts about children’s books and our surprising facts about Aladdin and the Arabian Nights .

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20 thoughts on “A Summary and Analysis of the Cinderella Fairy Tale”

Reblogged this on Língua Inglesa .

I always enjoy your posts. Just the sort of facts I find fascinating. Thank you. Kris http://www.awritersden.wordpress.com

We just covered the Brothers Grimm and their grusome tales in the Romantic Period of our senior English lit section. Students are mesmerized by the cruelty and violence of the original fairy tales. One of my favorite versions is Ever After with Drew Barrymore. In the beginning of the film the glass slipper is shown and it is golden glass–which solves both theories of the famous shoe.

I love the Ever After version of this tale as well. The Brothers Grimm tend to be too grim for me. :)

Nice post! I love researching this sort of thing. One of my favorite Cinderella adaptions (shadow puppets) is from 1922 by Lotte Reiniger. You can find it on YouTube.

Interesting to see how far back the story goes. But I thought there was a version (though I can’t remember where) where the stepsisters are forced to dance on hot coals until they died?

This ending seems familiar – though I can’t remember which version it was exactly. Maybe I should reread my old fairytale books. By the way, why are so many suprised about the cruelty in the original fairytales? I’ ve grown up with them and especially the Disney version appeared always too nice in my opinion.

You might be thinking of a version of Snow White where the stepmother is forced to dance in red hot iron shoes until she died.

Reblogged this on Getting Lit Fit .

Huh. Interesting as always.

Reblogged this on your worst nightmare and commented: So gosh-darn cool.

Reblogged this on justthetraveller and commented: Well, that’s New to me.

Reblogged this on Wyldwood Books and commented: Yet another interesting and informative post from interestingliterature.com

I knew of Pentamerone from my time at university along with the Grimm version (which I thoroughly enjoyed), but knew little of the earlier versions. Great reading.

Reblogged this on Beyond The Beyond.. .

Such an intersting post. Loved it.

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Reblogged this on Be Yourself Here!:) and commented: Never Knew this before!

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Cinderella by Charles Perrault

by Tiffany Buck | Aug 2, 2021 | Children's Books , Classics , Fantasy , Middle Grade Books , Romance , Young Adult

Author’s Worldview

Year Published

Family, kindness, forgiveness, love

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Cinderella: it’s a story everyone knows. The heroine goes from comfort to rags and then rags to riches, her virtue rewarded. Disney did the Cinderella story quite well, twice in fact. But there’s more to the story. It’s a tale rooted far in the past and full of Catholic virtue. It was Charles Perrault, often recognized as the father of fairytales, who wrote-down this French version in 1697. Here Cinderella exhibits extreme kindness to all around her, but more importantly, forgiveness.

Versions of Cinderella are found across the globe. The virtue of forgiveness is what sets Perrault’s Cinderella apart from all the others. After Cinderella marries the prince, she moves her stepsisters to court and finds husbands. This act of love towards her stepsisters who treated her harshly is sadly often left out. Perhaps, Perrault’s Cinderella had a real life inspiration―St. Germaine Cousins.

In 1579, more than one hundred years before Charles Perrault published Cinderella, a weak little girl with a deformed hand was born in France. Germaine Cousin’s mother died and her father, Laurent, remarried, to a woman named Hortense. Despite Hortense having children of her own, she despised sweet Germaine and seemed to take pleasure in doling out abuse. No matter how badly Germaine was treated she always responded with kindness. It wasn’t too long before the village began to recognize this holy child. In 1601, Germaine Cousin died at the age of twenty-two. To some this may seem like a sad ending, but in reality she lived happily-ever-after. St. Germaine was taken to the kingdom of God by her prince, Jesus. May we all be so fortunate?

Fairytales are rarely taken down from the bookshelves and read. “Yet they teach us- to paraphrase G. K. Chesterton- that just because a dragon exists doesn’t mean it can’t be slayed.” The dragons in Cinderella are cruelty which she overcame with kindness. Isn’t this how we are supposed to live as Catholics? Treat others the way you want to be treated. I love Cinderella and encourage everyone to read Charles Perrault’s version of this classic tale.

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Cinderella | Bedtime Stories For Kids

Cinderella Fairytale

Illustrated By: Suzie Chang

Part 1: A Girl Named Cinderella

ONCE UPON A TIME a girl named Cinderella lived with her stepmother and two stepsisters. It was Cinderella who had to wake up each morning when it was still dark and cold to start the fire. Cinderella who cooked the meals. Cinderella who kept the fire going. The poor girl could not stay clean, from all the ashes and cinders by the fire.

“What a mess you are!” her two stepsisters laughed. That is why they called her “Cinderella.”

One day, big news was announced in their village. It was time for the Prince to find a bride, and the King and Queen were going to have a ball! All of the young ladies of the land were invited to come. The stepsisters were wild with joy. They would wear their most beautiful gowns and fix their hair in the most splendid way. No doubt they would be the one to win the favor of the Prince!

Cinderella now had extra work to do. She had to sew two fabulous gowns for her step-sisters in the latest fashion.

No doubt they would be the one to win the favor of the Prince!

“Faster!” shouted one stepsister.

“You call that a dress?” screamed the other.

“Oh, dear!” said Cinderella. “When can I–“

The stepmother marched into the room. “When can you WHAT?”

“Well,” said the girl, “when will I have time to make my own dress for the ball?”

“You?” barked the stepmother. “Who said YOU were going to the ball?”

“Did you hear that?” One stepsister rolled back with laughter. "Cinderella, going to the ball?"

“Looking like THAT?" Her stepsisters roared with laughter. "They'd never let that mess in the front door!"

Cinderella thought to herself, “I may look like a mess but I am not a mess, not really, And if I could, I WOULD go to the ball.”

Soon the big day came. Poufed and pampered, the stepmother and stepsisters were ready to leave for the big night.

Part 2: The Big Party

A fine carriage arrived to pick them up. The stepmother and stepsisters hopped inside.

“Good-bye!” called Cinderella. “Have a good time!” But the stepmother and stepsisters did not turn to respond. The carriage door shut and off they were, in a cloud of dust.

“Ah!” groaned Cinderella as the carriage clip-clopped down the cobblestone street. “If only there was a way for me to go to the ball, too!”

Then - Poof! All of a sudden, in front of her stood a fairy.

“You called?” said the Fairy.

“I did?” said Cinderella. “Who are you?”

“Your Fairy Godmother, of course! I know what you wish, and I have come to grant it.”

“But…” said Cinderella, “my wish is impossible.”

“Excuse me!” said the Fairy Godmother in a huff. “Did I not just show up out of thin air?”

“I suppose you did,” said Cinderella.

“Did I not just show up out of thin air?"

“Then let me be the one to say what is possible or not!”

“Well, all right," said Cinderella. She looked down at her dirty clothes. “But look at me. I cannot go to the ball.”

“You do look a bit of a mess, child,” said the Fairy Godmother gently.

“Even if I had something nice to wear," said the girl, "I would have no way to get there."

“Dear me, all of that is possible,” said the Fairy. She tapped her wand on Cinderella’s head.

At once, Cinderella was perfectly clean. What's more, she was dressed in a beautiful blue gown! Her hair was set up high on her head in a golden band.

“This is amazing!” said Cinderella.

“Who said I was done?” said the Fairy Godmother. She tapped her wand again. At once, a beautiful carriage came to be, with a driver and four white horses.

“Am I dreaming?” said Cinderella, looking around her in astonishment.

“It's as real as real can be,” said the Fairy Godmother. “But there is one thing you must know.”

“What is that?”

“The magic lasts only to midnight. At the stroke of midnight, it will be over. Everything will go back to how it was before.”

“Then I must be sure to leave the ball before midnight,” said Cinderella.

“At the stroke of midnight, it will be over."

“Smart cookie,” said the Fairy Godmother. She stepped back. “My work here is done.” In a puff of smoke, the Fairy Godmother was gone.

Cinderella looked around. "Did that even happen?" But there she was in a fine gown, with a golden band in her hair. And there were her driver and four horses.

“Coming?” called the driver.

"I suppose it did," said Cinderella. She stepped into the carriage, and they were off.

Part 3: The Ball

During the ball, the Prince felt despondent. “Why do you have that sad look on your face?” the Queen said to her son. “You would think you weren't at a royal ball your father and I are hosting just for you, so you can find a bride.”

“I know you and Father are looking out for me,” said the Prince. Yet something was wrong. He had already met most of the young women at the ball, and after he said “Hello,” there was nothing more to say.

"Look!" Someone pointed to the front door of the ballroom, at the top of the stairs.

All heads turned. Who was that lovely maiden stepping down the stairs? She held her head tall and stepped with grace and elegance. Who was she? No one knew.

“There is something about that young lady,” said the Prince to himself. “I will ask her to dance.” He walked over to Cinderella.

“Have we met?” said the Prince.

“I am pleased to meet you now,” said Cinderella with a bow.

“I feel as if I know you,” said the Prince. “But of course, that's impossible.”

“I feel as if I know you," said the Prince.

“Many things are possible,” said Cinderella, “if you wish them to be true.”

"Do you really believe that?" said the Prince.

"I know it," said Cinderella.

The Prince felt a leap in his heart. He and Cinderella danced. When the song was over, they danced again. And then again. All the time they were talking and laughing. Soon the other maidens at the ball grew jealous. “Why is he staying dance after dance with HER?” they said. “Give someone else a chance. How rude!”

But all the Prince wanted to do was to stay with Cinderella. In fact, they danced so long that Cinderella did not see the clock.

Part 4: The Clock Strikes

“Dong!” struck the clock.

Cinderella looked up.

“Dong!” rung the clock again.

She turned to the clock. “Oh, my!” she cried. “It's almost midnight!”

“Dong!” called the clock.

“Why does it matter?” said the Prince. "The night is young."

“Dong!" called the clock.

“Dong!” rung the clock again.

“I must go!” said Cinderella.

“Dong!” went the clock.

“But we just met!” said the Prince.

“Dong!” rung the clock.

“I must GO!” said Cinderella. She ran to the steps.

“Dong!” cried the clock.

“I cannot hear you,” said the Prince. “The clock is too loud!”

“Goodbye!” said Cinderella. The ran up the stairs as fast as she could.

“Please, stop for a moment!” said the Prince.

“Oh, dear!” she said as one glass slipper fell off her foot on the stair. But Cinderella kept running.

“Dong!” said the clock.

“Please wait a moment!” said the Prince.

“Goodbye!” Cinderella turned one last time. She rushed out the door.

“Dong!” The clock was quiet. It was midnight.

“Wait!” called the Prince. He picked up her glass slipper and dashed out the door to follow her.

He looked around but could not see her blue dress anywhere. “This is all I have left from her,” he said, looking down forlornly at the glass slipper. He noticed that it was made in a special way, to fit a foot like none other. “Somewhere that young maiden has the other glass slipper,” he said. “I will find her, and when I do, I will ask her to be my bride!”

Part 5: The Search

From village to village, and from cottage to cottage went the Prince. One young woman after another tried to fit her foot inside the glass slipper. But none could fit. He asked if they had the other glass slipper. None did. And the Prince moved on.

At last the Prince came to Cinderella’s cottage.

“He is coming!” shrieked one stepsister as she looked out the window.

“He is here, at the door right now!” screamed the other stepsister.

At last the Prince came to Cinderella's cottage.

“Hush!” hissed the stepmother. “He'll hear you! Now get ready. One of you must fit your foot in that slipper, no matter what it takes!” The stepmother swirled around to face Cinderella. "Get out of my sight," she glowered, "Go to your room right now and stay there!"

The Prince knocked. The stepmother flew open the door. “Come in!” she said in a sweet, sultry voice. “I have two lovely daughters you must see.”

The first stepsister tried to fit her foot in the glass slipper.

As hard as she tried, her foot could not squeeze in. The second step-sister tried to fit her foot inside, but no dice. And neither of them had the other glass slipper.

“Are there any other young women in the house?” said the Prince.

“None,” said the stepmother.

“Then I will take my leave,” said the Prince.

“Maybe there is one more,” said Cinderella, stepping into the room.

“I thought you said there were no other young women here,” said the Prince.

“None who matter!” seethed the stepmother.

“Come here,” said the Prince warmly.

Cinderella stepped up to him. The Prince got down on one knee and tried the glass slipper on her foot.

It fit perfectly! "Well, I suppose I have the pair back again," said Cinderella. And from her pocket she took out the other glass slipper!

“I knew it!” he cried. “You are the one!”

“WHAT?” shouted a stepsister.

“Not HER!” screamed the other stepsister.

“This cannot BE!” shrieked the stepmother.

But it was too late. The prince looked into her eyes. He knew that this young woman was the very same one he had met and danced with, and loved talking to. He did not see the cinders in her hair or the ashes on her face.

“I have found you!” he said.

“And I have found you,” said Cinderella.

And so Cinderella and the Prince were married, and they lived happily ever after.

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136 Comments

IS GOOD TO BE FAIR WITH OHTERS

Suzie Chang’s enchanting illustrations breathe life into the timeless Cinderella fairytale! Her artistic brilliance captures the magic, making every page a journey into a world of wonder. Bravo, Suzie!

Every thing is possible if you are patient.

If you act mean, nothing will get done.

That the dream that you wish will come true!!!

The Story is sooo cool!

THIS IS A RESPONSE FROM STORIES TO GROW BY. Rama, tell us–what do you think was most cool about Cinderella?

a cool story and i think this story will be my favorite

That anything is possible

My little brothers words : ‘ This platform is amazing ! I sometimes feel like i am reading an actual book with easy word meanings and and it has pictures ! if i were to rate this reading platform it would be a 10/10 ! ‘ And i completely agree with him , this is an amazing reading platform with easy vocabulary and sentences .

My brother thinks that this story teaches you that you need to treat others the way you want to be treated because you never know how they might turn out to be in the future.

It show us that is not good to be a wicked person.

This book was so fun to read I loved that she found him?✨?

Really good and simple language which has simple meaning and vocabulary also. I got it all.

Happy endings do come true for those who keep their word.

My daughter’s words: The book was awesome and I love it!!

I liked the part when it said “dong”!

Why is everyone in these comments “just learning about how you shouldn’t be rude to people”? Bruh, I learned that when I was 4.

We must not think that we’re better than others.

Don’t judge anyone and love everyone.

That is not nice to be mean

I love this story the same way I love books

This story is sóóóooooooooooó cool!!!

Really good for night time story reading if adults are too tired to read just relax and watch the words, also good that there are pictures there too my little girl loved looking at the pics.

this story was so nice and I am feeling very good for reading the story, I got some English conversation. Thank you.

I love how the godmother said it will all be gone after midnight but the slippers stayed

After growing up, I realized the prince can just recognize the girl through her appearance. He does not need to have all the girls try on the shoes.

I love the way you can read it and listen to the words that it says. ??

I learned that it is not good to do bad things to others and if you do, bad will come back to you. And to care about others, you should be kind to people and not do what you don’t want others to do to you. They are people so do not do it the end.

What I learned about today’s topic called Cinderella is that: 1. We should be nice to others because when we do bad things to others, bad will come back to us. 2. We should not make people suffer and make fun of them because at the end it will be your turn.

I like this story because it tells that if we have faith in ourselves and are patient, then even an impossible wish can come true. I like Cinderella a lot for this.

If you wish something it is possible.

It tells the reader that nothing is impossible if you believe.

IS TRYING TO BE PATIENT

Basically the moral of Cinderella is: people should always fight for what they want with a good heart and hard work. And wickedness and envy will lead to negative consequences, whereas perseverance will lead to a happy ending. And no matter what your situation is, don’t give up on your dreams.

The moral of the story : Do not be rude Nothing is impossible And bad never wins but good every time wins

Nothing is impossible.

The moral of the story is that nothing is impossible. And also to not be rude .

It tells us nothing is impossible.

It tells us nothing is impossible

The story is trying to tell you that nothing is impossible

It was good and I never heard this version before that’s one reason why it’s good another is that the stepmom and sisters got what they deserved

The story is trying tell us that nothing is impossible.

That anything is possible. If you keep walking forward with courage and hope, you’ll find what you need

i like the story Cinderella but this one is the best ever!

This story tells that nothing is impossible

Do not lose hope. No matter the difficulties you meet in life, there is still hope.

Never stop dreaming??

Hold that dream and keep dreaming it.

Your sound is beautiful

That keep on wishing on your dream and it will come true.

In one of my classes, there is a class called Discovery Aces. We are learning about Theme. To answer “Say what you think the story is trying to show you….” I think, the theme is “Don’t doubt yourself even when others doubt you.” I thought this story was a very good thing and I liked the pictures but sometimes they looked really different. Me and my teacher were having a lot of fun reading this book. We had a lot of laughs.

I loved that the speaker was reading with so much expressions, and the right ones too!

The story might be showing us that if you believe in yourself you can accomplish whatever you want.

3.The story is trying to tell us to be neat and nice.

People good evening sir/ma this is a very interesting story and I think it has a very good lesson

This is the lesson I have learned. To be kinder to my family and those who need it. It’s called kindness and respect to the people who are not nice.

Wow! Lessons well received.

Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean because she is really nice and they treated her like a slave. Cinderella changed in a really good way. She went from a slave to a princess and found her prince. The story is showing you that you can be anything you want to be. 7/10

Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because she was their slave, she had no choice.

Cinderella changed because she went from being the maid to being engaged to the prince.

The story was trying to show me not to give up on your hopes because mean people boss you around.

I think this story is showing me that people have to be very kind.

Wow, this story is amazing. I can keep reading this as long as I want. I love it so much!

Wow! I like the story. It is not good to lie be jealous. it is a moral lesson

Cinderella was nice so didn’t want to be mean to the step sisters.

Cinderella found out that good things happen to good people.

That good beats bad.

cause Cinderella has no choice

It teaches me to persevere through hard time and never to be jealous…My own blessing must surely locate me in due season even if am hidden in the valley.

Be kindness and be brave is what this story tells us. If you are a servant or anything, when you do good thing you also deserve good.

Hi from Turkey! We should treat people in equal no matter who!

because she thought that if she let her step-sisters be mean to her, one day they would begin to act nice to her and treat her well.

This is trying to tell us that we should be hard working and never give up on ourselves.

What a nice and lovely story, I loved it much more than any other story.

It taught us not to treat others differently because if your life is bad it can always change in the future.

Cinderella was changed from a slave to a princess. She grew more strong by leaving her step mother and step sister and marrying the prince. She learned that she is way more than what she was.

(1) Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because later on in life she will have better than her stepsisters. Also, she will know that once she meets or has someone in her life who loves her, she can get back at them because she married the prince and now her stepmother and sister can be her maids or whatever she wants to call it. Next, she got to dance with the prince and her stepsisters were jealous.

(2) I pick the stepsisters if I was them and rude to Cinderella, I would feel bad, mad and sad. Bad is for why have I been rude to her? She could grow up more than me and marry someone better and I may or may not marry someone. I would feel mad because I wouldn’t get to dance with the prince and have a better life than her. And I’d feel sad because I was rude and for other reasons.

(3) To always be nice and way more, but I have to go.

The End ,,,, by E and B TOOK 5 MINS TO WRITE THIS THANKS FOR TELLING !!!!?

I think what the story is trying to tell us is to treat others the way you want to be treated, and don’t underestimate others. ?

This story was great, it really helped me fall asleep at night when I felt sick. This was a great telling of the story.

It teaches us that you have to be nice or else the other person will get all the good and fun stuff

I think Cinderella wanted to make her stepsisters like her. So she tried to be nice, hoping they would.

This story is trying to teach us that we should treat every one equal

1. Because then she won’t have anything to eat or survive. 2. Cinderella grew and changed because she got married and was happy to be with someone that makes her happy. 3. To not let anyone judge a book by its cover because you have lessons to learn everyday and you don’t know it.

This help me a lot and it calms me down. This one was a hit to victory. I want hear more stories like this one. Question 3- I think anything is possible, and number 2 is Cinderella

It teach us not to make fun of someone ???

Why did the step sisters and step mother were mean what did she do to them so sad ????????and that’s a nice story but sad By Maria

IT TEACH US NOT TO BE MAKING JEST OF SOMEONE

This is my daughters favorite story and I love the pictures/paintings

Q1 Maybe she believed their insults. Maybe hearing the insults so often made her believe them. Or she didn’t have any support when she stood up to them. Maybe she didn’t think it would be good manners or proper to speak back.

1. Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because if Cinderella says something rude about her stepsisters then her stepmother will say, “It is not the stepsisters fault, it is your fault.” 2. Cinderella changed because she doesn’t have to do the work again for her mean stepsisters and stepmother. 3. I think the story is trying to tell us that if you really really really want to win at something but you loose because the person you were mean to will win, for example if you were mean to someone and then there is a competition 1 day then you really want to win but you won’t because the person who you were mean to will win.

1. why did Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her? Because Cinderella didn’t want to hurt them, or she loves them.

The stepmother is being rude and hatefull

External beauty many can achieve, its the inner beauty that makes one unique.

Thanks for your hard and amazing work, my son and I are very appreciative.

Cinderella from the beginning of the story was like a maid at home and in the end of the story she became a princess and she will live at the castle. We should treat people with respect and not make fun of them.

1. Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because if Cinderella says something rude about her stepsisters then her stepmother will say ” It is not the stepsisters fault, it is your fault.” 2. Cinderella changed because she doesn’t have to do the work again for her mean stepsisters and stepmother. 3. I think the story is trying to tell us that if you really really really want to win at something but you loose because the person you were mean to will win, for example if you were mean to someone and then there is a competition 1 day then you really want to win but you won’t because the person who you were mean to will win.

Say what you think the story is trying to show you.

I feel that the story is trying to say that whatever good you do, good will come back to you.

Question 3— Say what you think the story is trying to show you.

the story is trying to say that nothing is impossible

Question 1: I would imagine Cinderella realized her position. Although her step-family mistreated her greatly, they were still her family and some small part of her cared for them. Cinderella was a Baron’s daughter. She could’ve easily written to the constable about the mistreatment and fought for the rights of her title. But Cinderella had a spirit of forbearance. She was kind and had a good heart. Maybe she knew the realities of those in that era who found themselves in a pitiable state.

This is soo good to let your mind rest?

I love this story because it has a good end and the lesson is to be kind to other people no matter if they are poor or rich the thing that matters is to be kind to everyone and if we all do that we can make the world a better place and live our happily ever after life

Question 1 : Cinderella starts the story as a Housemaid to her stepmother and stepsisters while they go and boss her around. But Cinderella stills hopes to go to the ball with the Prince and continues to hope despite being bossed around by her stepmother and stepsisters. Then she eventually does meet her magic fairy after her stepmother denies her request to go to the festival. The Magic fairy dresses her up and takes her to the festival as a princess but tells her to be back before midnight. She forgets about midnight and rushes home while her prince does a kingdom-wide search. He eventually finds Cinderella and buts her magic slipper on and they get married happily ever after.

Question 2 : I think one of the themes of the story is to be hopeful, yet still try. In the story Cinderella is rugged and Dirty and has abusive parental units and sisters who are tormenting her, yet she still hopes and tries to go the the festival. She kept on hoping and eventually she did get to the ball but she didn’t get their without some help and without trying and hoping.

Beautiful story…. My lesson from the story.. Never ever think that we are better than the person who sit next to us…

Cinderella is so nice ?♥️♥️♥️♥️?❤️❤️ The message of the story is that be kind Because you don’t Know your future or what is the blessings of the day ❤️❤️❤️?????

Que 1 Cinderella is good and kind but she’s in a situation where these character traits would not normally flourish. She has to work hard at menial tasks, she’s forced to wear tattered clothing, and she is cut off from a support network and isolated in the attic. She should be miserable and lonely.

Que2 It is often said that some things get better with time, and in the case of Cinderella I would have to agree. Although I know the story and have seen multiple versions numerous times, experiencing the Nashville Children’s Theatre’s version of Cinderella presented me with ideas I had never considered in the context of the story.

Cinderella is hard worker and she deserves a break. Cinderella should marry the prince cause she’s good person. She works hard and takes care of her stepsisters and her stepmother. At the end she finally gets married to the prince and has a happy life .

Helps me to learn things i don’t know and to not do bad things.

I love this story ?? it’s so calming

THIS WAS AMAZING WHO EVER MADE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because if she tried to fight back she would just get yelled at and pushed around even more. Cinderella thought she should go to the ball because all the young women were invited and being a woman she felt that she needed to go.

Cinderella lived with her step mother and stepsisters. She had no where else to go so she did everything they told her to do. She was always a mess and never looked clean like them.

She knew she was beautiful and not a mess. She wanted to look nice for the Prince too.

Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because she had to do their jobs like her stepmother told her to. She was scared of her stepmother. She thought she should go to the ball because the prince said all young ladies should go.

So they could rest.

Because she did not feel she was a mess.

She had no way of stopping her step sister from being mean to her. If she would fight back her step mother would have been more hateful to her. She had to do what they said because she had no where else to go.

All of the women of the village were invited, Cinderella being a woman of the village felt like she should go.

Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because if she would’ve said something then her stepmother would of yelled at her

Cinderella wanted to go to the ball because she thought it would make her happy

Cinderella wanted to go to the ball because it would make her happy but she didn’t want her stepmother to yell at her anymore.

Wow! Thank you! I constantly needed to write on my blog something like that. Can I take a part of your post to my blog?

Because she didn’t think she was a mess. Because she is a nice person and deserves better.

I like this story. There’s magic inside this story

answer 1 : because at last they were family. answer 2: her thoughts were different from the others.

1: she thought she was the maid

2: her step sisters got to go and she wanted to go as well

because she knew they would make life unbearable for her, if she disobeys them.and she needed them even if they were the most annoying people.

1 Cinderella let her half-sisters be wicked and cruel to her because she had asked her mother to be kind and not be cruel to others.

2 She thought if she was alone she would feel lonely, so she let her step-mother and step-sister go to the dance.

It teaches us how to respect people. It is a very touching story and it makes me feel happy anytime i read the story, the place i like most is when the fairy godmother came and transformed her from a tattered girl to a beautiful girl with a blue gown and a band on her hair and a glass shoe.

Cinderella should to the ball because it would make her happy. She did not want her stepmother to yell at her more.

1,Beacause cinderella did not want to be mean to them.

2.Beacause her stepmother and stepsisters went to the ball.

Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because she promised her mother she will never be mean to people Cinderella thinks she should go to the ball because her stepsisters, and stepmom was going and she thought she should go too.

Cinderella let them be mean to her because she promise her mother at she we’ll be kind nice and never be mean to people

I think Cinderella let her step sisters be mean to her because she felt like she had no choice to listen to them

I think Cinderella thought she should go to the ball because she felt like since she lived with them and they were going to the ball she should be included to.

I learned so much from this is to not judge by its own dress or look

Wonderful ?????????

I’m not sure. Cinderella I think just wanted to please other people that she didn’t have time to think about them being mean for her. Cinderella thought she should go to the ball because, if her family got to go then why won’t she be able to?

infact i enjoy it,its lovely

I wish that i could be a cindrella

I very much like this story

wow i wish i was cendarella

lovely story I enjoyed it

The slippery genius of the Cinderella story

Cinderella has endured for hundreds of years. That’s because it gives us a way to talk about families.

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The fairy tale of Cinderella has a rep for being a bit retrograde. It’s a story about a girl whose passivity and meekness in the face of abuse is rewarded by a fairy godmother who hands her over to a man, goes the usual criticism. It’s the story of a girl who can’t even make it to a party without magical help.

But like all fairy tales, Cinderella doesn’t actually have an inherent value system or morality. It’s an obliging story that’s been told and retold so often that it doesn’t really have a stable moral anymore. Instead, it can have any moral.

In medieval Europe, Cinderella tended to triumph because she was clever and lucky. In the 19th century, the brothers Grimm, who recorded the version of the story that Americans are most likely to think of as canonical, centered Cinderella’s triumph on her kindness and her beauty. And as the story was told and retold, Cinderella moved back and forth between being the active author of her own fate and a passive, voiceless doll.

Over the past few decades, Cinderella has been repackaged over and over again as a feminist icon. Just this year, Rebecca Solnit, the feminist writer who coined the term “mansplaining,” published a children’s picture book titled Cinderella Liberator . It ends with Cinderella opening her own bakery and forming a lasting platonic friendship with the prince, who gives up his title to become a farmer.

The morality of Cinderella may not be consistent over the centuries, but the basic plot is: In every Cinderella, the heroine is a daughter who is betrayed and abused by her mother or stepmother, and she triumphs at the end because of her innate virtue. The virtue in question changes depending on who is telling the story.

That’s because what gives Cinderella its power isn’t its morality. It’s the way the story thinks about families.

Cinderella parses fundamental family questions. How do we combine two families? And how do family structures survive when children stop being children?

Early Cinderellas were tricksters

Early Cinderellas tended to be wily trickster characters who schemed their way to the top, says Jack Zipes, a professor emeritus of German and comparative literature at the University of Minnesota and one of the foremost scholars of fairy tales in the world. Zipes traces Cinderella back to ancient Egypt and China, but he says one of the earliest European versions of the story came from Giambattista Basile. Basile called his 1634 version “ The Cat Cinderella ” (“Cenerentola” in Italian, but it translates to Cat Cinderella in English), because his Cinderella was clever like a cat.

Cat Cinderella murders her first wicked stepmother after she gets tired of the abuse, and she repeatedly pokes her father with a pin until he agrees to marry her governess next. The governess eventually proves to be just as wicked as the first stepmother, and the rest of the story continues along familiar lines — except that Cinderella triumphs because she is smart enough to outwit her wicked stepsisters and scam her way to the ball, and because she is lucky enough to have fairy allies. Basile’s moral at the end, “You must be mad to oppose the stars,” nods to the importance of fate in his story.

But the central conflict here is the same one that we know and recognize in modern Cinderellas: Cat Cinderella’s mother is dead, and her father has married a new wife. (Two new wives, actually.) What happens to their family now?

Finette Cendron and her fairy godmother.

In Marie-Catherine d’Aulnoy’s 1697 version, “ Finette Cendron ,” our heroine is pointedly the cleverest of three daughters. Her sisters are named Fleur d’Amour (Flower of Love) and Belle-de-Nuit (Beauty of the Night), but the Cinderella figure is named Fine-Oreille (Shrewd Listener) and nicknamed Finette, or Little Clever Girl. Finette’s adventures unspool in a story that reads like a Cinderella/Hansel and Gretel hybrid, and when she eventually triumphs over her wicked mother, her wicked sisters, and the passel of ogres who want to eat her, it’s through her exceptional cleverness.

Finette is also exceptionally kind, but the narrator of “Finette Cendron” hastens to assure us that being virtuous doesn’t make her special. Instead, Finette’s kindness is important because being kind to bad people makes those bad people hilariously angry. “Do favors for the undeserving until they weep,” the narrator advises the reader in the rhyming moral lesson. “Each benefit inflicts a wound most deep, cutting the haughty bosom to the core.” Finette, in other words, was the original troll of the pre-internet world.

Finette’s story isn’t quite the same as the Cinderella we’re most familiar with now. Her wicked mother is her biological mother, her beautiful sisters are her biological sisters, and the mother is targeting all three of the daughters because she believes the family doesn’t have enough food to feed both parents and children. But the bones of the conflict between them is one that we see repeated over and over in fairy tales, including the Cinderella we know best today: What happens when a daughter reaches puberty? How does a mother handle a daughter who might be a sexual threat?

But although the conflict in these early Cinderellas is familiar and universal, the virtues that allow Cinderella her victory aren’t. In these stories, Cinderella may or may not be kind, and she’s usually at least pretty enough to clean up well in a ball gown, but that’s not why she wins in the end. She wins because she’s smart, and because she’s lucky. The moral system in these stories is one of chaos and happenstance, where the best thing you can do is forge powerful allies and be as clever as possible.

Charles Perrault’s 1697 “ Cinderella ” is the one that seems to have influenced the Grimms’ version most strongly — and it was the first to make Cinderella’s fateful shoe a glass slipper. In Perrault’s version, Cinderella is a little more passive than Cat Cinderella or Finette were (at no point does she murder anyone or poke anyone with a pin), but she actively collaborates with her fairy godmother to come up with her scheme, and she takes pleasure in deceiving her wicked stepsisters. In the end, the narrator informs us that Cinderella is victorious because of her beauty and her kindness — and because of her courage, common sense, and good fortune in having a fairy godmother.

It was with all those literary versions of Cinderella already recorded, and plenty of folklore variations floating through the oral tradition, that Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published their Cinderella in 1812 in their first edition of Grimm’s Fairy Tales . And then revised their stories to publish them again in 1819. And then again and again, revising more and more, until by 1864 they’d published 17 editions of Grimm’s Fairy Tales .

Over time, the old trickster Cinderella loses her voice

Scholars don’t agree on why, exactly, the Grimms kept revising their stories. There’s a general consensus on the Grimms’ tendency to turn wicked mothers into wicked stepmothers, as they did over time for “Snow White” and “Hansel and Gretel”: It seems to be a gentle bowdlerization, an attempt to keep the biological mothers in their stories models of virtue. For the Grimms, says Zipes, mothers were meant to be “nice.” (Cinderella’s wicked stepmother, though, is always a stepmother for the Grimms, and the story goes through few structural changes from one edition to the next.)

But the Grimms continued to fiddle with their stories in other ways as they republished, and the possible explanations for some of those changes are controversial.

Zipes argues strongly that most of the changes the Grimms made to their stories as they revised were in the pursuit of accuracy to the oral tradition, and that they were just editing as they found more versions of Cinderella floating through folklore. But Ruth Bottigheimer, a folklorist at Stony Brook University SUNY, has a different idea.

Bottigheimer argues that the Grimms were necessarily influenced by their position as bourgeois 19th-century Germans when they wrote down the fairy tales they had collected, and that consciously or unconsciously, they edited the stories to correspond to their own moral values. “Who tells the tales?” she asks in her 1997 book Grimms’ Bad Girls and Bold Boys . “That is, whose voice do we actually hear?”

In Grimms’ Bad Girls and Bold Boys , Bottigheimer tracks the speech across the Grimms’ editions of “Cinderella,” looking at which characters get to talk out loud (direct speech) and which characters have their sentences summarized instead (indirect speech). What she finds is a consistent pattern: “Direct speech has tended to be transferred from women to men,” she writes, “and from good to bad girls and women.” In other words, as the Grimms continue to edit the story, the “good” women — Cinderella and her dead mother — start talking less and less. The men and the “bad” women start talking more.

In the Grimms’ 1812 version of the story, Cinderella has 12 lines of direct speech, her stepmother four, and the prince four. But by 1857, Cinderella is down to six lines of direct speech. Where she protests her poor treatment in 1812, she obeys unquestioningly in 1864; where she lies to her stepmother in 1812, she is silent in 1864. Her stepmother, meanwhile, is up to 12 lines of direct speech in 1864, and the prince to 11.

Bottigheimer argues that for the Grimms, silence is both gendered and moral: Good women illustrate their virtue through their silence and passivity. Bad women show their badness by talking, which is unwomanly and hence wicked. Men, who are strong and active, should speak at will.

The Grimms may or may not have erased Cinderella’s direct speech with the intention of making her more passive, but it certainly does seem to have vanished over time. And as the Grimms’ version of the story spread, the trickster Cinderella from 200 years earlier vanished entirely. Now Cinderella wins because of her moral virtue, and part of the way we can see she’s virtuous is that she is silent.

But while the Grimms may have altered Cinderella’s personality over time, they kept her family problems fundamentally stable — and they’re the same problems that show up in the Disney version, too. Cinderella’s mother is dead, and her father’s new wife is targeting Cinderella. How can the family survive?

Cinderella endures because it helps us think about our families

Zipes has a theory about why Cinderella has lasted as long as it has, no matter how often it’s edited or rewritten to express new moral lessons. He thinks it’s helping us think about a fundamental problem.

“In our brains, there’s a place that we retain stories or narratives or things that are important to the survival of the human species,” he says, “and these stories enable us to deal with conflicts that come up time and time again that have never been resolved.”

In Cinderella, Zipes says, the conflict is: “How do you mix families?”

Since the 17th century, Cinderella stories have consistently focused on a heroine whose mother has died, and whose father’s new wife favors her biological children over her. Zipes calls the story type “The Revenge and Reward of Neglected Daughters”: The heroine loses status after the death of her mother, but in the end she rises up more powerful than she ever was before. Traditionally, the thing that makes Cinderella win — her beauty or her kindness or her cleverness — is the thing that the narrator points to as important for us to emulate in the moral of the story. But that attribute can be practically anything, and it won’t change the shape of the family story.

Zipes argues that this family story has always been enormously important. The question of how to mix families successfully was a major problem in pre-20th-century Europe, when it was common for women to die in childbirth — and it also became a giant question in a different way starting in the 20th century, he argues, because “there are so many divorces that the Cinderella story is something that we rely on in our brains.”

Cinderella is also a family story on a more universal level. It’s one of a group of fairy tales — “Look at Snow White!” says Zipes — in which the heroine reaches sexual maturity and promptly becomes the object of intense sexual jealousy from her mother figure. The father figure in these tales is either utterly ineffectual in the face of the mother’s abuse or, in a story like the Perrault fairy tale Donkeyskin — a story in the Cinderella vein, which sees its heroine fleeing from her father after he proposes marriage to her — becomes a sexual threat to his daughter.

Depending on how you look at that repeated fairy tale narrative of jealousy and danger, Cinderella is either the classic Freudian family fable or it’s the story of women competing for male attention under a patriarchal system where they know they’ll need that attention to survive. Either way, it is an extremely durable story. We’ve been telling it over and over again for centuries.

We’ve told it with a multiplicity of Cinderellas: with a silent Cinderella and the scheming Cat Cinderella and tricky Finette, with Disney’s pretty and passive Cinderella, with Solnit’s kind and rebellious Cinderella Liberator. They’re all there, and they’re all waiting to talk to us about our families. That’s what Cinderella is for.

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If you want to put fairy tale leading ladies into the real world, a night out on the town is probably the most fabulous way to do it. A Cinderella Story by Joe Miloscia is a graphic novel tailored for adults, who perhaps wonder what’s beyond “happily ever after,” realistically speaking. It starts with Cinderella, who “...crept away from her castle for a night out on the town. She went to a bar and ordered tequila, and a beer to chase it down.” When loneliness sinks in, Cinderella runs into Snow White. Soon enough, readers will find the duo joined by other fairy tale princesses, as they all bond and reminisce about the faded magic of “happily ever after” and “Prince Charming.” If I have to characterize the flavor of Miloscia’s narrative, it would be honesty and humor. The narrative rhymes flawlessly, complementing the illustrations by Danielle Ramirez. The dark and slightly seedy depictions of the town and the bars slightly alter as the night out progresses, capturing the emotions projected by the visually engaging characters. There is no glass slipper (although it is briefly mentioned), kind fairy godmother, the seven dwarfs or perfect Prince Charming. A Cinderella Story is contemporary, relatable and quirky. Miloscia and Ramirez make us wonder about all the real fairy tale princesses in society, their friendship, and disenchantment with hyperbolic expectations of life. All in all, this is a really fun read and contains quite humbling truths for all of us. Highly recommended to my fellow readers.

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Book Summary

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Cinderella Summary

Charles Perrault

Cinderella is a fairy tale written by Charles Perrault. This is a story about a poor girl's passivity in the form of abuse that ends with a reward by a fairy godmother and wins a prince's heart. It's a gentle reminder to remain kind to everyone.

Further study Cinderella Book Cinderella Analysis Cinderella Characters Charles Perrault Biography

Once upon a time, there was a nobleman who re-married. His second wife was the most haughty and vain woman in the world. With her former husband, she had two daughters, who were exactly like her in all things. A nobleman, just like her, had a young daughter from his first marriage. She was likewise sweet and good just like her mother.

As soon as the wedding ceremony ended, the girl's stepmother began to show her real face. She couldn't stand her good qualities because she made her daughters appear more odious. She gave her the meanest and dirtiest work in the house - washing the dishes, tables, cleaning her and her daughter's chambers. She made her sleep in a garret, on a wretched straw bed, while her stepsisters got fine rooms with the most comfortable beds and large mirrors.

"She slept in a sorry garret, on a wretched straw bed, while her sisters slept in fine rooms, with floors all inlaid, on beds of the very newest fashion, and where they had looking glasses so large that they could see themselves at their full length from head to foot."

The poor girl patiently endured all and didn't dare to complain to her father, who would scold her, because he was under the influence of his new wife. Only then, the girl would lose her father's love and support, so she endured it all bravely and with a smile.

When she finished all the work, she would sit in the ashes, so everyone in the house called her Cinderella. Even such, in an old torn wardrobe and stained with ashes, was much more beautiful than her stepsisters, who were always nicely dressed.

One day, the young prince decided to have a royal ball. All important persons in the kingdom were invited. Two of Cinderella's half-sisters were also invited. This brought misery to Cinderella as she now had to work all the time. It was necessary that she arranged all the clothes, put decorations on the dresses, and make her stepsisters look as beautiful as possible. Everyone was focused on the ball.

When they chose what they would wear, each time they called Cinderella to beautify them. Although always dirty and poorly dressed, she had good taste and knew how to make beautiful hairstyles.

"As she was doing this, they said to her, "Cinderella, would you not like to go to the ball?"

"Alas!" said she, "you only jeer me; it is not for such as I am to go to such a place."

"You are quite right," they replied. "It would make the people laugh to see a Cinderwench at a ball."

Someone else, after much teasing and everything, would be mad, but Cinderella was always good-hearted and not angry. She tried to make them as beautiful as possible. Finally, that long-awaited day has come. Her stepsisters got ready and went to the ball, and Cinderella watched them sadly. Then she started crying.

Her fairy godmother appeared and asked why she was crying. When Cinderella told her, her godmother asked her if she would also like to go to the ball. Cinderella said that she would very much like it and a good fairy answered that she would help her because she is a very good girl and she deserves it.

First, she told her to go to the garden and pick one pumpkin. Cinderella did that and she couldn't understand how the pumpkin would help her get to the royal ball. The good fairy carved a pumpkin and turned it into beautiful gilded carriages with her magic wand. Then they went to the mousetrap, where they found six mice. Cinderella lifted the lid of the mousetrap, and the fairy touched the mice one by one with a wand and turned them into six beautiful horses.

"She then went to look into her mousetrap, where she found six mice, all alive, and ordered Cinderella to lift up a little the trapdoor. She gave each mouse, as it went out, a little tap with her wand, and the mouse was that moment turned into a fine horse, which altogether made a very fine set of six horses of a beautiful mouse colored dapple gray."

Cinderella found a rat and the good fairy turned the rat into a beautiful boy who became the coachman of this magical carriage. After that, Cinderella went to bring six lizards, which the fairy turned into six footmen in suits with golden threads. The new footmen immediately climbed into the carriage and behaved with as much dignity as if they had always done so.

Cinderella was delighted with the prepared carriages. The only thing that didn't fit into this perfect picture was the tattered clothes she was wearing.

"Her godmother then touched her with her wand, and, at the same instant, her clothes turned into cloth of gold and silver, all beset with jewels. This done, she gave her a pair of glass slippers, the prettiest in the whole world."

Satisfied, Cinderella climbed into the carriage and was ready to go to the royal ball. Her godmother told her to have a good time, but that she should not stay longer than midnight. If she stays even a minute longer, the carriage will turn into a pumpkin, horses into mice, footmen into lizards, and her beautiful dress into ordinary rags. Cinderella promised to leave before midnight and left with the biggest smile on her face.

The king's son was informed that a very beautiful unknown princess had arrived, so he hurried to meet her. He took her hand as she got out of the carriage. He led her to the ceremonial hall where the guests were. When she came in, everyone silenced, the dancing stopped, and the musicians stopped playing - everyone was so amazed by the beauty and great looks of the unknown girl.

Everyone watched Cinderella with enthusiasm. Even the king was delighted with her beauty and whispered to the queen that he had not seen such a beautiful princess for a long time. All the ladies at the ball watched her so that the next day they could make the same hairstyle and sew the same dress.

The prince took Cinderella to the most honorable place to sit. Then he invited her to dance. She was so beautiful while dancing that everyone in the hall admired her. Even when the dinner arrived, the prince did not taste a bite. He watched the beautiful, unknown princess all the time. During that time, Cinderella sat next to her half-sisters and talked amicably. They were both amazed because no one knew this princess.

"There was immediately a profound silence. Everyone stopped dancing, and the violins ceased to play, so entranced was everyone with the singular beauties of the unknown newcomer.

Nothing was then heard but a confused noise of, "How beautiful she is! How beautiful she is!""

While having fun, Cinderella heard the clock tick fifteen minutes to midnight. She quickly got up from her seat, bowed to everyone, and hurried to the exit. When she got home, she looked for her godmother to thank her for everything and to tell her that the prince had invited her to come to the ball the next day. While she was telling her godmother how she spent her time at the ball, her half-sisters arrived home.

""You stayed such a long time!" she cried, gaping, rubbing her eyes and stretching herself as if she had been sleeping; she had not, however, had any manner of inclination to sleep while they were away from home.

"If you had been at the ball," said one of her sisters, "you would not have been tired with it. The finest princess was there, the most beautiful that mortal eyes have ever seen. She showed us a thousand civilities, and gave us oranges and citrons.""

Cinderella was beside herself when she heard their stories of an unknown princess. She asked them if they knew the name of the beautiful princess, and they told her that no one knows and that the prince himself tried in every way to find out who she was, but that he didn't succeed. Cinderella just laughed sweetly. When she asked one of the sisters to lend her a dress so that she could go to the ball and see that beautiful princess for herself, they just laughed. They didn't want to lend their dresses to "dirty Cinderwench", as they called her.

The next day, the stepsisters got dressed again and went to the ball, and this time Cinderella was even more beautifully and lavishly dressed. The prince was by her side all evening. She had so much fun that she forgot what her godmother had told her. She forgot to watch what time it was and not to stay longer than midnight. Then suddenly she heard the clock ticking midnight. She quickly got up and ran out of the hall, and the young prince followed her, but he couldn't reach her.

While she was running, a glass shoe fell off her foot, which the prince carefully took. Panting, Cinderella arrived home without a carriage or footman, in her usual rites. Of the lavish dress and everything, she was left with only one glass shoe, the same as the one she lost.

The prince ordered that this beautiful girl needs to be found, so he questioned the guards, but they claimed that no beautiful princess passed by them, but only an ordinary girl, in tattered clothes. She certainly didn't look like a princess.

When her half-sisters returned, Cinderella asked them how they had spent their time and whether a beautiful princess was there. They told her that she was and that she was even more beautiful this time, but that she ran out of the hall at midnight and that she lost a glass shoe. They also told her that the prince was looking for her and that he fell very much in love with the mysterious beautiful princess.

The prince announced throughout the kingdom that he would marry the girl to whom the glass shoe would fit. And so all the princesses and duchesses, and even the other girls in the court, began to try on this famous shoe, but in vain. One day the procession came to Cinderella's house. Her two half-sisters tried it. They did their best to put their foot into a small shoe, but they didn't succeed.

"Cinderella, who saw all this, and knew that it was her slipper, said to them, laughing, "Let me see if it will not fit me.""

Then, Cinderella asked if she could try on a glass shoe. The two girls started laughing out loud and making fun of her. The man who brought the shoe looked carefully at Cinderella's face and saw that she was very beautiful. He was ordered to try on the shoe by all the girls in every house, so he took Cinderella and sat her down on a chair. He brought the shoe to her little foot and it fit her effortlessly. The sisters were amazed. Cinderella then took out the other shoe and put it on.

Then a good fairy appeared and touched Cinderella's shoulder with her magic wand. Her dress became even brighter than the one she wore to the balls. Then her half-sisters realized that Cinderella was actually that beautiful unknown princess. They fell to their knees and begged her to forgive them for always being evil and behaving badly towards her. Cinderella, who has always been good-hearted, passed over everything with a smile this time as well. She hugged her half-sisters and said that she forgives them with all her heart and that from now on she wants to live with them in harmony and love.

Then they took Cinderella, so beautifully dressed, to the prince. Now he liked her even more and after a few days, they got married. Cinderella, who was as good as she was beautiful, brought her half-sisters to the court, and on the same day, they married two of the king's courtiers.

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Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, do yourself a favor -- skip 'cinderella story'.

Now streaming on:

Ernest Madison says he swore off movie critics when they panned " Dragonslayer ," one of the favorites of his childhood. "I stopped paying attention to critics because they kept giving bad reviews to good movies," says Madison, now 35.

Fourteen-year-old Byron Turner feels the same way. He turns to the Web for movie information and trailers, then shares what he's discovered with his friends, his sister Jasmine, even his mother, Toni.

"I used to watch Roger Ebert but now I get most of my information from Byron," Toni Turner says. "I don't really pay attention to critics anymore."

--Story by Bob Curtright in the Wichita Eagle

Dear Byron,

I know what your mother means because when I was 14, I was also pummeling my parents with information about new movies and singing stars. I didn't have the Internet, but I grabbed information anywhere I could -- mostly from other kids, Hollywood newspaper columnists and what disc jockeys said. Of course that was a more innocent time, when movies slowly crept around the country, and there was time to get advance warning of a turkey.

Your task is harder than mine was, because the typical multiplex movie is heralded by an ad campaign costing anywhere from $20 million to $50 million. Fast food restaurants now have tie-ins with everyone from Shrek to Spider-Man; when I was a kid we were lucky to get ketchup with the fries. Enormous pressure is put on the target audience to turn them out on opening weekends. And Hollywood's most valued target audience, Byron, is teenage males. In other words, you.

So I am writing you in the hope of saving your friends, your sister Jasmine, and your mother Toni from going to see a truly dismal new movie. It is called "A Cinderella Story," and they may think they'll like it because it stars Hilary Duff .

I liked her in " Cheaper by the Dozen ," and said she was "beautiful and skilled" in "The Lizzie McGuire Movie," but wrote: "As a role model, Lizzie functions essentially as a spokeswoman for the teen retail fashion industry, and the most-quoted line in the movie is likely to be when the catty Kate accuses her of being an 'outfit repeater.' Since many of the kids in the audience will not be millionaires and do indeed wear the same outfit more than once, this is a little cruel, but there you go."

That's probably something your mother might agree with.

In "A Cinderella Story," Hilary plays Sam, a Valley Girl whose happy adolescence ends when her dad is killed in an earthquake. That puts her in the clutches of an evil stepmother ( Jennifer Coolidge , who you may remember fondly as Stifler's mom in the " American Pie " movies, although since they were rated R, of course you haven't seen them). Sam also naturally has two evil stepsisters. Half the girls in school have a crush on Austin ( Chad Michael Murray ), a handsome football star, but Sam never guesses that Austin is secretly kind of poetic -- and is, in fact, her best chat room buddy. She agrees to meet him at the big Halloween dance, wearing a mask to preserve her anonymity; as a disguise, the mask makes her look uncannily like Hilary Duff wearing a mask.

Anyway, this is a lame, stupid movie, but Warner Bros. is spending a fortune, Byron, to persuade you to see it and recommend it to your mom and Jasmine. So you must be strong and wise, and do your research. Even though your mother no longer watches my TV show, you use the Internet as a resource and no doubt know about movie review sources like rottentomatoes.com , metacritic.com and even (pardon me while I wipe away a tear) suntimes.com/ebert . Even when a critic dislikes a movie, if it's a good review, it has enough information so you can figure out whether you'd like it, anyway.

For example, this review is a splendid review because it lets you know you'd hate "A Cinderella Story," and I am pretty much 100 percent sure that you would. So I offer the following advice. Urgently counsel your mom and sister to forget about going out to the movies this week, and instead mark the calendar for Aug. 24, when " Ella Enchanted " will be released on video. This is a movie that came out in April and sank without a trace, despite the fact that it was magical, funny, intelligent, romantic and charming.

It stars the beautiful Anne Hathaway (from " The Princess Diaries ") as a young girl whose fairy godmother ( Vivica A. Fox ) puts a spell on her that makes her life extremely complicated. She has the usual evil stepmother and two jealous stepsisters. Will she win the love of Prince Charmont ( Hugh Dancy )? "A Cinderella Story" is a terrible movie, sappy and dead in the water, but "Ella Enchanted" is a wonderful movie, and if Jasmine and your mom insist on Cinderella, you can casually point out what Ella is short for.

As for that guy Ernest Madison, he was about 11 when "Dragonslayer" came out. He must have been a child prodigy, to swear off movie critics at an age when most kids didn't even know they existed. If he still feels the same way, I hope he goes to see "A Cinderella Story." That'll teach him.

Your fellow critic,

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film credits.

A Cinderella Story (2004)

Rated PG for mild language and innuendo

Hilary Duff as Sam

Julie Gonzalo as Shelby

Madeline Zima as Brianna

Chad Michael Murray as Austin

Regina King as Rhonda

Andrea Avery as Gabriella

Dan Byrd as Carter

Jennifer Coolidge as Fiona

Lin Shaye as Mrs. Wells

Directed by

Mark Rosman
Leigh Dunlap

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A cinderella story, common sense media reviewers.

Funny and sweet update of the Cinderella tale.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

A girl chats with a stranger online, shares person

An earthquake kills Sam's dad in an early scene. T

Some comic sexual innuendo (much of which will go

Fiona frequently uses insults and slurs to punish

Coca Cola. In dialogue: Mercedes and Jaguar.

Positive Messages

A girl chats with a stranger online, shares personal information, and plans to meet this person. A good attitude, independence, and hard work bring great rewards; a strong character can survive unkindness, selfishness, and ignorance. The film repeatedly presents one message: "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." Support and friendship can be found in unexpected places.

Positive Role Models

A girl chats with a stranger online, shares personal information, and plans to meet this person. Sam has a wonderful relationship with her loving father. After his death, custody is granted to his widow Fiona, a typical "evil stepmother." Fiona's despicable behavior is magnified to the point of ridiculousness -- and is mostly very funny. But Sam must find mothering elsewhere; she gets approval, love, and support from an African American restaurant manager and the waitresses on her staff. There are many teen stereotypes: mean girls, horny boys, and nerds who are teased mercilessly.

Violence & Scariness

An earthquake kills Sam's dad in an early scene. The death happens off-camera and except for some brief shaking in the little girl's bedroom, no major damage is seen. There is some cartoon action, mostly clumsy falls, slapstick fighting, and a car careens through city streets.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Some comic sexual innuendo (much of which will go over the heads of the youngest kids). Breasts are an obsession of the teen boys, and a source of pride for the buxom Fiona. Some girls wear skimpy clothing, a few boys are seen only in towels, and Fiona whips quickly out of a tanning booth and into a towel (nudity is suggested rather than seen).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Fiona frequently uses insults and slurs to punish and demean her stepdaughter. Also heard: "fart," "butt," "breasts," "damn," "hell."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Parents need to know.

Parents need to know that this story is set in motion when an earthquake kills the young heroine's father. The filmmakers keep it short, simple, and, off-camera except for some shaking in the little girl's bedroom. Though exaggerated, outlandish, and meant to be funny, Sam's evil stepmother and stepsisters are mean and insulting to her -- some very young or sensitive kids could be disturbed by their behavior. Cartoonish action includes lots of clumsy falls, a careening car, and some stepsister brawls. There's a bit of mild profanity ("hell," "damn," "fart," "butt"), some sexual innuendo, along with some low-cut stepmother and stepsister outfits, and a few big-breast and breast-implant jokes. A girl chats with a stranger online, shares personal information, and plans to meet this person; parents may want to remind kids why this is dangerous behavior. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

Parents say (6)
Kids say (43)

Based on 6 parent reviews

Disordered Eating is a No-Go

Overall a great movie, what's the story.

In this Cinderella update, high school senior Sam ( Hilary Duff ) lives in the San Fernando Valley with her mean stepmother, Fiona (Jennifer Coolidge) and stepsisters. After Sam's adored father was killed in an earthquake, Fiona made her sleep in the attic and work in the family business, a diner. Sam dreams of going to Princeton but needs Fiona to pay for it, so she follows orders and takes verbal abuse. Sam gets support from diner manager Rhonda (Regina King) and best friend Carter (Dan Byrd). And she has an online relationship with a boy she meets in a chatroom for Princeton hopefuls, unaware that he's Austin Ames, student body president and star quarterback. He does not know she is "Diner Girl" Sam, so unworthy of notice that she is all but invisible except when the cool kids make fun of her. Sam's secret email pal invites her to meet him on the dance floor at 11, at the Halloween dance. And so begins a magical story about Sam's magical encounter with the prince of her dreams in which she leaves behind ... her cell phone.

Is It Any Good?

Girls will love this fresh, funny, and sweet, update of the Cinderella story, and it might win some fans among their older siblings and parents, as well. Duff has a winning personality and makes a lovely Cinderella, sensitive, smart, honorable, and devoted. She knows what she wants and is willing to sacrifice her present happiness to get it.

The always-welcome Regina King is a pleasure as the godmother-equivalent who provides more than a dress, and Jennifer Coolidge ( Best in Show ) makes the most of a one-note character as the evil stepmother, especially when explaining that her serene expression is the result of Botox. Austin's efforts to find his Cinderella and Sam's struggles with Fiona go on longer than they should, but there is an old-fashioned happily-ever-after ending for everyone who deserves one, especially the girls in the audience.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about what made it possible for Sam to hold on to her dreams and her self-respect despite Fiona's efforts to destroy them both.

What was it about Sam that made her stepmother and stepsisters feel so threatened?

How does this movie compare with the fairy-tale Cinderella story? Or with other princess movies?

Families can talk about why it's a terrible idea to chat with and make plans to meet a stranger online.

Movie Details

In theaters : July 16, 2004
On DVD or streaming : October 19, 2004
Cast : Chad Michael Murray , Hilary Duff , Jennifer Coolidge
Director : Mark Rosman
Inclusion Information : Female actors
Studio : Warner Bros.
Genre : Comedy
Topics : Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More , High School
Run time : 95 minutes
MPAA rating : PG
MPAA explanation : mild language and innuendo
Last updated : October 8, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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A Cinderella Story

Where to watch.

Rent A Cinderella Story on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What to Know

An uninspired, generic updating of the classic fairy tale.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Mark Rosman

Hilary Duff

Jennifer Coolidge

Chad Michael Murray

Austin Ames

Regina King

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A Modern Mom Finds an Ancient Outlet for Feminist Rage

In Alexis Landau’s ambitious new novel, “The Mother of All Things,” the frustrations of modern parenting echo through the ages.

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The cover shows what appears to be ancient Greek sculpture, the marble figure of a woman shown from behind and set against a bright blue sky. It is surrounded by a border of bright pink and orange, as if seen through a doorway.

By Eliza Minot

Eliza Minot is the author of the novels “The Tiny One,” “The Brambles” and, most recently, “In the Orchard.”

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THE MOTHER OF ALL THINGS, by Alexis Landau

What is the source of maternal rage? The answer is as infinite as it is ancient. In 1965, the poet and essayist Adrienne Rich, with small children underfoot, captured a possible explanation for this abyss in her journal when she described it as “a sense of insufficiency to the moment and to eternity.”

But where — for moms, for women — does this nagging feeling of insufficiency come from? From the misogyny that we grow up with? From the helpless outrage we bear as our messy, gorgeous, individual maternal experiences are flattened by society into a weirdly infantilized stereotype that’s placed, like a paper doll, into a two-dimensional dollhouse called “Motherhood”? Or does it come from the profound feeling of helplessness that accompanies the ability to give life to a human being, but be unable to ensure that life’s safety?

Ava Zaretsky, the diligent heroine of Alexis Landau’s ambitious and engaging new novel, “The Mother of All Things” (her third after “Those Who Are Saved” and “The Emperor of the Senses”), simmers with a steady rage that never fully erupts toward her kids (Sam, 10, and Margot, 13, who’s at the edge of “adolescence’s dark tunnel”) or her husband, Kasper, a preoccupied Los Angeles film producer. Rather, Ava’s rage burns beneath the surface, “so white and hot it blurred the contours of her body.” She is angry that, in a marriage of supposed equals circa 2019, Kasper can relocate to Sofia, Bulgaria, for a six-month film shoot without a second thought, while her own work as an adjunct art history professor is smudged out by the needs of her family. Her fury is also embedded, we later learn, in the powerlessness that comes with profound loss.

When the family joins Kasper in Sofia for the summer, the kids enroll in a day camp, allowing Ava to wander this mysterious city. Her curiosity and creativity bubble to the surface. She begins writing about an ancient Greek woman whose life parallels and dovetails with her own, and whose narrative is interspersed throughout the pages of the novel. By coincidence, Ava also reconnects in Sofia with an intimidating former professor named Lydia Nikitas and becomes involved in a group of women who participate in re-enactments of ancient rites and rituals, most notably the Eleusinian Mysteries.

Despite some moments that feel forced and overly earnest, particularly in the ancient narrative and the Nikitas story line, Landau’s writing is accessible, specific, lush and transporting. Her research is rigorous and full of elegant effort. The great success of this novel is the author’s sustained exploration of a woman in early midlife who, seething quietly on the inside but operating gracefully on the outside, bravely re-evaluates how her life has unfolded in order to progress as a mother to herself. Renderings of Ava’s childhood — a heartbreaking recollection of a favorite red belt, memories of a father’s girlfriend entering her life and then leaving it — are especially astute and rich.

At times, the novel’s disparate parts compete with rather than complement one another; some characters seem predictable, and certain ideas redundant. When things are meant to get weird, as in the rituals, it can feel more Scooby-Doo than genuinely haunting. For this reason, more than once, I felt like shaking the book like a snow globe, as if its fascinating contents, suspended, might set free more of its wildness.

Landau’s prose can also lift off the page, as it does in a prolonged memory of Ava’s first childbirth and its aftermath. Here, Landau’s writing is intimate, tender and full of terror. The sentences breathe with the softness of shared human experience across time — absolutely sufficient to the moment, and to eternity, too.

THE MOTHER OF ALL THINGS | By Alexis Landau | Pantheon | 336 pp. | $29

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A writer explores the complexities of her interracial relationship

Nina Sharma contemplates the power of Black and Brown love in her essay collection “The Way You Make Me Feel.”

Shortly after George Floyd’s murder in 2020, The Washington Post ran a news story about interracial families attempting to explain his death to their children. “ A man was unjustly killed here ,” a White father recalls solemnly telling his biracial Black child.

But there was a gap in the coverage: “There are no interracial couples without a white partner” featured in The Post’s article, Nina Sharma observes in her new essay collection, “ The Way You Make Me Feel: Love in Black and Brown .” Drawing variously on personal reflections, pop culture and history, Sharma makes it her project to decenter Whiteness and highlight a love that has long been relegated to the shadows: that of Black and Brown couples.

Sharma, who is Indian American, is married to Quincy Scott Jones, a Black American educator and poet whom she met at a Fourth of July barbecue, as she recollects in the anthology’s title essay. They had, she writes, grown up just one hour from each other: Jones in a majority-Black suburb of New Jersey, Sharma in Edison, N.J., a town that’s now home to one of the largest concentrations of Indian Americans in the country.

In 16 essays spanning 300 pages, Sharma chronicles her relationship and places it in conversation with other Afro-Asian love stories. Among them are that of the Black-Indian couple at the center of Mira Nair’s 1991 film, “Mississippi Masala,” and the story of Vice President Harris’s parents. (Sharma refers to Harris as her “time-traveling daughter” while contemplating having children of her own.)

The sweeping but focused collection demonstrates Sharma’s commitment to exploring Afro-Asian intimacy in all its beauty and complexity. In one essay, she probes Donald Trump’s indictment of racial others and grapples with her immigrant father’s complicated adulation of the former president. Using “Mad Men” as a launchpad, Sharma incisively considers the “nothingness of whiteness”: the luxury White people are accorded to make “something out of nothing,” while Black and Brown stories are always expected to make a statement.

In the book’s standout essay, “Sacrifice,” Sharma meditates on her parents’ suggestion that Quincy shave off his dreadlocks before their wedding. She compares the sanctity of a Hindu head-shaving practice, called mundan, with the violence of shaving the hair of enslaved people. “Head shaving was one of the first acts of enslavement,” Sharma writes, recounting the history of Europeans and slave traders shaving heads as a way of “cutting from enslaved Africans all ties to their place and people, all known markers of identity.”

But Sharma doesn’t simply dismiss the sacrosanct Hindu practice of tonsuring; instead, she treads carefully to highlight its nuances and considers the opposing valences that head-shaving carries in Indian and Black communities. She extends her exploration of hair to Black women’s wigs and weaves, which sometimes source hair from India and China, often selling it to consumers as “true Indian hair.” In the essay’s conclusion, Sharma refuses to comfort readers; instead, she recalls her wedding, when her older sister complimented a Black guest’s hair. “I love your hair,” her sister said. “Well, you should,” the guest replied. “It’s yours.”

As such moments prove, Sharma’s debut is remarkable for its daring, how unafraid it is to eschew rosy visions of racial solidarity. She interrogates the ongoing anti-Blackness of her family, even after her marriage to Quincy, refusing to glaze the collection with the banal optimism that assumes all people of color have joined forces to avenge racism. As a case in point, Sharma reminds us of the complicity of the Palestinian American owner of the corner market outside which George Floyd was murdered, and that of the Hmong American police officer who stood watching.

Sharma brings the same candor to her own life and its unglamorous details: her multiple mental health hospitalizations, her persistent cheating on a college boyfriend, her struggle to quit smoking cigarettes. The prose is lush, if occasionally clichéd, such as when she describes a peck on the lips as an “unbearable lightness” and concludes the book by ruminating on the undefined nature of dividing zero by zero while approaching Exit 0 on a New Jersey highway.

Although that metaphor feels strained, its nod to life’s precarity is apt: “The Way You Make Me Feel” affirms that Black and Brown existence in America comes with no guarantee of collective solidarity, no innate promise of racial equality. The path to justice is uncertain, Sharma reminds us, and we must each work hard — and be bold enough to sacrifice our own comfort — to actualize it.

Meena Venkataramanan writes stories on identity, culture and Asian American communities for The Post.

The Way You Make Me Feel

Love in Black and Brown

By Nina Sharma

Penguin. 323 pp. $27

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Book Reviews

A 19th-century bookbinder struggles with race and identity in 'the library thief'.

Keishel Williams

The examination of race and identity can be seen throughout literature, and increasingly today.

In her debut novel, The Library Thief , Kuchenga Shenjé explores these concepts — and the associated expectations that arise when society demands that every group be neatly categorized. Shenjé delves into the past in this work of historical fiction, posing inquiries about Black people's lives in the Victorian era.

In this 19th-century English story, Florence, an ambitious bookbinder, is expelled from her family home by her harsh and unforgiving father for being with a young man. Florence, a clever and savvy woman, persuades Lord Francis Belfield to let her stay at Rose Hall manor by promising to restore the priceless books in his library in time for an impending sale, assuring him that she is just as skilled as her father. Among Lord Belfield's minimal staff, Florence stands out as an educated, liberal woman.

But Florence is not as polished as she wants her new acquaintances to believe. Being raised by a single father and not knowing her mother, whom she was told is dead, has fostered an emptiness in Florence she thought she could fill with books. She's adrift and feels unloved. This fragile foundation is fertile ground for the harrowing experiences Florence faces during her stay at the manor.

Florence arrives at Rose Hall to find that Lord Banfeild's wife has died, and the new widower is beside himself with grief. Immediately, Florence finds herself in the middle of a tightly woven plot of family secrets and lies that conveniently shroud the lives of the upper class. She becomes fixated on Lady Persephone's death and starts investigating suspicious activities around it. During her investigation, she uncovers some dark Banfield family secrets, which include violence, abuse, and "passing" family members. This journey of discovery forces Florence to confront her own identity and the mysteries surrounding her life.

Some characters in this novel intentionally or unintentionally pass as white because they find it easier than living as a Black person in Victorian England. While the topic of "passing" is frequently explored in literature set in the 1920s and 30s, Shenjé delves into what it means to be a Black person passing in the 19th century. She explores this theme in multiple ways: One character completely abandons their family to live as a white man, another maintains contact with her family but uses her husband's wealth and influence to hide in plain sight, and the third, and perhaps most intriguing, character lives as a white person without knowing they were actually Black.

Florence is uncertain about her own race, and she passionately advocates for the rights of Black people. She often becomes offended by the viewpoints of her friends, neighbors, and even their pastor towards Black people. Florence grew up in a white community and had limited interactions with Black people, other than through books until she met Lady Persephone's lady's maid — a beautiful, charming, and highly educated Black woman. "How could a whole sector of humanity once viewed as animals now be writing books and teaching universities and the like? We had been lied to," she says after a particularly awful sermon propagating the inferiority of African people.

At times, Shenjé's use of language attempting at inclusivity fails to achieve what appears to be the intended effect. The discussion of gender roles in a highly complex way seems forced and unrealistic. This is especially so when such language and philosophizing are attributed to certain characters in particular.

While The Library Thief doesn't exactly break new ground when it comes to exploring issues of race and identity, it does have some entertaining elements. Wesley is a standout character who should have received more attention. If a movie adaptation of the character were ever to happen, Patrick Walshe McBride would be an excellent choice to play the part. Shenjé also did an fantastic job planting hints throughout the story that lead to the main character's true identity. The best part of the book is the unexpected twist at the end that ties up the murder mystery. Kudos to Shenjé for that surprise ending.

Keishel Williams is a Trinidadian American book reviewer, arts & culture writer, and editor.

COMMENTS

Book Review: Cinderella
The ending of the story was satisfying! I can't say too much about it without giving away any secrets, but it was true to the spirit of happily ever after. FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above. Born in 1960, author Gina LoBiondo grew up loving faerie tales. Not surprisingly, Cinderella was her favourite.
Cinderella
As the story itself is short, Disney had to add a few things, like talking mice and the whole 'Bibity-bopity-boo" part, but otherwise the story too is quite accurate. The third is set up such that every day of the year has a short story to read, thus the stories tend to be abridged. Cinderella spanned a couple days so not much was left out.
Book review of Cinderella
Book Review. Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite. If you're looking for a Cinderella story replete with a fairy godmother, friendly mice, and a pumpkin that turns into a coach, Cinderella: The Brothers Grimm Story Told as a Novella, as told by Mike Klaassen, isn't it. There are rats, but they're feared carriers of the ...
A Summary and Analysis of the Cinderella Fairy Tale
A detailed plot summary can be found here. But even this isn't the oldest version of the story: a tale dating back to the 1st century BC, more than a thousand years before even the Chinese 'Ye Xian', is perhaps the earliest of all Cinderella narratives. The story is about a Thracian courtesan, Rhodopis, who ends up marrying the King of Egypt.
Cinderella
Cinderella: A Love Story by Gina LoBiondo is the retelling of the classic fairy tale with beautiful illustrations. Ella's father Charles and her mother Marie loved her dearly, but that changed when Marie died suddenly. Ella was very young so Charles thought it was best to marry again and give Ella a mother's love. However, that plan backfired when the woman he married didn't treat Ella ...
Cinderella by Charles Perrault
Buy the Paperback for $8.85. Cinderella: it's a story everyone knows. The heroine goes from comfort to rags and then rags to riches, her virtue rewarded. Disney did the Cinderella story quite well, twice in fact. But there's more to the story. It's a tale rooted far in the past and full of Catholic virtue.
Cinderella
Part 1: A Girl Named Cinderella. ONCE UPON A TIME a girl named Cinderella lived with her stepmother and two stepsisters. It was Cinderella who had to wake up each morning when it was still dark and cold to start the fire. Cinderella who cooked the meals. Cinderella who kept the fire going.
Cinderella, explained: how fairy tales tell us about families
In the Grimms' 1812 version of the story, Cinderella has 12 lines of direct speech, her stepmother four, and the prince four. But by 1857, Cinderella is down to six lines of direct speech.
Book review of A Cinderella Story
A Cinderella Story is contemporary, relatable and quirky. Miloscia and Ramirez make us wonder about all the real fairy tale princesses in society, their friendship, and disenchantment with hyperbolic expectations of life. All in all, this is a really fun read and contains quite humbling truths for all of us.
Cinderella -- A Love Story by Gina LoBiondo
TITLE: Cinderella, A Love Story AUTHOR: Gina Lo Biondo Star Rating: 4 CATCHY QUOTE 'A charming, sweetly written Cinderella story, colourfully illustrated. Young children will love it.' A 'Wishing Shelf' Book Review REVIEW I must say, I had a very enjoyable evening tucked up by the fire enjoying this superbly illustrated Cinderella story.
Book Review: Cinderella
Luminous scenes, inspired by seventeenth- and eighteenth-century France, are radiant and rich with astonishing detail. For all those who dream of fairy godmothers, lavish balls, and living happily ever after, here is a fantasy come true. (from book jacket) I agree with the summary of this fine edition of the classic tale. ~ed.
Cinderella Summary
Cinderella Summary. Cinderella is a fairy tale written by Charles Perrault. This is a story about a poor girl's passivity in the form of abuse that ends with a reward by a fairy godmother and wins a prince's heart. It's a gentle reminder to remain kind to everyone. Once upon a time, there was a nobleman who re-married.
Best Cinderella Retellings (109 books)
No comments have been added yet. post a comment ». 109 books based on 68 votes: Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Five Glass Slippers by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, A Dream Not Ima...
Cinderella Summary
Narrator: unknown Tone: sad, happy Mood: romantic, magical, tragic Theme: good vs evil; a story about a girl who was treated poorly by her stepmother and stepsisters, but who in the end won the prince's heart Summary. Read original story Cinderella online >> Once upon a time lived a nobleman who, after the death of his first wife, remarried to a haughty woman who already had two daughters by ...
Cinderella by Walt Disney Company
Walt Disney Company, Bill Lorencz (Illustratior), Ron Dias (illustratior) 4.30. 8,802 ratings422 reviews. The most beloved princess movie of all time—Disney's Cinderella—is retold in the classic Little Golden Book format. It's perfect for Disney Princess fans ages 2-5. Genres Childrens Picture Books Fiction Fairy Tales Fantasy Classics ...
A Cinderella Story movie review (2004)
In "A Cinderella Story," Hilary plays Sam, a Valley Girl whose happy adolescence ends when her dad is killed in an earthquake. That puts her in the clutches of an evil stepmother ( Jennifer Coolidge, who you may remember fondly as Stifler's mom in the "American Pie" movies, although since they were rated R, of course you haven't seen them).
A Cinderella Story Movie Review
Our review: Parents say ( 6 ): Kids say ( 43 ): Girls will love this fresh, funny, and sweet, update of the Cinderella story, and it might win some fans among their older siblings and parents, as well. Duff has a winning personality and makes a lovely Cinderella, sensitive, smart, honorable, and devoted. She knows what she wants and is willing ...
A Cinderella Story
Nell Minow Common Sense Media Funny and sweet update of the Cinderella story. Rated: 4/5 Dec 21, 2010 Full Review Anna Smith Empire Magazine This is simple, lazy storytelling rendered merely ...
Cinderella
I hope you enjoy this classic fairy tale, Cinderella, by the Brothers Grimm! This is the original version, and is read aloud, with full English text.For a fu...
The Horn Book
Cinderella and a Mouse Called Fred by Deborah Hopkinson; illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky Primary Schwartz/Random 48 pp. 8/23 9780593480038 $18.99 Library ed. 9780593480045 $21.99 e-book ed. 9780593480052 $10.99
'No Going Back' by Kristi Noem book review
What you can't get from the 24/7 worldwide freakout, though, is how strange Cricket's summary execution feels in context. That grisly story pops up in a chapter called "Will the World Awaken ...
Review
Unlike Ben Franklin, who arrived in Philadelphia after a long journey by foot and boat, with enough money to buy three puffy rolls, Tom Selleck entered Los Angeles in the family car, dad at the ...
This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud book review
Halfway through "This Strange Eventful History," Messud's avatar, Chloe Cassar, makes her first appearance as an anxious, exceedingly precocious third-grader in Sydney.
Cinderella by Charles Perrault
Ahmad Sharabiani. 9,564 reviews 124 followers. May 12, 2022. Cinderella, Charles Perrault. Once there was a gentleman who married, for his second wife, the proudest and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had, by a former husband, two daughters of her own, who were, indeed, exactly like her in all things.
Book Review: 'The Mother of All Things,' by Alexis Landau
In Alexis Landau's ambitious new novel, "The Mother of All Things," the frustrations of modern parenting echo through the ages. By Eliza Minot Eliza Minot is the author of the novels "The ...
Cinderella The Story of Cinderella by Walt Disney Company
59 ratings9 reviews. When Cinderella's cruel stepmother forbids her from attending the Royal Ball, she gets unexpected help from her mice friends and her Fairy Godmother. Cinderella attends the ball as a mysterious guest and dances with the prince. At the stroke of the midnight, she loses one of her glass slippers and transforms back into a maid.
Book review: 'The Way You Make Me Feel' by Nina Sharma
Sharma, who is Indian American, is married to Quincy Scott Jones, a Black American educator and poet whom Sharma met at a Fourth of July barbecue, as she recollects in the anthology's title essay.
Kuchenga Shenjé's 'The Library Thief' book review : NPR
In this 19th-century English story, Florence, an ambitious bookbinder, is expelled from her family home by her harsh and unforgiving father for being with a young man.
'Magic Pill' Review: Ozempic and the Hunger for Less
The 10 Best Books of 2023 This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law.
Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter
Adeline Yen Mah. 4.07. 38,592 ratings3,330 reviews. A riveting memoir of a girl's painful coming-of-age in a wealthy Chinese family during the 1940s. A Chinese proverb says, "Falling leaves return to their roots." In Chinese Cinderella, Adeline Yen Mah returns to her roots to tell the story of her painful childhood and her ultimate triumph and ...

A Summary and Analysis of the Cinderella Fairy Tale

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Cinderella Fairytale

Part 1: A Girl Named Cinderella

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Cinderella Summary

Cinderella is a fairy tale written by Charles Perrault. This is a story about a poor girl's passivity in the form of abuse that ends with a reward by a fairy godmother and wins a prince's heart. It's a gentle reminder to remain kind to everyone.

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