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Review

Cinderella Liberator Review

Solnit, Rebecca. Cinderella Liberator. Arthur Rackham, Illus. Folklore. Haymarket, 05/2019. 29pp. $17.95. 978-1-608-46596-5. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 4-ADULT.

A feminist reimagining of Cinderella, this story alters the nar­rative to focus on the liberation that comes with helping oneself and those around you. The plot still features a ball, a prince, stepsisters and stepmother, and a magic-making fairy god­mother; however, the destinies of these characters are updat­ed. In Solnit’s version, no one gets married (why go from one entrapment to another?), the stepsisters are redeemed, and the prince finds liberation from his own social trap. Even the rats and lizards who become Ella’s footmen and horses are given the option of staying as they are or transforming back. The tale is amusing and witty. “[The stepsisters] weren’t very happy, be­cause they were worried that someone might have higher hair or more bows than they did. Which, probably, someone did. Usu­ally someone does.” Arthur Rackham’s watercolor illustrations, featured in the 1919 edition of the Cinderella story, portray the characters in striking silhouettes. Perhaps best suited for kids who are okay with retellings and/or old enough to be interested in reinterpretations and stories that challenge problematic texts. Review based on an ARC.

Emily Phillips, Oakland Public Library

Published on Aug 21, 2019
Posted by: pennypeck
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