Cinderella's Escape by Gita V. ReddyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This 21st century version of the traditional fairy tale features Anna Maria as Cinderella and Priscilla as the cruel stepmother. The ugly stepsisters are Stella, who “is constantly spiteful”, and Marcella, who “is sneakier and more dangerous”, and they behave just as badly as you would expect. Anna Maria is deprived of the gifts sent her by her absent father and treated like a slave. The many acts of deception and cruelty over several years naturally have you rooting for Anna Maria, hoping for justice to be done and for love to conquer all. When there is a satisfying twist, in a more modern context, towards the end of the book – no spoilers here! – I can imagine the intended juvenile readers will be cheering just as I did!
Cinderella’s Escape is a children’s book for 8 to 11 year-olds and well written with an appropriate reading age emphasis in my opinion. However, I would have liked to have seen a few pictorial illustrations at various points throughout the book. When sharing the reading with your children or grandchildren pictures often help the “Oh!”, “Ugh!”, “Ah!” and “Gross!” moments in my experience. The book includes a bonus story called Not Like Cinderella, shorter and more magical, making it good value as well as adding to the charming experience gained from Ms Reddy’s writing.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so that I could give an honest and objective review.
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