Have you and a friend ever read the same book and had differing opinions of it? If you then went on to write a book review, would they be different? We decided to find out when two members of our library staff read Cinderella is dead by Kalynn Bayron.
Mrs Godden writes:
Sophia lives in a land where the tale of Cinderella is revered above all else. All laws and rules in the land are based around girls being picked by their Prince Charming. The problem is Sophia is in love with her best friend Ellie and doesn’t want a Prince Charming. But maybe 'The tale of Cinderella' is not quite what it seems. This is a brilliant re-imagining of an old fairy-tale in a unique modern way- I loved this fantasy book!
Mrs Sadek writes:
This is an unexpected continuation of Cinderella’s story. In the Kingdom, where Cinderella lived and died 200 years ego, the King has abolished all women's rights, women are made inferior to men and their lives are dependent on the mercy of men choosing them for their wives. Every young woman is given three chances to attend an annual ball of "Choosing Ceremony". If they are not chosen after a third year, they disappear! Driven by a fear of being forfeit, women grow superstitious, and society becomes limited to prejudices. Sophia knows that she will never be accepted for a person she is, and she is forced on a risky escape followed by a dangerous adventure in a hope to change her world. This story keeps you being interested in what happens next. The plot has brutal scenes that can generate outrage in a reader, but they are short. It is a good read for everyone. It tells us about the suffering of members of different social groups. Kalynn Bayron is putting her message across that whether you have a partner or not, everyone is still a whole person - the only thing that matters is who you are inside and how you treat others.
The one thing we did agree on is this is a great book, and you should definitely read it!
Mrs Godden & Mrs
Sadek