Cinder

Meyer, Marissa. Cinder. Fiewel and Friends (2012). ISBN 978-0-312-64189-4

Plot Summary

                Cinder is a new take on the classic children’s story Cinderella.  Sixteen-year-old Cinder lives in a future world where hovercrafts and helpful robots, called androids, are commonplace.  Cinder is not your normal teenager; when she was 11, she was in an accident that would have killed her.  To save her life, doctors used metal parts to supplement Cinder’s existing organs creating a girl that is now half human, half machine.   Being a cyborg, Cinder is not accepted as a real person, but with the plague sweeping the country and the queen of the Luners (Moon dwellers) looking towards Earth, there are bigger things to worry about.  

                When her sister, Peony, contracts the plague, Cinder is forced to give up her life in the name of research.  But things don’t go as planned when she finds out she is somehow immune to the disease.  Cinder must now deal with her step-mother, who blames her for Peony’s sickness, her growing attraction for the handsome prince, Kai, and the seemingly inevitability of war between Earth and Lunar.  Can she help find a cure before Peony succumbs to the disease?  Can a relationship between a human and cyborg ever work out?  And the biggest surprise of all, one regarding her true identity, will turn her world upside down.

Critical Evaluation

Cinder is unlike any book that I have ever read in that no classic fairytale has been re-told in quite this way.  Not only is the Cinderella character, Cinder, unwanted and treated badly by her step family, but she is also treated badly by almost all who know she is a cyborg.  Many young adults today feel as if no one quite understands what they are going through.  Cinder definitely feels this way and still remains strong.  She doesn’t always stick up for herself when her step-mother is going at her, but this is only because she realizes that not everything is worth a fight and she will fare better if she holds her tongue. 

Pretty quickly it is discovered that Cinder is immune to the plague.  This is a common theme within young adult book heroes or heroines.  They all want to feel special, like they are somehow different from everyone else.  Even through all the obstacles Cinder faces, she remains strong and passionate about making a better life for herself.  Circumstances, and certain people, try to stand in her way but she perseveres.  That is why I think teens will connect with Cinder.  She is a little weird and different on the inside and most teenagers feel the same way.

Reader’s Annotation

Being a cyborg won’t stop Cinder from trying to save the world.

Author Information

Cinder is Marissa Meyer’s first novel.  More about Meyer and her books can be found at her blog: http://marissameyer.livejournal.com/

Genre

Science Fiction

Book talking Ideas

There are several themes and issues presented in Cinder that might be good to discuss during a Book Talking session.  The treatment of Cinder by Adri and Pearl is worth bringing up.  Why do you think Adri is so cruel to Cinder?  Why do you think she blames Cinder for her husband’s death?  Why does Pearl hate Cinder by Peony doesn’t?

Some discussion could be made about human rights – or in this case, cyborg rights.  Is it right that cyborgs are considered property even though Cinder is a free thinking being?   How do you think the world would react if another plague broke out? 

Reading Level/Interest Age

12 and up

Why Include This Title?

I included Cinder as an example of the popular trend of re-telling classic fairytales with a modern twist.  Most teenage girls have a favorite princess, whether it be Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty or any of the other dozens of fairytale damsels.  Finding a book about a favorite childhood character, but with some key changes to the story, can introduce reluctant readers into the vibrant world that is young adult literature.