This weeks blog topic... Traditional Tales! Including fables, fairy tales, myths, legends, folk tales

Book Title: The Gospel Cinderella
Author: Joyce Carol Thomas

Illustrator: David Diaz
Publisher: Amistad/ Harper Collins

Date Published: 2004
ISBN:  0060253878

About the book:

 The Gospel Cinderella is a twist on the classic Cinderella tale. As a baby, Cinderella was separated from her mother during a hurricane that drifted her downstream in the basket where she slept. Cinderella was taken in by an evil foster mother, Crooked Foster Mother, where she lived with her twin girls, Hennie and Minnie. Cinderella became a servant to her foster mother and sisters. Years after being separated from her daughter, Cinderella's mother Queen Mother Rhythm was looking to retire from the Great Gospel Choir and find someone worthy of taking her spot. During the search, Cinderella came across and flyer and longed to try out but was forced to help her step sisters prepare to try out instead. Although Cinderella had a beautiful voice she wasn't allowed to try out and had to train her step sisters to sing. They were awful despite her efforts. On the day of tryouts Cinderella head beautiful sounds and followed them, singing along. She disguised herself so that her foster mother and sisters couldn't even recognize her. After people from all over came to try out Queen Mother Rhythm was still not satisfied. Finally, Cinderella got the nerve to sing and share her voice and her mother, the prince, and everyone fell in love with her beautiful voice but she had to run back before she was discovered. Queen Mother Rhythm sent the Prince and his men to find the voice, eventually leading them to Cinderella. In the end, Cinderella found her prince but more importantly was reunited with her mother.

Book Review: 

 

I think Thomas' adaptation of the classic Cinderella tale is empowering and bold. It shifts the traditional role of the prince in Cinderella as her chance of a happily ever after by giving Cinderella a genuine and valuable talent, her voice. Although the prince is still present in the story, Cinderella is freed by her abilities to sing which allows her to be reunited with her mother. I also like this book because it retells the story of Cinderella through a different cultural perspective which is important. It can allow children of different cultures to relate to the story of Cinderella and provide students with a more diverse literature background. Aside from the story itself, the illustrations are beautiful. For those reasons, I give this book a 4 out of 5 on my owl rating scale!