Cinder is a futuristic
retelling of Cinderella. There are plenty of Cinderella retellings but this one
presents a unique world with great villains. The Lunar queen’s ability to
change people’s emotions and actions, as well as use glamour to change her
appearance, is intriguing and she’s portrayed as the perfect icy queen. Cinder’s
stepmother is similarly well done; the moment when she sends Cinder essentially
to her death as a plague volunteer is powerful. Some of the plotting, however,
felt heavy handed. Often hints of plot points or reveals came too soon before
the actual important plot point or reveal so that it was obvious what the
author was trying to set up. Similarly, I could predict (SPOILERS ahead!) that
Cinder was the Lunar princess by page 50 yet it’s supposed to be the big reveal
of the book. On the other hand, some plot elements felt as if they were pulled,
sometimes nearly word for word, from a traditional version of Cinderella. With
predictable plot elements in both the unique retelling aspects and traditional
expected parts it was difficult to get pulled into the story.
This was just the most delightful middle grade—and historical,
my favorite! The middle grade voice is perfectly appropriate, and despite so
many bad things happening to cute Miss Malone, the tone is hopeful and
uplifting.
This is a bittersweet story about Louise, the older of two
twins, who feels that her twin Caroline gets everything—a better education, her
mother’s love, even her friends. The setting of a small island off the coast of
Maryland during World War II added a nice bit of historical detail to very
timeless themes. Louise’s anger is so spot on to the tween experience and the
reveal of when Caroline triumphs over Louise, (SPOILERS ahead) especially by
marrying Louise’s best friend, is heartbreaking.The religious basis for this novel (the title is taken
from a Biblical passage and it is important for the sibling rivalry) was
surprising and I’m not sure if it would appeal to a modern audience. Recently I
heard that it was mentioned at the A
Wrinkle in Time 50th anniversary celebration that that novel
wouldn’t be published today because of the religious aspects and The Hunger Games wouldn’t have been
published then because of the violence. Although Jacob Have I Loved is not nearly as old as A Wrinkle in Time a 21st-century reader’s lack of
education or interest in religion could turn them off to reading this novel or,
at the very least, cause the Biblical references go over their heads. I have to
admit—for three quarters of the story I was waiting for a boy named Jacob to
show up and for Louise to fall in love with him!
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