Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Ratings Explanation

Language:  There was one use of the word damn.

Violence:  Ella is taken against her will as a prisoner to the castle.  She is attacked by one of the guards who is in a drunken state, another guard pulls a sword to stop him.  Tanner is imprisoned in the dungeon.  Ella tries to kill the prince by stabbing him to the heart many times.  Cinder is also thrown in the dungeon.  There is a fire and Ella is hurt.  Tanner and the prince fight with swords.  Cinder is cut across her middle with a sword and almost dies.

Sexual Content:  There are a few kisses.  William makes the comment, “Time is precious to a man who has many women to spoil and much wine to drink.”  William attackes Ella, kissing her and trying to do more.

Adult Themes:  William drinks frequently throughout book.  He is drunk and mean.

Synopsis

When their father disappears, Cinder and Ella find themselves left to care for the welfare of their mother and two younger sisters.  Their mother becomes increasingly unaware and distant as she works at her loom all day and all night long.  Soon the money is gone and Cinder is forced to find work elsewhere.  She heads to the castle in search of employment leaving Ella to care for the family.

Ella is frustrated by the home situation.  She feels unappreciated and alone.  Her own mother doesn’t even remember she exists.  Ella remembers the legend of the trees and decides to find her father, who she believes, is still alive because his tree is still alive.  Ella’s quest becomes dangerous and at times frightening but Ella is determined and strong and finds help in the most unlikely places.

I loved the multi-layered feel to this seemingly simple fairy tale.  It was an enjoyable read from start to finish. The discussion questions at the end of the book really helped me think deeply about family connections between parents and children, siblings and how those connections influence how we act and react with other people. 

There were so many things to like in this middle grade read by Melissa Lemon.  The similarities between this and the commonly known tale of Cinderella are not frequent or obvious.  One would really have to work at finding the deeper connections between the two, which I really liked.   I read this book courtesy of Net Galley.  Cinder and Ella will be released in November of 2011.