September’s theme for JUVEN Press is retellings, so strap in because this month we’re bringing you writing tips, book recommendations, and our own writing philosophies on retellings. Today’s article is a breakdown of 5 Cinderella retellings—some you know and others you don’t. We want to inspire you, so treat this article as a charcuterie board for your writing inspiration, an archaeological survey of what’s out there. Knowing what’s been done before is the first step to writing your own retelling! This article is the first of a four-part series this month, so keep an eye out for Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Beauty and the Beast in the next few weeks. The Old Favorite: Cinder by Marissa Meyer. This book, part of The Lunar Chronicles, was the one that started it all, not just for Meyer, but for the YA market trend as well. Cinder features key elements of the classic fairy tale like an evil stepmother, stepsisters, and a prince—but that’s where the comparison stops. The main character, Cinder, is an android, and a deadly plague is sweeping over New Beijing. She is also a mechanic, meaning that Cinder approaches the steampunk genre. Fans of Cinderella will enjoy that the glass slipper in this tale is actually Cinder’s lost android foot. As of writing this article, Meyer’s book is officially a decade old and is a New York Times Bestseller. The Modern Twist: Geekerella by Ashley Poston According to Goodreads, Geekerella is “part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs.” When Elle Wittimer sees a cosplay contest for a new movie in her favorite Starfield series, she has to enter. Unfortunately Darien Freeman, a heartthrob from another fandom, has been nominated in the lead role. This book follows both perspectives and is saturated with fandom culture, giving this book two defining features from other retellings. Geekerella was published in 2017 and has almost 60 thousand ratings on Goodreads. The Medieval One: The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson Unlike the others on this list, The Captive Maiden is the fourth installment in the currently 11 book Hagenheim series. Hagenheim is not for everyone: the series is medieval, it has strong Christian influence, and there are damsels in distress—so if those aren’t your thing then don’t read this series. This series was a real comfort to me in high school because of its connected universe and because it didn’t require much brain power to read (is that awful to say??). The main character Gisela has lived in servitude to her stepmother since the death of her father, and one day at market, she meets her childhood crush Valten, a champion jouster. For those who want to read a sweet, valiant romance with a healthy spoonful of escapism, this is for you. The One You’ve Never Heard Of: Cinderella: Ninja Warrior by Maureen McGowan I’m going to be honest, I’d never heard of Cinderella: Ninja Warrior, but I couldn’t resist including a book with a title like that. From reading a synopsis, this book closely follows classic Cinderella elements—except Cinderella is a ninja warrior. And I’m kind of obsessed with it. It’s also choose your own adventure, which is wild and certainly of its time (Cinderella: Ninja Warrior was published in 2011). You can purchase a used copy on Amazon here. The ‘That’s a Stretch’: These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan From the book’s marketing --The Cruel Prince meets ACOTAR—you’d already be confused as to how this book is a Cinderella retelling. And it’s not! However, this book starts out with an evil stepmother, stepsisters, or cousins in this case, and a royal ball. Readers might expect a Cinderella plot to unfold, but this book is filled with fae, goblins, a treasure hunt, and general fairytale nonsense. I’m including this book on this list because I think it’s important to realize that certain elements and tropes are timeless, and even though the first fifty pages of your book might lean Cinderella, that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. I guess I’m also salty it wasn’t a true retelling, but readers of ACOTAR and The Cruel Prince will enjoy this fae series. What is your favorite Cinderella retelling, did I miss any? Considering the popularly of the fairytale, I’m sure I did. More importantly: will you pick up Cinderella: Ninja Warrior? I know I am. Stay tuned next week for Red Riding Hood retellings. Thanks for reading, and happy writing! Grayson Yountis a writer based in North Carolina. She attends writing classes of all kinds at UNC Chapel Hill and has a particular fondness for sharp imagery. In her free time, she drafts her own novels.
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