Growing up, I don’t think there was anything I enjoyed more than a classic fairy tale, and, of course, watching Disney Princess television shows and movies! There are a plethora of fairy tales for all ages, yet Cinderella’s folktale is known by almost everyone, begging the question: why? This rags to riches tale initially originated in Europe. Since then, the Brothers Grimm have adopted and published their version, following similar themes to other variants. On that note, “Cinderella” has themes that can teach young children good vs. evil, kindness to all, luck, and more. From the conflict of having an evil stepmother and two stepsisters to talking animals and a Fairy Godmother, it has undoubtedly been one of my favorites. Now, imagine reading a book that modernizes Cinderella’s tale while weaving in a sci-fi twist. Cinder by Marissa Meyer is a revolutionary and futuristic book based on “Cinderella.” However, while Cinder’s life may seem similar to Cinderella’s story, unlike the fairy tale, Cinder does not end happily-ever-after. Linh Cinder, the main protagonist, is a cyborg who struggles to stay on her stepmother’s ‘good side’ while dreaming of a better life. Unfortunately for her, she lives in New Beijing: a chaotic and uptight city bearing the memories of World War 4, and that discriminates between humans and pretty much everyone who is not human. Cinder makes it past each day with her trusty android friend while being forced to use her expertise in mechanics to make money for her greedy stepmother. One day, Prince Kai, the Prince of the Eastern Commonwealth, finds Cinder and asks her to fix his android. After meeting Prince Kai, our protagonist starts to find change in her life. From attending a ball to engaging in a duel with the evil Queen Levana of Luna—the moon colony—Cinder’s life is far from peaceful. Following Prince Kai’s secretive public appearance, an outbreak of Letumosis breaks out during the middle of the day. Letumosis is a deadly disease, and researchers are yet to find a cure. As Emperor Rikan of the Eastern Commonwealth surrenders to Letumosis, Queen Levana tries to find a way to take Earth by storm. It is up to Cinder to protect Prince Kai from the dangers of the mind-controlling Lunar Queen. Although the plot seems relatively easy to follow, Meyer adds a surplus of side events that stray away from the main storyline and helps set the scene. While there aren’t any direct references to Cinderella, there are some similar elements. Cinder is very different from any other book I have read. Although I could predict the result of some of the many plot twists, the overall storyline kept me engaged. All in all, Cinder’s overall personality brightens the book while Iko, her android friend, sprinkles sarcasm and humor. On that note, the characters guide the reader through Cinder’s spiraling life and crazy cliff-hangers. Overall, Cinder is a book I could read over and over again. Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Square Fish, 2020. Buy the book here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
Young Bloggers
A Tribute to Bobby Hutton
A Tribute to Bobby Hutton Emma, 9 I didn’t know much about Bobby Hutton until recently, when I read about the Black Panthers. It’s important to know the parts of history that are hidden from us. During Black History Month, we are taught about people like Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan. But we’re rarely taught about people like Bobby Hutton, Malcolm X, and Huey P. Newton. Bobby Hutton was a sixteen-year-old member of the Oakland, CA Black Panther Party, an organization led by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale that fought for Black people’s rights and protested police brutality. They also fought for the working class and against capitalism. “Lil’” Bobby, as he was called, was the youngest member. It’s important for people to remember him and all the Black Panthers, and know his story. Bobby Hutton was with Eldridge Cleaver when Bobby was murdered. Their plan for a revolution had failed. The police caught Hutton and Cleaver, which led to a shoot-out. No one knew who fired the first shot, but Hutton and Cleaver fled for safety into the nearest basement of someone’s house. The police set off smoke bombs and started a fire. Eventually, Hutton and Cleaver realized they had to surrender. Cleaver took all of his clothes off to show that he didn’t have a gun. Hutton took his shirt off and came outside with his hands up, too self-conscious to take off the rest of his clothes. Nonetheless, the police immediately opened fire, killing Hutton and injuring Cleaver, and that last shred of trust—that the police would not shoot a person if they knew they weren’t armed—had faded away. Below is a poem I wrote called A Letter, dedicated to Bobby Hutton. We all should remember him and know his story. A Letter For Bobby Hutton I think you missed the birds calling in those last moments. I think the leaves stopped rustling when the bullets hit. I wish you were able to hear the trees whisper and the flowers grow instead of the guns and the creaking of the burning house. I think you missed how every single pair of paws was clasped together in prayer for you. I think you missed it while you were falling. I think you missed how the mud parted ways for you. I think you missed your own funeral but doesn’t everyone? You were entangled in black shadows you were pulled farther back, you were pulled inside. I think you didn’t see the tears because you couldn’t cry. I know your eyes were closed. Can I take it for granted that your limbs were straight or were they slowly breaking in that casket? Did you know what happened afterwards or was your head just blank forevermore? I don’t think you saw the way the others mourned. You were far, far away, maybe even nowhere.
100 Days of Sunlight, Reviewed by Nora, 13
What are five things you take for granted? I could start by assuming that you take your senses for granted. The ability to see, hear, touch, smell, and taste are so normal that they are often not appreciated until they are lost. If you have never lived in darkness, or silence, or in a world without touch, smell, or taste, you might not realize what a gift these abilities are. In 100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons, the main character, Tessa Dickonson, learns to appreciate all five of her senses after a fateful car accident. Due to an injury from the accident, Tessa must endure 12 to 14 weeks of blindness before her vision returns—but there’s also a possibility that her vision will never return. Tessa is doomed to 100 days of darkness, if not more. Tessa is a blogger and poet, and after she loses her sight her grandparents place an ad in the newspaper looking for someone to type her poetry and blog posts for her. But none of them expect Weston Ludovico to show up in response to the ad. Weston has his own backstory: three years before 100 Days of Sunlight, he lost most of his legs, and now has to wear prosthetic limbs. He knows what Tessa is going through—the feeling that your whole world has been turned upside down and things will never be the same again, because now you have a problem, a handicap. At first, Tessa hates Weston and his “obnoxious optimism.” She is rude to him and does her best to scare him off. But Weston is just as stubborn as she is, and he insists on showing her the beauty that can be found through hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting. The book is split up into five parts, each titled after one of the senses. As the story progresses, Weston shows Tessa how to overcome her fears of the darkness and how to see the positive side of things, while Tessa and Weston become better and better friends. Weston loves to be with Tessa for another reason: she treats him like a normal person. Ever since he got his prosthetic legs, everyone treated him as broken, or fragile. But Tessa can’t see his legs and he doesn’t tell her about them. He’s excited for the chance for someone to treat him like a real person, rather than an invalid. 100 Days of Sunlight is not the type of book I would normally reach for, but I had been listening to a podcast with the author, Abbie Emmons, and I decided to try it out. Abbie Emmons’ writing is captivating and delightful, right from the first page to the last. Tessa’s and Weston’s characters are empathetic and deep, rather than shallow. There are also good secondary characters, such as Tessa’s grandparents, Weston’s three younger brothers who think of Weston as a superhero, and Weston’s friend, Rudy. 100 Days of Sunlight is technically a Young Adult book, and it does have some cursing and elements of romance in it, but overall it was a fast, interesting read that I would highly recommend. 100 Days of Summer by Abbie Emmons. Abbie Emmons, 2019. Buy the book here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
