|
 Review by
Louella Moreland
Another Cinderella story? That question may be the first thought
to pop into your mind after reading the title above. After all, how
many documented Cinderella stories are there in the world? I
remember that being a big topic of discussion in my college
children's literature classes.
Just like there is a Santa for all believers, yes, there is room
on the shelf and in our hearts for another tale of the mistreated
and unappreciated young girl. Closely following the popular French
version of Cinderella, "Ella's Big Chance" has a father (Mr.
Cinders) with an only daughter who is forced to play the drudge to a
new stepmother with two beautiful daughters. This time the setting
is updated to the roaring '20s with Ella working her fingers to the
bone sewing clever, beautiful dresses in her father's little shop
"in a quiet but elegant part of town."
Hughes' story has its own unique twists, though. The shop had
help from a "lively lad" named Buttons (after the three rows of
shiny buttons on his short jacket). Buttons' job was to polish the
glass, open the door and deliver packages for all the rich ladies
who frequented the shop. This time the handsome bachelor is not a
prince but the Duke of Arc, son of the enormously wealthy Duchess of
Arc.
Much of the rest of the story follows the popular vein, with a
fairy godmother, glass slippers, a beautiful gown and a warning to
be home by midnight. This time the "carriage" is a gleaming
limousine transformed from Buttons' old delivery bicycle.
[to top of second column in
this article]
|
Are you saying to yourself, "OK, I know this story. She meets the
handsome young man, he falls in love, searches high and low until he
finds the owner of the lone glass slipper, and they live happily
ever after. Isn't that the ending of all the fairy tales?" Yes… and
no. There is a happy ending… and a wedding… but you will need to
read the book to find out the final little twist in plot that Ms.
Hughes has for us.
Personally, I am a woman who chaffs under the premise that a girl
needs to be swept away from all her problems (including a father who
will not stand up to his new wife on his daughter's behalf) by a
handsome young man, to live happily ever after (does the prince help
with dishes?) in wealth and privilege. However, I like the
twists in Hughes' story. As a Cinderella tale, it has some spunk
(but not nearly as much as my favorite modern fairy tale,
"The Paper Bag Princess," by Robert Munsch!).
Shirley Hughes is a talented illustrator as well. Children will
love the whimsical '20s dress, and adults will appreciate the
upper-crust arrogance of Ella's new relatives. The basement workroom
is transformed from dreary to enchanted when Ella and Buttons dance
by moonlight, while her constant companion, a gray cat, stands ready
to pounce.
Children may have trouble understanding how Ella's family failed
to recognize her at the ball, and the handsome young man also had a
similar problem when he visits the family shop with the glass
slipper, but that has been a stumbling block for many others in all
the Cinderella stories.
For this book and other Cinderella stories, visit the Lincoln
Public Library at 725 Pekin St.!
[Louella Moreland, youth
services librarian,
Lincoln Public
Library District] |
