SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About TLT
  • Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • A to Z Book Lists
    • Book Review Policy
  • Teen Issues
  • Middle Grade Mondays
  • Programs
    • TPiB
    • Tech Talk
  • Professional
    • Teen Services 101
    • Things We Didn’t Learn in Library School
  • MakerSpace
  • Projects
    • #SVYALit
    • #FSYALit
    • #MHYALit
    • #Poverty in YA Lit

September 18, 2012 by Karen Jensen, MLS

Where’s My Glass Slipper? Top 10: Cinderella Retellings

September 18, 2012 by Karen Jensen, MLS   4 comments

I am a HUGE fantasy addict.  HUGE. I will admit it.  Give me a well written fairy tale, and I can curl up and be completely content for the afternoon.  Even better, give me something that has a twist in it.  Since we’re talking about Cinderella, here are my top ten retellings that fall within YA…

Ash

Amazing book where Aisling (Ash), is torn between the Fairie Prince and the Huntress.  For more on Ash, click here.

Ella Enchanted
Given the gift, or curse, of always having to obey every order given, Ella must find the strength to take charge and find her own destiny, as well as break the spell.  A Newbery Honor book.
Just Ella

Thrown in the dungeon for daring to defy her royal engagement, Ella escapes to a refuge camp, and finds her true destiny. 

Cinder
First in the four part Lunar Chronicles, cyborg Cinder’ s world is dying of a mysterious plague, and the Prince is being forced to marry the Lunar Queen.  Will Cinder’s secrets help or hinder the Prince and the country?  For more on Cinder, click here.
Bound

Forced to be the family servant after her step-sister becomes ill, Xing Xing tries to escape the only way she knows how, with her skills in calligraphy and the help of the spirit of her mother.  Bound combines both the Western and Eastern Cinderella stories.
The Ordinary Princess
All of the princesses of the realm were given special gifts on their birthday, and Amethyst, the seventh born and considered lucky, is no exception.  She is given Wit, Charm, Health, Courage….  and Ordinariness.  
The Fairy Godmother

Elena was supposed to be her kingdom’s Cinderella, but when the story changes, Elena finds that Tradition may have to change in order to make her story fit it’s new path.  Not technically YA (published for adults) but I wouldn’t hesitate to give it to older readers.  Also the first in a continuing series following the kingdoms and twisting of fairy tales, so if they like this one, there are more to hook them with!
If I Have A Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince?

Lucy is stuck with her new step-mom, slaving away at chores, but manages to attract the attention of the most popular guy at school.  Question is, does she want it?
Bella at Midnight
Shipped off for the first 13 years of her life, Bella has to return to her father and his jealous new wife, and deal with magic and intrigue in order to save the prince and the kingdom.
Shadows on the Moon

After witnessing the murder of her father and cousins, Suzume must use her magic as a Shadow Weaver to protect herself from those who were responsible and find her revenge, before she looses herself in the process. 

Agree?  Disagree?  Share in the comments!

Filed under: Fairy Tales, Top 10s

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Karen Jensen, MLS

Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

December 2013

Robin's Top 10 Books for 2013

by Karen Jensen, MLS

December 2013

Top 10 for 2013 - Middle School favorites (Robin)

by Karen Jensen, MLS

October 2013

Haunted Readings: All Our Scary, Spooky and Otherwise Halloween Ready Book Lists in One Place

by Karen Jensen, MLS

March 2013

Top 10: 'Cause You Gotta Have Faith (a flashback post)

by Karen Jensen, MLS

March 2013

Top 10: Books for the Geek in Us All

by Karen Jensen, MLS

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

The Yarn LIVE at ALA 2022!

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Shining A Light Cover Reveal: A Talk with Author Veeda Bybee About the Trick With Collected Biographies

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #331 | Preview

by Brigid Alverson

Heavy Medal

Mock Newbery Update – Our List of First Half Suggestions

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Sunday Reflections: On being a Librarian and a Christian parent to an LGBTQ kid with a uterus in 2022

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Shark Week, Vanilla Ice Cream, and the Honda CRV: Bob Shea and Brian Won Team Up for ADURABLE

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Hilary Beard and Tim Madigan in Conversation on “The Burning” and the Tulsa Race Massacre

Five Debut YA Authors Make Readers Feel Something

On Parental Love & Addiction: Lauren Myracle

Books Restricted, Removed in MS, IA, OR, and FL Districts; 'Out of Darkness' Stays at NC High School | Censorship Roundup

Global Read Aloud Books Announced

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jana says

    September 18, 2012 at 2:18 pm

    You forgot Princess of Glass! I think that's one of my faves because it's not told from Cinderella's point of view.

  2. Christie says

    September 18, 2012 at 5:06 pm

    I haven't read that one! I'll have to track it down, although my CDO (OCD) of reading books in order will mean I'll have to read Princess of the Midnight Ball first. And that seems to fall into retellings of the 12 dancing princesses… LOL!

  3. Anonymous says

    June 6, 2013 at 7:17 am

    Princess of Glass and Bella at midnight were both fantastic! Do you know of anymore at least decent retellings? For some unfathomable reason I am in a Cinderella mood.

  4. hedgi says

    March 14, 2014 at 4:37 am

    great list, but how is Ordinary Princess a Cinderella story? it has none of the same elements, there's no ball, no slipper, no wicked anything except for the cook and cook wasn't really evil in any case. it's a great book, one that I love dearly, but it's not cinderella.

    also: I highly recommend “Before Midnight” by Cameron Dokey. It's a unique take on the story, one that I've never seen in anything else.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2022


COPYRIGHT © 2022