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Cinders
Seventeen-year-old Ash has been living with her mother in her mother's boyfriend's house, along with his daughter Mimi and son Noah. When Ash's mother dies, Ash stays so she can attend a high school with a top coding program. But her stepsiblings take advantage of Ash's precarious living situation, with Mimi posting embarrassing pictures of Ash online and Noah making her do his homework. Ash's only solace is the social media app she has developed to support people who are being bullied online.
Using the handle Cinders, Ash starts chatting online with a girl who calls herself Charming. They become close, without ever meeting in person. When Ash finds out that Charming is Char, an aspiring singer who goes to her school, she admires her courage in identifying herself as a lesbian and singing about it. Char helps Ash see her own strength in not letting her situation cause her to be bitter, but instead using it to reach out to help others. For the first time since her mother died, Ash feels like someone sees that she is special and is there for her.
With a modern version of Cinderella as the main character, Cinders tells the story of a teen girl who overcomes adversity and bullying with kindness and compassion.
Using the handle Cinders, Ash starts chatting online with a girl who calls herself Charming. They become close, without ever meeting in person. When Ash finds out that Charming is Char, an aspiring singer who goes to her school, she admires her courage in identifying herself as a lesbian and singing about it. Char helps Ash see her own strength in not letting her situation cause her to be bitter, but instead using it to reach out to help others. For the first time since her mother died, Ash feels like someone sees that she is special and is there for her.
With a modern version of Cinderella as the main character, Cinders tells the story of a teen girl who overcomes adversity and bullying with kindness and compassion.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 12, 2020
The much better hi-lo YA companion to Charming by the same author, which I just reviewed. It feels pretry clear this one was written first, and I'm honestly not sure it needed a companion. If you are going to read both, I would definitely suggest Cinders first. It establishes the love story that I wasn't convinced of in Charming.
This book is a modern Cinderella retelling about a teen girl, Ash, whose mom has recently died. She's living with her (clueless) stepdad and (evil) stepsiblings who alternately threaten to get her kicked out if she doesn't do their homework and play cruel pranks on her and post the videos online.
Ash is great at coding, and she makes an app called SendLove where girls being bullied online can go for support. There she meets Charming. They fall in love online, and eventually realize they go to the same school. But Ash doesn't trust that Char will like the real her. After all, she's known as Garbage Girl at school.
A heartfelt story about a teen with precarious housing, coming out, and being resilient in the face of a lot of tough stuff. While it does have the happily ever after the girls deserve, I like that it doesn't tie up every issue with a neat bow. Sometimes things (and people) suck, they don't change their ways, and you just have to move on. I also like how frankly the book dealt with lesbian teen sexuality.
This book is a modern Cinderella retelling about a teen girl, Ash, whose mom has recently died. She's living with her (clueless) stepdad and (evil) stepsiblings who alternately threaten to get her kicked out if she doesn't do their homework and play cruel pranks on her and post the videos online.
Ash is great at coding, and she makes an app called SendLove where girls being bullied online can go for support. There she meets Charming. They fall in love online, and eventually realize they go to the same school. But Ash doesn't trust that Char will like the real her. After all, she's known as Garbage Girl at school.
A heartfelt story about a teen with precarious housing, coming out, and being resilient in the face of a lot of tough stuff. While it does have the happily ever after the girls deserve, I like that it doesn't tie up every issue with a neat bow. Sometimes things (and people) suck, they don't change their ways, and you just have to move on. I also like how frankly the book dealt with lesbian teen sexuality.
June 18, 2019
2.5 stars
This book was a wholeass mess.
THE GOOD
- Charming. Charming was the one and only (mostly) likeable character in this book.
- It was easy to read - I read it in one sitting no problem. And I was somewhat invested I guess.
- It was very short and therefore I didn't waste too much of my time on it.
THE BAD (and trust me, there's a lot of it)
-Everything else.
Okay, okay, I'll be serious.
- First off, Ash annoyed the hell out of me. She had this obnoxious 'holier-than-thou' attitude. But also she was sort of a jerk to Charming so like,,, it wasn't even deserved. And for god's sake she apparently couldn't even snap at the dickheads in her life, because she was too nice and she'd been taught better than that, and honestly that's not even a healthy message to send because she was so fucking spineless like omg STAND UP FOR YOURSELF YOU DUMBASS
- Secondly this majorly suffered from Not Like Other Girls syndrome like wow enough already I GET it you're so perfect and lovely and unusual and all the other girls are trash. And like wow talk about girl hate. I just wanted to hurl the book across the room most of the time.
- Thirdly the writing wasn't even good. It was jumpy and forced and suffered from a little too much telling and not enough showing.
- Also the relationship had zero development whatsoever like I get that they were talking a bunch off page, but you need to show us at least some of that if you want us to believe it.
- Everything needed more development tbh
- And wow can we discuss the gay rep?? I was unimpressed. It wasn't horrible per se, but she sort of didn't question? at all? It was like 'oh this girl is cute oh I have a crush oh I'm gay then. cool. no biggie.' and look I know everyone's experience is different, and maybe this is what it's like for some people, but I know that in my experience, and the experience of everyone I've ever talked to about it, there's usually some amount of questioning if you didn't know from an early age. But Ash was just like 'girl is hot. I have crush on girl. okay I'm gay obviously. bc there's no other options whatsoever, and this isn't in any way a difficult conclusion to come to or anything'
- Plus there were no stakes. Whatsoever. I was never concerned about anything.
- bleh
***Pre-review, December 28, 2018***
Look the cover is hideous, but this book is a queer Cinderella retelling!! So I need it!
This book was a wholeass mess.
THE GOOD
- Charming. Charming was the one and only (mostly) likeable character in this book.
- It was easy to read - I read it in one sitting no problem. And I was somewhat invested I guess.
- It was very short and therefore I didn't waste too much of my time on it.
THE BAD (and trust me, there's a lot of it)
-
Okay, okay, I'll be serious.
- First off, Ash annoyed the hell out of me. She had this obnoxious 'holier-than-thou' attitude. But also she was sort of a jerk to Charming so like,,, it wasn't even deserved. And for god's sake she apparently couldn't even snap at the dickheads in her life, because she was too nice and she'd been taught better than that, and honestly that's not even a healthy message to send because she was so fucking spineless like omg STAND UP FOR YOURSELF YOU DUMBASS
- Secondly this majorly suffered from Not Like Other Girls syndrome like wow enough already I GET it you're so perfect and lovely and unusual and all the other girls are trash. And like wow talk about girl hate. I just wanted to hurl the book across the room most of the time.
- Thirdly the writing wasn't even good. It was jumpy and forced and suffered from a little too much telling and not enough showing.
- Also the relationship had zero development whatsoever like I get that they were talking a bunch off page, but you need to show us at least some of that if you want us to believe it.
- Everything needed more development tbh
- And wow can we discuss the gay rep?? I was unimpressed. It wasn't horrible per se, but she sort of didn't question? at all? It was like 'oh this girl is cute oh I have a crush oh I'm gay then. cool. no biggie.' and look I know everyone's experience is different, and maybe this is what it's like for some people, but I know that in my experience, and the experience of everyone I've ever talked to about it, there's usually some amount of questioning if you didn't know from an early age. But Ash was just like 'girl is hot. I have crush on girl. okay I'm gay obviously. bc there's no other options whatsoever, and this isn't in any way a difficult conclusion to come to or anything'
- Plus there were no stakes. Whatsoever. I was never concerned about anything.
- bleh
***Pre-review, December 28, 2018***
Look the cover is hideous, but this book is a queer Cinderella retelling!! So I need it!
April 24, 2020
| Reader Fox Blog |
Before Cinders by Mette Bach I had never actually read a hi/lo title before. As someone who basically loved reading from the first time she came across a book, these sort of books weren't typically on my radar. But I do deeply appreciate the goal to push for increasing reading interest for young readers who've perhaps previously struggled with reading and as a result of that are quite reluctant to pick up any book they see. As someone who works in education, literally dedicating her time to students who have struggled with reading in one format or another I think these books are amazing.
Cinders is a pretty good novel, one that I believe will accomplish its goal of garnering interest in readers who've felt unsuccessful there for one reason or another. I don't think it's personally going to help a great many readers on their own, but rather would be useful in process of learning as I don't see many kids going out and picking up these books simply of their own volition.
The book is a Cinderella retelling, in which Cinders is a programmer intent on building an app to combat the online bullying that occurs so often in a technological world and it is through this app that she meets Charming, a young woman with a desire for a singing career who has recently been bullied via comments on her music videos.
I'll admit, I struggled to keep interest through the vast amount of summary that this book turned out to be. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, though I this can be preferential to a teen who has always struggled with reading. I didn't care for the use of slang language--particularly the repetition of the word "trolls"--but that's really just a personal preference and again I can see a lot of interest garnered from these kids here.
I was a little surprised at how sexual this book became, not in the sense that it discussed sexuality a lot; I frankly would have liked to see that portrayed in a more realistic way and unrushed manner. Rather, the descriptions of kissing and using the internet to flash someone were included and did not leave me endeared to the book at all.
I didn't really care for the characters as they often came across as whiny and there were various instances in which things were thoroughly unrealistic in order to needlessly make situations more difficult for the main characters, like when Cinder's boss--literally a woman working in the school--refused to let her leave a task unfinished even though it meant she would be late to class. A lot of their development felt glossed over, told to you in quick summary format instead of actually shown. And I think the worst instance of this was when the "connection" between Cinders and Charming was built simply by saying that they spoke repeatedly for many nights.
Cinders isn't a terrible book, in fact, I admire it's goal immensely. But I do have a pretty strong hatred of books that tell rather than show the story and that piece made it rather difficult for me to remain deeply engaged. It also hindered my ability to connect with the characters. All in all, it's not a book that I'd be quick to recommend a regular reader unless they were working with someone who struggles with reading.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Before Cinders by Mette Bach I had never actually read a hi/lo title before. As someone who basically loved reading from the first time she came across a book, these sort of books weren't typically on my radar. But I do deeply appreciate the goal to push for increasing reading interest for young readers who've perhaps previously struggled with reading and as a result of that are quite reluctant to pick up any book they see. As someone who works in education, literally dedicating her time to students who have struggled with reading in one format or another I think these books are amazing.
Cinders is a pretty good novel, one that I believe will accomplish its goal of garnering interest in readers who've felt unsuccessful there for one reason or another. I don't think it's personally going to help a great many readers on their own, but rather would be useful in process of learning as I don't see many kids going out and picking up these books simply of their own volition.
The book is a Cinderella retelling, in which Cinders is a programmer intent on building an app to combat the online bullying that occurs so often in a technological world and it is through this app that she meets Charming, a young woman with a desire for a singing career who has recently been bullied via comments on her music videos.
I'll admit, I struggled to keep interest through the vast amount of summary that this book turned out to be. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, though I this can be preferential to a teen who has always struggled with reading. I didn't care for the use of slang language--particularly the repetition of the word "trolls"--but that's really just a personal preference and again I can see a lot of interest garnered from these kids here.
I was a little surprised at how sexual this book became, not in the sense that it discussed sexuality a lot; I frankly would have liked to see that portrayed in a more realistic way and unrushed manner. Rather, the descriptions of kissing and using the internet to flash someone were included and did not leave me endeared to the book at all.
I didn't really care for the characters as they often came across as whiny and there were various instances in which things were thoroughly unrealistic in order to needlessly make situations more difficult for the main characters, like when Cinder's boss--literally a woman working in the school--refused to let her leave a task unfinished even though it meant she would be late to class. A lot of their development felt glossed over, told to you in quick summary format instead of actually shown. And I think the worst instance of this was when the "connection" between Cinders and Charming was built simply by saying that they spoke repeatedly for many nights.
Cinders isn't a terrible book, in fact, I admire it's goal immensely. But I do have a pretty strong hatred of books that tell rather than show the story and that piece made it rather difficult for me to remain deeply engaged. It also hindered my ability to connect with the characters. All in all, it's not a book that I'd be quick to recommend a regular reader unless they were working with someone who struggles with reading.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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June 28, 2019
This was a really great story. It brought the Cinderella framework firmly into the modern world with a focus on coding, social media, and online bullying. I also found the orange Fiat to be a super-clever update on the pumpkin carriage! And was a great subtle fairy godmother.
I was a little let down at the end feeling like we skipped over some important stuff before/after graduation--! But it was good. I can't wait to see what other info we get in Charming!
I actually came across this book and its companion novel, Charming (which I'm about to read next!), watching a new releases webinar for work. A modern-day lgbtq Cinderella retelling? Omg! I asked my friend/coworker who orders the teen books if she could buy them, and it worked out!
I read a lot of children's books, but I haven't read a hi-lo before. (Hi-lo books are high-interest, low-readability, designed to give developing readers text they don't have to struggle with but about themes that are still interesting and age-matched for them.) It was a little strange for me and sometimes the text felt clunky, but for various reasons the awkwardness (of the sentences and the situations) really reminded me of some of my own high school experiences.
I was a little let down at the end feeling like we skipped over some important stuff before/after graduation--! But it was good. I can't wait to see what other info we get in Charming!
I actually came across this book and its companion novel, Charming (which I'm about to read next!), watching a new releases webinar for work. A modern-day lgbtq Cinderella retelling? Omg! I asked my friend/coworker who orders the teen books if she could buy them, and it worked out!
I read a lot of children's books, but I haven't read a hi-lo before. (Hi-lo books are high-interest, low-readability, designed to give developing readers text they don't have to struggle with but about themes that are still interesting and age-matched for them.) It was a little strange for me and sometimes the text felt clunky, but for various reasons the awkwardness (of the sentences and the situations) really reminded me of some of my own high school experiences.
November 13, 2018
Ashley's mother has recently passed away. Ash is in her last year of high school and living with her stepfather (he had married her mother just before she passed away) and his two children, Mimi and Noah, who are Ash's age. Mimi and Noah are really nasty to her but Ash has nowhere else to go ... she has to suck it up until graduation. She knows her only hope is to win a scholarship so she can go away to university. In the meantime, she is is a coding geek (who goes by the alias "Cinders") and develops an app called SendLove, which supports people who are being bullied online. She "meets" Charming, another girl who is being bullied, on the site and they form a friendship.
This is the first book I've read by this author. Though I'm assuming it is written for the young adult market (so I'm not its demographic), I liked the story and the writing style. As a head's up, there is lesbian activity and I came across one swear word so perhaps the book is for a more mature young adult.
I liked Ash. She was in a difficult situation having no one to turn to until she "meets" Charming. Though he did the right thing in letting Ash stay after her mother passed away and treated her okay, her stepfather wouldn't be winning any father of the year awards. While Mimi and Noah had the best of everything and never lacked for anything, Ash's room was a storage room and she was using a five year old laptop. His children treated Ash like crap and the stepfather was either unaware of it or didn't care.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/11...
This is the first book I've read by this author. Though I'm assuming it is written for the young adult market (so I'm not its demographic), I liked the story and the writing style. As a head's up, there is lesbian activity and I came across one swear word so perhaps the book is for a more mature young adult.
I liked Ash. She was in a difficult situation having no one to turn to until she "meets" Charming. Though he did the right thing in letting Ash stay after her mother passed away and treated her okay, her stepfather wouldn't be winning any father of the year awards. While Mimi and Noah had the best of everything and never lacked for anything, Ash's room was a storage room and she was using a five year old laptop. His children treated Ash like crap and the stepfather was either unaware of it or didn't care.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/11...
March 6, 2019
Mette Bach's Cinders, tells the story of Ash, a high school senior who's mother just died, leaving her to live on the kindness of her stepfather and the cruelty of her step siblings. In order to escape, she builds an app SendLove, dedicated to helping combat online bullying. Through the app, Ash meets and falls in love with Charming, a musician with her eyes on stardom. Meant as a retelling of Cinderella, Bach's Cinders provides a needed addition to the LGBT YA romance genre. I was provided an e-ARC from Lorimer Children & Teens via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Ashley, Ash for short, is a great lead character. Bach's provided a very real person with concerns and weaknesses. We mourn with her in her loss of her mother, and celebrate her in the success of the SendLove app. As a teenager goes she's relate-able, everyone knows that kid who's working so hard with everything they have for something.
Overall, Cinders is a cute book, very sweet and you root for Ash and Charming. However, it is a short book, and that unfortunately is one of its greatest weaknesses. Bach has a great opportunity to and when the climactic moment of the book comes, jumps forward without carrying the plot through. By the last chapter and epilogue, I'm found that I no longer cared if she won or where she ended up because we'd already skipped over any sort of resolution to the main problems she faced. While I'm trying not to introduce spoilers, this is all tied heavily to my other major issue.
The rest of this review can be found at Commute Reads.
March 11, 2019
This book is a fun read and I love that the author has a companion book that tells the story from the other person's part of view. They are both super cute books to read for both teens and adults.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews