Staff Pick
Perfect for YA readers who like some science fiction with their fantasy — or vice versa. In this Cinderella retelling, Cyborg Linh Cinder puts up with her stepmother's cruelty for the sake of her sister, Peony. When Peony falls ill, Cinder will risk everything — even her newfound friendship with Prince Kai — to cure her. But greater events are in motion — the queen of the lunar colony has her eyes on Earth, and no one in New Beijing will be safe for long. Recommended By Madeline S., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl....
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kais, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her worlds future.
Review
"There's a lot of moving parts in this fresh spin on 'Cinderella,' the first in a four-book series." Booklist
Review
"[T]his series opener and debut offers a high coolness factor by rewriting 'Cinderella' as a kickass mechanic in a plague-ridden future." Kirkus
Review
"Author Marissa Meyer rocks the fractured fairy tale genre with a sci-fi twist on 'Cinderella.'" The Seattle Times
Review
"Debut author Meyer ingeniously incorporates key elements of the fairy tale into this first series entry." Horn Book Magazine
Review
"What they [readers] do not know until they begin turning the pages of this fable-turned-dystopian-science-fiction novel, is that Meyer's embellishments create a spellbinding story of their own." VOYA
Review
"First in the Lunar Chronicles series, this futuristic twist on 'Cinderella' retains just enough of the original that readers will enjoy spotting the subtle similarities. But debut author Meyer's brilliance is in sending the story into an entirely new, utterly thrilling dimension." Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Review
"Fairy tales are becoming all the rage, with the TV shows Once Upon a Time and Grimm spinning them through a modern filter. The 26-year-old Meyer's debut novel Cinder, though, combines a classic folk tale with hints of The Terminator and Star Wars in the first book of The Lunar Chronicles young-adult series." USAToday.com
Review
"Cinderella is a cyborg in this futuristic take on the fairy tale, the first book in Ms. Meyer's planned 'Lunar Chronicles' series." Wall Street Journal
Review
“Singing mice and glass slippers are replaced with snarky androids and mechanical feet in this richly imagined and darkly subversive retelling of ‘Cinderella.” BCCB
Synopsis
The #1 New York Times Bestselling Series
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . .
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.
Marissa Meyer on Cinder, writing, and leading men
Which of your characters is most like you?
I wish I could say that I'm clever and mechanically-minded like Cinder, but no I can't fix anything. I'm much more like Cress, who makes a brief cameo in Cinder and then takes a more starring role in the third book. She's a romantic and a daydreamer and maybe a little on the naive side things that could be said about me too although she does find courage when it's needed most. I think we'd all like to believe we'd have that same inner strength if we ever needed it.
Where do you write?
I have a home office that I've decorated with vintage fairy tale treasures that I've collected (my favorite is a Cinderella cookie jar from the forties) and NaNoWriMo posters, but sometimes writing there starts to feel too much like work. On those days I'll write in bed or take my laptop out for coffee or lunch.
If you were stranded on a desert island, which character from Cinder would you want with you?
Cinder, definitely She has an internet connection in her brain, complete with the ability to send and receive comms (which are similar to e-mails). We'd just have enough time to enjoy some fresh coconut before we were rescued.
The next book in the Lunar Chronicles is called Scarlet, and is about Little Red Riding Hood. What is appealing to you most about this character as you work on the book?
Scarlet is awesome she's very independent, a bit temperamental, and has an outspokenness that tends to get her in trouble sometimes. She was raised by her grandmother, an ex-military pilot who now owns a small farm in southern France, who not only taught Scarlet how to fly a spaceship and shoot a gun, but also to have a healthy respect and appreciation for nature. I guess that's a lot of things that appeal to me about her, but she's been a really fun character to write (The two leading men in Scarlet, Wolf and Captain Thorne, aren't half bad either.)
"
Synopsis
The first book in the #1 New York Times- and USA Today-Bestselling Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer See where the futuristic YA fairytale saga all began, with the tale of a teenage cyborg who must fight for Earth's survival against villains from outer space.
"An interesting mash up of fairy tales and science fiction . . . a cross between Cinderella, Terminator, and Star Wars." --Entertainment Weekly
"Prince Charming among the cyborgs." --The Wall Street Journal
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . .
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.
With high-stakes action and a smart, resourceful heroine, Cinder is a Cinderella retelling that is at once classic and strikingly original.
Don't miss these other books from #1 New York Times- and USA Today-Bestselling author Marissa Meyer:
The Lunar Chronicles:
Cinder
Scarlet
Cress
Winter
Stars Above
Fairest
The Lunar Chronicles Coloring Book
Wires and Nerve: Vol. 1
Wires and Nerve: Vol. 2
Renegades:
Renegades: Book One
Heartless
Praise for the Lunar Chronicles:
#1 New York Times-Bestselling Series
USA Today Bestseller
Publishers Weekly Bestseller
"Terrific." --Los Angeles Times
"Marissa Meyer rocks the fractured fairytale genre." --The Seattle Times
"Epic awesome." --Bustle
"A binge-reading treat." --MTV
"Takes the classic to a whole new level." --NPR
"This series opener and debut offers a high coolness factor by rewriting Cinderella as a kickass mechanic in a plague-ridden future." --Kirkus Reviews on Cinder
"First in the Lunar Chronicles series, this futuristic twist on Cinderella retains just enough of the original that readers will enjoy spotting the subtle similarities. But debut author Meyer's brilliance is in sending the story into an entirely new, utterly thrilling dimension." --Publishers Weekly, starred review for Cinder
"There's a lot of moving parts in this fresh spin on 'Cinderella, ' the first in a four-book series." --Booklist on Cinder
"Singing mice and glass slippers are replaced with snarky androids and mechanical feet in this richly imagined and darkly subversive retelling of 'Cinderella.'" --The Bulletin on Cinder
About the Author
Marissa Meyer was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, home of Almond Roca and Stadium High School, which was made famous when Heath Ledger danced down the stadium steps in 10 Things I Hate About You. Marissa didn't actually go to Stadium High School, but she did attend Pacific Lutheran University, where she earned her bachelors degree in Creative Writing. She still lives in Tacoma, now with her husband. Cinder is her YA debut.