Book Cover Photo Source: Barnes and Noble, http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Cindy-Ellen/Susan-Lowell/e/9780064438643/?itm=13, accessed September 29, 2008.Bibliography
Lowell, Susan. 2000. CINDY ELLEN. Ill. By Jane Manning. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s. ISBN 0064438643
Plot Summary
CINDY ELLEN by Susan Lowell is a western version of the classic folktale CINDERELLA. In this story set in the old west, a rancher marries for a second time and gains not only “the orneriest woman west of the Mississippi”, but two mean stepdaughters as well. Of course his own daughter, whose name is Cindy Ellen, “was as sweet and gentle as she could be.”
Cindy Ellen is a good cowgirl and able to rope and gallop with the best cowboys on the range. Because of this, the sisters are terribly mean and ugly to Cindy Ellen by making her do all of the “dirty work” around the ranch. When Cindy Ellen is kept from going to a two-day celebration given by the “biggest cattle king for miles around”, Cindy Ellen’s pistol packing fairy godmother shows up to make sure that she is given her chance to shine. All she needs, she tells her, is a little “gumption”. Of course, Cindy Ellen wins the rodeo, and is the prettiest girl at the square dance but instead of losing her shoe at the dance she loses one of her diamond spurs. Joe Prince tracks through the territory vowing to marry the woman whose boot fits the spur. He finally finds Cindy Ellen and they get hitched and live happily ever after in a “ranch house full of love and rodeo trophies”.
Critical Analysis
Not only is this an engaging revision of the classic Cinderella Tale, it has a good message for children. The characters and dialogue are original, but remain authentic to the story. When Cindy asks her fairy godmother if she can help her, she replies, “Maybe si, maybe no. Magic is plumb worthless without gumption.” In essence, she is telling Cindy that she is going to have to have the courage to make sensible decisions and that she is going to have to stick with them or the magic will be of no use. This lets children know the importance of being true to your word as well as true to yourself.
The illustrations, done in watercolor, are detailed and colorful. Children will love her fancy cowboy dress, her cowboy boots, and her diamond studded stirrups. The text is lengthy but lively and is a wonderful read-aloud. It may be a bit too long for younger children, but older elementary students will listen enthusiastically until the very end.
Review Excerpt(s)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review: “Savory slang adds punch to this tale, which stresses the fairy godmother's message that `magic is plumb worthless without gumption.' Illustrations lush with cactus-flower colors and pale maize gold enhance this rawhide-and-lace fantasy.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “From the author of The Bootmaker and the Elves (1997), another ripsnortin' Western take on a traditional fairy tale. Thanks to a spirited fairy godmother who gets all the best lines—" ‘Remember, there ain't no horse that can't be rode, and there ain't no man that can't be throwed!' "—Cindy Ellen does make the local cattle baron's rodeo and followup square dance, proves herself a roping, riding champion, and ultimately hitches up with the rancher's son Joe Prince.
Connections
This story would be a great way to compare and contrast different versions of the Cinderella story. Read several versions and then split the students into groups. Give each group of students a different version and have them do a report on their story. After each group reports back to the class, make a large chart with similarities and differences of each.
Other versions of Cinderella:
Louie, Ai-Ling. YEH-SHEN: A CINDERELLA STORY FROM CHINA. ISBN 0698113888
Climo, Shirley. THE KOREAN CINDERELLA. ISBN 0064433978
Hickox, Rebecca. GOLDEN SANDAL: A MIDDLE EASTERN CINDERELLA STORY. ISBN 0823415139
San Souci, Robert D. CENDRILLON: A CARRIBEAN CINDERELLA STORY. ISBN 0689848889
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