Cinder Discussion Questions
- Comments on the blending on science fiction and fantasy/ folk tales?
-Like how the setting was in a world that you had to imagine
-Interesting perspective from a cyborg
-If you were a child who liked fairy tales, you would probably like this novel
- Matches the current trend of fairy tales seen in literature, film, and television
-Still had some of the charm of Cinderella
-Good for kids/teens who liked fairy tales as young children
- Would this appeal to boys? If so, age range? Why not? Why?
-The cover wouldn’t appeal to boys
-Would work for Female Hero Unit
-The fact that Cinder is a mechanic added a masculine quality to her
- Female in a male job
-Very appealing to girls b/c
- Cinder isn’t comfortable in her own skin, which is something that many girls in this age group would feel
- She is a brilliant mechanic
-Could cause interesting discussion on gender roles and marriage
- Do you think this series will take off? Is it as appealing as THG, Twilight, or other teen series?
-This novel could be viewed as somewhat predictable because most people know the Cinderella story, so this might make it less appealing
-THG and Twilight are not as predictable as Cinder
- Not sure how those novels are going to end; in Cinder you know that she has to go to the ball and the prince will fall for her, esp. if the author sticks to the original tale
- Some neat historical elements: the plague and ring around the rosie ; government and wars etc…
-Liked the Asian Cultural Influence; this was something different (setting: New Beijing and the market place)
-Some people have criticized how this is a technologically gifted society, so it seems odd that they are having a ball. This ball doesn’t seem to fit the setting. It was also odd that this society was following old traditions of getting married for the sake of the country and building allies.
- Could discuss the importance of marriage for keeping the country going, which is seen in history time and time again
- Could discuss how to create a science fiction world with the traditional elements of fairy tales
-We liked the element of the junkyard and how Cinder renovates an “old” car, which would be something that we see on the streets now. Even though she lives in a world of hovercrafts, she finds the historical car appealing.
- The “real Cinderella” quotations at the beginning of the book.
-We liked the quotations as well as the fact that the author took some liberties, such as the relationship with Cinder and Peony
-An easy way to get the students to read the Grimm version
- Interesting scientific elements. Have we evolved?
-This novel demonstrates how technology is only capable of so much because germs and biology are still influencing/changing the society
-This novels combines cyborgs with bioelectrical manipulation as well as magic and human biology
-Interesting discussion on how the cyborgs are “wired” to still have human feelings, but can’t cry or blush
-Theme of no matter how advanced our society becomes, things don’t change