CeeCee: Underground ­Railroad Cinderella

Gr 2-5–A brave overlay of a thought-provoking retelling of the Cinderella story, this does not arrive at a conventional fairy-tale ending, but something far better: the young heroine finds a pathway to freedom. CeeCee, who is Black, only has a scrap of paper with her true name on it that her mother gave her before they were separated by the cruel conditions of slavery. CeeCee grows up in Maryland, enslaved by a white family with two girls who treat her very poorly in wicked stepsister fashion. Digital illustrations effectively capture CeeCee’s stoicism, showing the warmth of the kitchen and the hardship of the attic where she is locked after she is caught trying to read. She repeatedly dreams of being rescued by a prince, but it is Binty, the cook, and her own resourcefulness that guide her to make a gown and coat suitable for her escape. When the time of CeeCee’s liberation arrives, safety comes from a different version of royalty—Harriet Tubman. Educators will love this opportunity to show the ongoing merits of the old tales: as vehicles for lessons, history, and metaphors in a guide to life. Readers looking for a straightforward retelling of Cinderella will be rewarded instead with a tale rich in depth as they root for CeeCee. Visually appealing illustrations feature dark shadows and effective use of light to depict CeeCee’s bravery as well as her persistent humanity in an inhumane situation.