Chinye: A West African Folk Tale

I like this book for two reasons. The first reason is because of the writing, Chinye is an African twist of the Cinderella story. In the book, the author presented the story Cinderella but from the perspective of a young African girl who gets trapped working for her step-mom and step-sister. The second reason why I liked this book was because it broadens the perspective of readers. Many children have seen and read the Cinderella story in the classical version, but this version allows children to see that anyone can be Cinderella. The main message of this story is to show that good overcomes evil because at the end of the book Chinye ends up becoming rich while her step-mom and sister leave town.

Poor Chinye! Back and forth through the forest she goes, fetching and carrying for her cruel stepmother. But strange powers are watching over her. How Chinye discovers the magic of the gourds and transforms her life is enchantingly retold in this traditional West African story of goodness, greed, and a treasure-house of gold.