One of the best things about being a teacher is the fact that I can sign my class up for the Scholastic Reading Club. We get flyers that show some of the best new books, and when kids order, I get teacher points and can get free books. It, really, is the best system. I am obsessed with Scholastic.
One series that I discovered through the book orders is the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer.
These books are loosely based on fairy tales, but they are set in the future and are much more modern. In the first book, Cinder, we meet the main character, Cinder. She is a cyborg mechanist who is loosely based on the Cinderella character. Cinder lives in a futuristic society that is threatened by a plague, and they have an uneasy relationship with the Lunar people. Cinder is able to meet the Prince of her nation because she is able to fix his android device, and she also comes in contact with a doctor who gives her clues about her past. Of course, since Cinder is a cyborg, she doesn’t think that the Prince could love her. This book ends with a cliff hanger, but it’s really good.
The second story, Scarlet, catches up with Cinder and adds three new characters. Cinder works through her parts of the story with Captain Thorne, an American pirate, and we meet Scarlet and Wolf. Scarlet is loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood, and Wolf, obviously, is like The Big Bad Wolf. This book tells us more about the Lunar people, and we find out more about Cinder’s past. We also find out how Scarlet and Cinder are connected in really interesting ways.
In the last story, Cress, we meet a new character who is based on the Rapunzel narrative. Cress adds to Cinder’s team as they work to fight against the Lunar Queen. Cinder is reunited from her Prince from the first book, and she breaks up his wedding to the Lunar Queen.
These books are great for adventurous readers who appreciate strong, female characters. They do have a touch of science fiction, but they are still easy to read and relate to. And, finally, they have a touch of romance, but they don’t cross over into the Twilight territory.
These books would be great for more mature upper elementary readers, but they are perfect for older readers as well! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them, so you can tell that they aren’t childish.
Check out these books if you like adventure stories that have great character development!
The Local Bookery 