Rags to riches with a twist. Cinderella becomes a princess not because she happens to have a fairy godmother or happens to meet and charm Prince Charming, but rather because of her own hard work, sterling character, and inveterate honesty. Dashti/Cinderella the mugger maid is one of Jen’s Cool Girls of Children’s Fiction. Dashti is “smart, brave, strong, and independent,” a heroine to admired and emulated.

What can girls, and guys, learn from Dashti?

Perseverance: Dashti is locked in a tower as maid to a rebellious and somewhat helpless princess. They’re supposed to be locked away for a thousand days. Dashti never gives up hope that they will survive or be rescued or escape or something, even when hope is all but gone.

Loyalty: Dashti remains loyal to her mistress/princess even when the princess herself is undeserving of Dashti’s lowal service.

Hope: As noted above.

Loving self-sacrifice: Dashti sacrifices her own desires and dreams to serve and obey the princess.

Shannon Hale has written another great fairy tale interpretation that speaks to the hopes and fears we all have. Even a mugger maid can be a heroine, and even when there is no hope it still makes sense to act in hope.

Other Shannon Hale titles:

Semicolon review of Enna Burning by Shannon Hale.

Semicolon review of Princess Academy by Shannon Hale.

Semicolon review of The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale.

Heidijane’s review of The Goose Girl.

Becky’s review of Book of a Thousand Days.