ALA Booklist (Mon Jun 05 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

This delightfully fresh, queer, whimsical retelling of Cinderella's story follows outlaw Cinda as her adventures in the Old West are put on hold thanks to the schemes of her evil aunt Hildy and two cousins, who make her do chores and sell away her beloved critter companions. When an exciting invitation to a contest ("Lasso! Race! Surprise challenge!") arrives from the Rancho Del Reina, promising a hefty monetary prize, Hildy snatches the opportunity to compete. Taken with the fashionable and alluring nonbinary Rider, who delivered the invitation, Cinda is inspired to secretly join the contest, as well. In this action-packed, vividly colored story, Cinda aims to win the competition and lasso back her animal pals while also catching the eye of the mysterious Rider. This unique spin on the well-worn fairy tale, featuring unforgettable illustrations from West of a Merrie Hoggmüther and a burlap-bag riding dress, brings this queer happily-ever-after to life in a new way as Cinda aims to regain her old life and win her new love's affections.

Kirkus Reviews

A Western-themed retelling of "Cinderella" starring young queer protagonists.Cinda loves adventure, her critters, and jalapeno fritters. Not so much dresses and "adult supervision." When her parents are eaten by a gator and Aunt Hildy shows up to take away everything else she loves, Cinda finds hope in an invitation to a contest (including racing, lassoing, and a "surprise challenge") hosted by Ella of the rich Del Reina family. It helps that the Rider who delivers the invitation is cute and that they seem as interested in Cinda as she is in them. The day of the contest, a giant boar named Merrie Hoggmüther and a slippery snake named Slipper assist Cinda-with the caveat that Slipper must be home before sundown or she'll get cold and grumpy enough to bite. Cinda's love of critters carries her through the day and wins the regard of Ella, who turns out to have been the Rider the whole time, much to Cinda's delight. With a happily-ever-after full of animals and adventure on the horizon, this story jazzes up "Cinderella" with a vibrant palette of primary colors and expressive illustrations that relate as much of the story as the text itself. Playful language and a sweet depiction of a budding queer relationship make for a fun, touching story. Cinda presents Black, while Aunt Hildy and Ella are light-skinned; the supporting cast is diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A fantastical romp to lasso any heart. (Picture book. 3-7)

School Library Journal (Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

PreS-Gr 3 —After her parents are eaten by a gator (off-page), Cinda is forced to live with her aunt and wicked stepbrothers, off the ranch where she grew up. They take away her animals and force her to trade pants for skirts. However, when Ella del Reina, owner of a neighboring ranch, invites Cinda to a rodeo, her life changes for the better. The story takes the familiar elements of Cinderella, replacing the prince with a rodeo queen and giving the whole story a Southwest flavor. Cinda meets a magical boar named Merrie Hoggm&2;ther, who introduces her to another boar named Slipper. No glass shoes for these cowgirls. In the end, Cinda and Ella, who wears all black except for her pink cowboy boots, become friends. West's text is a fun and frothy update that reimagines the story. His artwork pops, resembling Bethan Woolvin's linework but with saturated color rich with pastel pinks and blues. His character design shines, each one cutting a unique silhouette, and all with brightly expressive eyes and mouths. West uses full spreads for effective dramatic emphasis. His text is expertly arranged on the page. Large blocks of text are separated on their own pages and framed with cute borders. VERDICT A worthy update to a well-known tale.—Chance Lee Joyner