Written by Beverly Ewart
Here is an impressively creative take on a classic fairy tale—so creative, in fact, that Cinderella may seem to be represented only by the name-dropping. That does not lessen the story’s appeal, though, because, in this version of the story, the girl rescues not only herself but several others along the way.
You can find a variation of “Cinderella” across many cultures. Elizabeth Lim interweaves a Chinese version, Yeh Shen and the Golden Carp, with the lives of three heroic Chinese women: grandmother, mother, and daughter, and the times in which they lived. (WWII, the Cultural Revolution, and the rapprochement between China and the West.) It is a seamless and beautiful blend of historical fiction and fantasy that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Check it out:
Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim. “1940s Hong Kong: When Japanese soldiers invade her hometown, Ha Yut Ying makes an unlikely escape–by turning invisible. But her miraculous survival is only the beginning. After the war is over, she’s sent to Hong Kong to live with her distant father and glamorous stepmother, who end her dreams of becoming a singer and turn her into the family’s servant. As the years pass, Yut Ying learns the hard truths of betrayal and ambition, of forbidden love and devastating loss, and discovers that sometimes the only way to endure is to disappear.
1960s San Francisco: Marigold has always had a knack for uncovering secrets, but nothing prepares her for the day she accidentally witnesses her mother vanish before her eyes. The moment fractures their bond, leaving questions that shadow her entire childhood. But when her mother’s condition suddenly deteriorates, Marigold is convinced she’s the only person who can save her. To do so, she must journey into the secrets her mother never shared and uncover the tragic, fairytale-tinged history their family has fought to forget. A story of mother and daughters, the scars they inherit and the magic that binds them, Fishbone Cinderella is a tender and enchanting exploration of what it means, at last, to be seen”– Provided by publisher.
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CFL will be closed Monday, September 7, 2026, for Labor Day.
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Chess Club at CFL meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3–4. Tuesday is free play with Ryan Nolan and designed for those that have some experience.
Thursday’s weekly session is with Zachary Woodley-White and is designed for beginners who would like to learn how to play. We offer rudimentary instruction and a judgement free space for younger players to establish and build on their fundamentals. No registration needed, ages 12 and below. Questions? Contact Zach at zwoodleywhite@ncls.org
Grab a board, find a friend, and start a game at any open table in the Main Reading Room. Other board games are available or bring your own.
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TEEN ANIME meets on Thursdays from 5-7pm.
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Dungeons and Dragons: The Canton Free Library is running a Dungeons and Dragons campaign! This program is a beginner level program aimed at teens who are looking to learn how to play Dungeons and Dragons. Limited to ages 13-18, with no registration necessary. We will meet on the last Wednesday of each month from 4-6. Contact Zach at zwoodleywhite@ncls.org for any questions. Currently playing Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition.
Children’s Programs: We are on break during August. Children’s programming for kids – birth-12 years – will resume after school starts in September. Stay tuned!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORLEY BRANCH is open Tuesday 1pm-3pm; Wednesday 4pm-6pm; Thursday 10am-12pm. Call for more information: (315) 379-0066.
RENSSELAER FALLS BRANCH is open on Tuesdays from 11am – 5pm. Call the library at (315) 344-4155 for more information.
CANTON BRANCH is open 9am-6pm Monday – Friday; 10am-3pm Saturday. Contact us at (315) 386-3712 or cantonfreelibrary.org.