CINDERELLLA GIRL BY VIVIEN ALCOCK

SYNOPSIS

This story revolves around teenagers who study in the same school. Meg Hunter
is often late to school and is always messy. She is considered too rough, too noisy and
too grubby. She enjoys climbing trees and playing football with the younger boys. She
doesnt care what she looks like. Edwards mother is disgusted with how Meg carries
herself. Bella Jones, on the other hand, is very popular, pretty and a lot of boys dated her.
There is something about Meg that Edward likes but it is Bella that he wanted to date.
Edward asks Bella out a number of times but she is non-committal. One Sunday morning,
Edward, disappointed after another rejection, goes to Megs favourite tree, climbs it and
sits beside her. While talking to her, he finds out that Bella likes going out with Kevin
Clarke because he writes poems about her. Meg also reveals to him that she would like it
if someone writes a poem about her and Edward creates one at the very moment.
At the end of term, Bella asks Edward if he wants to take her to the summer disco but
when he asks her out, she turns him down again. He then asks Meg to go with him. Meg
is surprised but she agrees to go with him. Everyone gets a shock when they see Meg,
looking so beautiful when she turns up that night. She explains to Edward that her
stepmother and sisters helped her to dress for the night. Edward is impressed but tells her
Dont change too much, and as he kisses her he notices a small smudge of eyeblack on
her left cheek.

CHARACTERS

Meg Hunter
Plump, unruly looks, dirty, untidy, messy, not punctual, tomboyish, rough, noisy,
scrubby
Has shaggy brown hair, looks like an overgrown puppy, wears horrible green
trousers done up with safety pin.
Has beautiful eyes, which often go unnoticed due to her untidiness.
Younger children enjoy her company as she is friendly and plays with them.
Honest and straightforward.
Celebrates childhood
Not popular among the boys and the other girls often tease her
Deep inside her she does wish that boys of her age would pay attention to her.

Edward
Afraid of his mother and always tries to please her.
Clean and tidy.
Has a soft heart as he feels sorry for Meg because he thinks she is a cinderella
girl.
He likes Megs warmth and cheerfulness and looks at her quite often.
Could see Megs inner beauty
Enjoys Megs company but it was Bella he wanted to date.
Obsessed with Bella (that is why he dreams about her but even in his dreams he
misses kissing her)
Typical teenage boy who wants to date the most popular girl in school.
Undergoes peer pressure (wants to do what all the other boys do

Bella Jones
Most popular girl among the boys.
Particular about how one should look and dress ( she often criticizes Meg)
Pretty, vain and likes attention.
Boastful and looks down on others.
Conceited, self-centered, spiteful, proud.
Plays hard-to-get with Edward.

Michael
Tall, skinny and clever.
Edward trusts him.
Honest with Edward.
Sensible and has a mind of his own as he does not do what everyone does.
Believes that he would wait for the right girl to kiss.

Edwards Mother
Domineering character and instills fear in Edward.
Prim and proper as she feels that people should be well dressed.
Pays importance to physical appearance.
Fails to see ones inner beauty.
She judges people based on their physical appearance.

Megs stepmother and sisters
Caring enough to let Meg enjoy life and do her proud when the time came.

THEMES

Love
Inner Beauty vs. Physical Appearance
Self-realization
Friendship
Empowerment of Women
Being Unpretentious
Paragon of Virtues

SETTING

Modern Setting
- School
- Field
- Park

ISSUES

Boy-girl relationship
Peer Pressure
Mothers influence
Societys perception of an individual
Self-conflict
Pride and dignity

ACTIVITIES

1. Compare and contrast this story with the fairy tale Cinderella.

2. True and False statements.

3. Do a mind map of characters and relationship with one another.

4. Draw Meg Hunter and Bella Jones.

5. Write out textual evidence to describe characters.

QUESTIONS.

a. His mother liked people to look nice. It only
..Well, really!
Based on the extract, describe Edwards mothers attitude towards the way people
looked. (5m)

b. Compare and contrast the characteristics of Meg Hunter and Bella Jones/ Michael
and Edward. (8m)

In what ways is Bella Jones different from Meg Hunter? (8m)

c. In life people are often judged by external appearances.
Discuss this statement with close reference to the text. (12m)