“MECHANICA,” by Betsy Cornwell, Clarion Books, Aug. 25, 2015, Hardcover, $17.99 (young adult)
There are lots of takes on “Cinderella.” It’s not hard to find one. It’s not even hard to find one where the main character is good with mechanical devices — Marissa Meyer’s “Cinder” comes to mind. So I went into “Mechanica” knowing the premise would be familiar but hoping the story would take a different spin.
In “Mechanica,” the Cinderella character goes by the name Nicolette. Nicolette grew up making inventions at her mother’s knee. And by the time her mother died, Nicolette was well enough versed to keep the little machines that kept her house running, well, running. Which is good, because when her father remarried and subsequently passed away, Nicolette finds herself the lone servant to her stepmother and stepsisters who dub her Mechanica.
Life is dreary, but Nicolette is getting by well enough, dreaming of what could be. Then on her 16th birthday, Nicolette discovers her mother’s secret workshop in the cellar. Inside the shop is a tiny magical horse and all the tools an inventor could dream of. With this discovery, Nicolette’s dreams don’t seem that impossible. The technological exposition and royal ball are coming up, and Nicolette is determined to invent her way to a better future.
As with other Cinderella stories, you can guess where the story goes from here. Although the ending isn’t as completely predictable as you would think. I enjoyed the steampunk/magic/fairy realm take on this classic tale and I found the focus on the exposition rather than the ball refreshing. The steps are as annoying and trivial as the story requires, but they stay in the background most of the time, allowing for more focus on Nicolette, her friends and new inventions.
“Mechanica” is a familiar tale, but the good news is that it stands on its own. Could some parts be fleshed out a little more? Probably. But overall it’s a strong, solid piece that is a credit to its inspiration piece.
