Literacy Matters Vol. 25 Winter 2025

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder by Marissa Meyer is the first book in a series that remixes classic fairytales and adds more diversity to the cast. The story is set in futuristic China, where everyone treats cyborgs as second-class citizens. The titular Cinder was in a horrid accident as a child that she can not remember and had most of her body replaced with robotic parts. The discrimination she faces and the limitations she encounters due to her cyborg status are crucial in showing readers with disabilities that they belong as protagonists, too.

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa takes the classic work by Jane Austen and rewrites it featuring a closeted transmasculine lead, Oliver Bennett, who encounters the same frustrating interactions with Mr. Darcy as Elizabeth Bennett does in the original. The story unfolds as Oliver pushes back against the expectations placed upon him as a perceived woman and the struggles of falling in love while living a double life. This story is not a replica of Pride and Prejudice but a spin on a beloved classic from which students can take inspiration.

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Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories edited by Sandra Proudman

This collection of works features stories such as Jane Eyre, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hamlet, The Little Mermaid, and more, each reworked to feature Latinx protagonists. The collection has sixteen authors and several different storytelling formats, which is an excellent opportunity to compare writing styles and examine Latinx representation in remixed classics.

Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera

A retelling of the Greek myth Orpheus and Eurydice, Never Look Back tells the story of Eury after she moves to the Bronx from Puerto Rico due to the devastation of Hurricane Maria. She is haunted by the events and an evil spirit named Ato when she meets angel-voiced Pheus, who is determined to help her face her demons. This love story remixes the Greek myth with contemporary Afro-Latine characters grappling with dreams, first love, mental health, and trauma.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Pride by Ibi Zoboi remixes the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice, setting the familiar plot in modern-day Brooklyn with all characters of color. Zuri is a proud Bushwick resident from a large family with Afro-Latino roots who is not impressed when the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street. Battling against her changing neighborhood, family drama, and first love, Zuri fights to find her place in this reimagining of the classic.

Table 1 Remixed Book List with Summaries

Literacy Matters | Volume 25 • Winter 2025 | 19 |

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