Finding Cinderella

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of child abuse and child death.

Daniel is the outspoken and outgoing protagonist of the text. He gives everyone in his life a nickname and struggles to know when to filter himself. A big part of what holds Daniel back from successful relationships is his encounter with the mystery girl in the closet the previous year. He tries to find his Cinderella, and everyone falls short of the pedestal he has put the mystery girl on. This is why his immediate connection with Six throws Daniel off-balance. Not realizing that Six is Cinderella, Daniel struggles to believe that their connection could be this strong and also real. The most important evidence of their relationship’s veracity is the fact that Daniel and Six like each other for exactly who they are: “I feel like the real me is what she likes the most and every time she laughs or smiles at the perfect moment, I want to fist bump her” (37). It is through his relationship with Six that Daniel learns the meaning of unconditional love, not only receiving it but also giving it in return.