Title: Ella Enchanted
Author: Gail
Carson Levine
Book blurb: At birth,
Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent young fairy named Lucinda, who
bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to
do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but
not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a
rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally." When her beloved mother
dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly absent and avaricious father, and
later, a loathsome stepmother and two treacherous stepsisters, Ella's life and
well-being seem to be in grave peril. But her intelligence and saucy nature
keep her in good stead as she sets out on a quest for freedom and
self-discovery as she tries to track down Lucinda to undo the curse, fending
off ogres, befriending elves, and falling in love with a prince along the way.
Yes, there is a pumpkin coach, a glass slipper, and a happily ever after, but
this is the most remarkable, delightful, and profound version of Cinderella
you'll ever read.
Quick endorsement: I’ve
read quite a few fun fairy-tale retellings in the past few months, but this is
one of those that I first read some years ago…and loved from the very
beginning. A great retelling of “Cinderella” that is sweet, accurate to the
classic story, and romantically adorable.
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